At Centre Place Day Nursery, the two- to five-year-old room has selected the Owl Babies book as part of their curriculum, which is focused on ‘growing’. This book was chosen specifically around feeling emotions and being unsettled due to a number of new starters navigating settling in. Alongside the nurturing team at Centre Place, this story has really helped the process!

The children have engaged well in so many activities and have already started to share their new words, such as “I have painted a BIG, ROUND owl”, which also includes mathematical learning. The team emphasise that isn’t about creating the perfect owl pictures, but about process over product – growing new skills to give children their own control over an activity and end-product while provoking opportunities to ask questions along the way. As such, they’ve been able to explore their own creativity and fine motor skills, as well as their hand-eye co-ordination and discussion of emotions.

Owls have also presented so many opportunities to take this learning in lots of child-led directions, with their questions leading the learning: where do owls live? What do they eat? Do they fly? What things fly? What things do not fly?

The team is hopeful of an exciting educational visit with real owls later this term to bring this story to life for the children even further!

At Discovery Preschool in Walton, Peterborough, the new setting manager –Abbie Goodwin – has a special shoutout for her fantastic new team: “I’m a new setting manager and have to say I am so proud of my team. They’ve adjusted to so many changes over the past few months, including me starting, 15 new children starting and a new staff member.

“All children and staff have settled well and are ready to power on for the year ahead.

"There have been lots of ideas shared and the team are working hard to improve the care and education for the children!”

Sounds like an excellent start for the whole team with exciting changes on the way. Well done!

What have you been up to?
Under 5 wants to know! To share your own stories, please email editor.u5@eyalliance.org.uk with the subject line ‘My Under 5’.