Goldstone Crescent
Dunstable
Beds
LU5 4QU
Phone: 01582 662600
Email: office@willownursery.co.uk
Latest News
Nursery News 9th November 2026
NURSERY NEWS
9th November 2026 – Edition 426
Find out About:
A School Photographer
B. Best Start In Life
C. Walk in the Dark.
D. BBC Children in Need.
E. Baking Sessions
F. Wipes and Nappy Sacks
G. An Open School Event: For Big Nursery Green Group Parents: Basic Skills.
H. What are the children learning about this week?
I. Operation Encompass
A School Photographer.
The School Photographer will return ‘proof card photo packs’ of your child’s image to school.
We will distribute these to parents when they arrive.
B. Best Start In Life
The Best Start in Life parent hub is a relatively new government website to be found at www.beststartinlife.gov.uk
‘From pregnancy to childcare right through to starting school, get advice and support for your child’s development.’
This website has lots of information for parents. I’ve had a look and there is a wide range of information including:
- Week-by-week guide to Pregnancy.
- Breastfeeding support
- Baby and toddler teeth care
- Learning to talk
- School readiness.
Best Start in Life has a Childcare and Early Years Education information tab which enables you to find out more about:
- 15 and 30 hours childcare support
- Universal Credit Childcare
- Tax-Free Childcare
There is also a Childcare support checker. By answering a few questions, the childcare support checker will check what support you could get.
You can then read more about a scheme, find out who qualifies and then apply.
You can also sign up for personalised weekly e-mails tailored to your stage of pregnancy or your child’s age, with personalised tips and activities to support your child’s health and development.
My message is: take a look……
C. Walk in the Dark.
Miss Howe is organising a ‘Walk in the dark’, an activity for children and their parents to attend together, after school, on Thursday 19th November at 5:00pm. Children will need to arrive, wrapped up warmly, ready to search the Nursery Garden for hidden soft toy animals. Children will need to bring a torch, because the garden is very dark in places! We will provide refreshments for everyone who attends. Brothers and sisters are very welcome too. If you plan to come, please send an email to Mrs Selth cselth@willownursery.co.uk entitled ‘Walk in the dark’ detailing your child’s name and how many adults and children will be coming, so we can buy enough food….
D. BBC Children in Need.
Friday 13th November is Children in Need. As in previous years, we will collect money in Charity buckets, should anyone wish to donate.
E. Baking Sessions
Mrs Griffiths, a long standing volunteer at Willow, will be coming into nursery on a Tuesday morning to do some baking with the children. We will be baking things like pizza, biscuits, cakes and scones. We do try and make the recipes as healthy as possible. The same recipe will be offered for a number of weeks allowing all the children who want to bake to have a turn. If children have any allergies, we will speak to parents beforehand to ensure that everyone is safe. Children will take their baking home at the end of the day, with a list of the ingredients used in the recipes.
F. Wipes and Nappy Sacks
Please remember to put a pack of wet wipes and nappy sacks in your child’s change of clothes bag.
Nappy sacks are important, so that we have somewhere to place your child’s wet clothes to send them home. School is busy. Nappy sacks are not just used for toileting ‘slips’. Clothes become wet or messy through fun nursery activities or can become wet or muddy due to the weather conditions in the school garden.
If we are unable to find a child’s nappy sacks or wet wipes inside a child’s change of clothes bag, we will place a reminder note inside the bag to remind parents to include some.
The Local Council is pushing childcare settings to charge parents for consumable items such as nappy sacks and wet wipes. I am resisting this, as I feel free childcare should be just that – ‘Free’ . However this means parents must help us by providing these consumable items for their own child.
G. An Open School Event: For Big Nursery Green Group Parents: Basic Skills.
Mrs Patterson teaches Big Nursery Green Group children ‘Basic Skills’ on a Wednesday morning. The children move to a quiet space in Room 5 where they work in small groups (approx. 8 children) to learn reading, writing, mathematical skills and problem solving.
We would like to invite Mrs Patterson’s Green Group Group parents in to observe a 30-minute reading/writing activity on Wednesday 18th November.
