Toddler Days

Just like in Preschool, it's been a really busy couple of weeks in Toddlers with a mixture of creativity, learning and outdoor fun in the absolutely glorious weather!

There has been musical instruments, box and block play, local walks, running, jumping, climbing, fruit smoothie making, fruit and vegetable printing and more!

Although the weather is a bit greyer today, it's supposed to be lovely again next week so can all parents remember to bring in some sun cream and hats as soon as possible if they haven't done so already!

To see photos of all the Toddler action, visit the photo album here...

Preschool Days

As always, it's been a really busy few weeks in Preschool with a mixture of creativity, learning and outdoor fun!

There has been drawing and painting, music, box and block play, scooters and bikes, running, jumping, climbing and more!

Many of these individual photos (plus others) have already been sent to parents using our ClassDojo app, but we've added them to our photo album pages for everyone to see!

To visit the album, click here...

April 2025 Newsletter

Little Chums has emailed out a newsletter for April 2025.

Didn't receive a copy of the newsletter by email?

Read it here...

Traditional Tales

The current topic at Little Chums is 'traditional fairy tales' and the little pigs, er... children, have been reading 'The Three Little Pigs'.

 

To go along with the story the little pigs, er... children, have also been doing lots of art and craft about that story.

 

The little pigs, er... children, in Preschool managed to get hold of some large boxes to make the 3 houses from the story.

 

See the photos of the little pigs, er... children, in action on our Facebook page here...

Sun Safety

Little Chums is accredited as a 'Sun Safe' nursery by the Sun Safe Nursery organisation.  This accreditation demonstrates our commitment to maintaining the health and well-being of all children during sunny weather.

The scheme was developed by national skin cancer charity 'Skcin', to assist nurseries and pre-school settings in implementing a successful Sun Safety Policy whilst educating children to increase knowledge, influence behaviour and prevent skin cancer. 

If you have not done so already, please ensure you have sent in some good quality SPF50 sun cream (labelled with your child's name) that is 'broad-spectrum' to provide both UVA and UVB protection.  If labelled with a UVA star rating, it is recommended to carry a minimum of 4 stars.

Please also send in a labelled sun hat.  Sun hats should be either broad-brimmed (bucket style) or legionnaire to shade the face, neck, ears and cheeks. Baseball caps are not really recommended as they do not provide adequate shade.

Thank you for your cooperation and have a sun safe, skin safe summer!

Babies & Tots Walk

After dusting off the pushchairs and taking a practise run up the driveway yesterday, the staff in Baby and Tots rooms went for the big one today!

Drinks, fruit and snacks were packed and then began the walk along the canal down to the basin!

It was a little cooler than yesterday (hence the coats), but the sunshine and fresh air was brilliant and certainly helped some of the children sleep!

See the photos in the album here...

Babies Stroll

As you can imagine, taking a room full of babies outside (particularly when many can't walk!) is a bit of a military operation, but the buggies were dragged out today so the youngest children at Little Chums could venture a bit further than the back garden - in preparation for one of their longer walks down to the canal basin soon!

 

The babies enjoyed exploring the hedgehog house, the insect house and the wildflowers that seem to be growing everywhere other than the wildflower area!

 

And the sunshine and fresh air was fantastic!

 

See the photos on our Facebook page here...

Minibeast Area

We've refreshed our 'minibeast' display in the back garden and will be adding more over the coming weeks!

 

We use this as part of various topics at Little Chums but as parents, we encourage you to use this display as a talking point with your children; discuss the creatures, their colours, numbers of legs, wings and obviously their names! We've also provided prompts in Welsh!

 

However, please don't allow the children to climb on it or remove the resources. It was only completed yesterday and we've already had some resources taken and/or broken. :(

Police Visit

Just to show how random things can be positive, the police arrived to deal with the illegally parked van at our entrance this morning and then very kindly drove down to the nursery to let the older children sit in their police car!

 

We don't know who the PCSO's were, but they were a shining example of the police doing good things in the community. Thank you Gwent Police!

See photos and a video on our Facebook page here...

Outdoor Spring Play

The weather over the last week or so has been lovely, so the younger children have been getting outside in the garden as frequently as possible!

They've even found uses for the large cardboard boxes that contained our new block play equipment delivered last week!

See the photos on our Facebook page here...

Red Nose Day 2025

It's 'Red Nose Day'!

Due to the recent generosity of our parents on other fund raising occasions, we decided not to run our own fund raising event this year.

However, we still had art, craft, games and activities to 'celebrate' the occasion!

If you feel you can donate directly to the appeal, please click on the 'donate' button on the Comic Relief webpage here...

To see photos of the children at Little Chums enjoying their activities, visit our photo album here...

Block Play

Recently, members of staff at Little Chums underwent training for 'Block Play', so we have recently purchased new wooden indoor and outdoor blocks and storage!

Block play is proven to help extend children's communication, mathematical, exploratory and physical (fine and gross motor skills) development through using skills in measuring, sorting, counting and matching.

The new blocks have already sparked the imagination of children in Toddlers!  While playing, Theo said, "I'm building Stick Man's House!"  Lily said, "I making Belle's castle!"  Ralphie said, "It's so big like me!"

See photos of the new blocks and the children at play in our photo gallery here...   

Powercut Update

Power has been restored!

 

For your information, the children had a 'power cut picnic' for lunch consisting of ham rolls and sandwiches, sausage rolls, cocktail sausages, carrot & cucumber batons, baked crisps and a gingerbread man.

 

To ensure the children have a warm meal today, we are swapping some meals for the rest of this week. The baked potato stars and fishcakes that was supposed to be served today will be this Friday instead. Friday's lunch of macaroni pasta bake will be served today for tea.

 

We sincerely thank those parents who remained positive and sent messages of appreciation about us staying open. Sadly, we did have a (very small) handful of parents who were rude about the situation. We can only apologise but the power cut was entirely beyond our control, initially affecting almost 2700 properties across Pontypool.

 

Thank you for your understanding.

 

 

Photo Session

NEWS FLASH!!!

At the request of parents, we've booked another photograph session with LAF Designs! This session will be on Monday 21st July. It's a way off yet but don't worry, we'll give you plenty of reminders online and in newsletters!

 

This session will be non-themed, so you'll be able to keep the photos up in your house all year round!

 

As we did last Christmas, all children attending will be photographed in the morning. Any children not attending can book appointment slots in the afternoon, including families with older siblings if you want them in the photo too - the booked date is an INSET day at New Inn!

 

We will begin taking bookings in a couple of months time.

Red Nose Day Reminder

Red Nose Day is this Friday 21st March 2025!

There will be the usual games and activities and we invite you to send your children dressed in something red!

Given the coming changes to our fees and your fundraising generosity last year (even with ongoing cost of living issues), for Red Nose Day this year, we are not holding our own fund raising event or asking you for money.

If you are able, we would encourage you to donate directly to Comic Relief by using the following link and clicking on the big red ‘DONATE’ button in the top corner.

Donate directly to the appeal here...