For the children at Jellybabies Nursery, based at Longbridge Methodist Church, September and October were busy, busy, busy, filled with coffee mornings, harvest learning and celebrating, and raising money for Dogs Trust!

The Jellybabies’ children spent much of October learning about the wonders of harvest and food. In the nursery’s nature garden, they listened to the story of Little Acorns.

Through the story and activities relating to it, the children followed the acorn through different seasons as he grew into a mighty oak tree. This helped them to learn about the key features of the life cycle of a plant and an animal, building the beginnings of understanding around the need to respect and care for all living things in the natural world.

The children also got to plant some potatoes, which they have since been watering and topping up the soil for. They also got to pick apples from the nursery’s apple tree, which they loved, and experienced watching the pumpkin seeds they planted turn into a flower and then into a pumpkin! 

The children have learnt such a lot and are loving being outdoors in the nature garden.

As part of the children learning about the diverse world in which they live, staff at Jellybabies feel it’s important for them to get involved in harvest – which includes learning about how to care for others, where food comes from, and how and where it grows.

For the week commencing 23 September, the nursery focused on its harvest theme, with the children bringing in donations of food (tins, jars, cereals, pastas and rice), which they gave to a member of Longbridge Methodist Church to pass on to a local food bank. The children also took part in a short harvest festival service in church, which included handing over their food donations of food, acting out the rhyme of the Little Red Hen and Dingle Dangle Scarecrow, and then being presented with ‘well done’ participation certificates.

The service was attended by parents, grandparents, and church members. It was a lovely event and a great way for the children to learn about where food comes from as well as how they can help others less fortunate than themselves.

In September, children and staff at Jellybabies held not one but two coffee mornings for Macmillan Cancer support. Both were attended by the children and their families, alongside Jellybabies’ birth to five group and their families, friends and child minders.

During the week, the nursery children learned about all the different ways in which they can support others to help them link their special events and the impact they have.

Jellybabies manager Jacqueline Walker said: “It was a lovely social event attended by over 70 people, aged between a few months old and 86 years old. The total raised for cancer support over the week was £85!”

In October, it was Paw Patrol on a Stroll month. The children from Jellybabies Nursery were set a very special mission: to raise money for Dogs Trust to help provide life-changing care and forever homes for thousands of their four-legged friends.

The children walked over a mile, joined by volunteer Darren and his rescue dog, Spikey, alongside manager Jacqueline Walker. They were taught dos and don’ts around dogs, the individual needs of dogs and how to be safe around them, as well as participating in Paw Patrol-themed literacy activities. Altogether, the children helped to raise £25 for Dogs Trust! Well done.

October was also special for another reason – it was the 88th birthday of volunteer Brian, who has been with Jellybabies for 32 years!

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