A further invitation letter will follow to Green Group parents so that we can match up time slots, so parents can join their child’s small group.
Big Nursery Red Group will have their Basic Skills groups in the Spring Term 2027 and Big Nursery Yellow Group will have their Basic Skills groups in the Summer Term 2027.
H. What are the children learning about this week?
The theme this week is ‘Brown Bear, Brown Bear, what do you see?’, which is one of our core books, and we will be focusing on reading skills.
Children will have the opportunity to read this story in the classroom, it will be offered to them as part of a group read. When we share ‘group reads’ it means that staff sit with a small group of three or four children, and we look through books together. We will make sure the children follow the pace of the book at the same time, turning pages and looking at the words and pictures on each page as a group. Staff will ask questions to encourage children to look closely and talk about what they can see. Our core book will also be available for children in the library, for those that want to sit quietly and enjoy the book at their own pace.
The children will learn about all of the animals and colours from the story as they hunt for story characters hidden around the garden. Once children find an animal character, they will be reminded of the story and asked to share what they can remember. Staff will model lots of descriptive words when they talk to the children about the characters and prompt children to do the same.
One of our learning intentions this week is to listen to and join in with stories and poems, when reading one to one and in small groups. We would like for all the children to share their favourite stories, rhymes, songs, poems or jingles and to show an interest in books, anticipating what might happen next.
We will also be teaching the children different ways to be kind and caring towards others. They are beginning to understand the school rules now and know that we must use kind hands in the setting. It is important for the children to learn that we can be kind to people in other ways such as helping them to find a friend or helping them to find a toy. Staff will provide lots of praise and encouragement when they see children being kind to others.
I. Operation Encompass
Dear Parent/Carer,
Willow Nursery School is part of Operation Encompass which is a national scheme that operates jointly between schools and police forces.
Operation Encompass is aiming to report to schools, prior to the start of the next school day, when a child or young person has experienced domestic abuse.
As a school setting, we have ensured that a member of our staff, Leigh Davies, known as a Key Adult, has been trained in the Operation Encompass procedures allowing us to then use the information that has been shared, in confidence, to support the child/ren in our care.
The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 identifies children who experience domestic abuse as victims of domestic abuse in their own right.
On 24 May 2024 Royal Assent was granted to The Victims and Prisoners Act. The Act placed Operation Encompass into Law. This places a statutory obligation on police forces to share Operation Encompass notifications with schools/educational settings.
We are keen to offer the best support possible to all our pupils and through Operation Encompass we will be able to provide the best possible support to our children.
Signed
Leigh Davies
Head Teacher
Nursery News – 2nd November 2026
NURSERY NEWS
2nd November 2026 – Edition 425
Find out About:
A. School Photographer visiting.
B. Parent Consultations, Big Nursery this week.
C. BBC Children in Need.
D. What are the children learning about this week?
A. School Photographer visiting.
A little reminder that a school photographer will be here on Wednesday 4th November and Thursday 5th November.
B. Parent Consultations, Big Nursery this week.
Big Nursery will be having their Parent Consultations this week! Parents have made appointments with Keyworkers, here are the times staff will be speaking to parents on the phone, as a reminder:
Monday 2nd November, Mrs Patterson’s Green Group Consultations, 5 minute telephone consultations between 3:15pm and 4:20pm.
Tuesday 3rd November Mrs Cashmore’s Yellow Group Consultations, 5 minute telephone consultations between 3:15pm and 3:50pm
Wednesday 4th November Miss Skai’s Red Group Consultations, 5 minute telephone consultations between 3:15pm and 3:55pm
Thursday 5th November Miss Howe’s Yellow Group Consultations, 5 minute telephone consultations between 3:15pm and 4:05pm
Each appointment lasts only five minutes. Please help staff to remain on time.
C. BBC Children in Need.
Friday 13th November is Children in Need Day. Parents often ask us what we are doing for Children in Need. –So as in previous years, we will collect money in Charity buckets, should anyone wish to donate. We do organise activities with a Pudsey Bear theme, and we try to share with the children that we are fundraising to help other children. Sometimes the Nursery children want to dress up because they see their older brothers and sisters dressing up for their school’s event. We are happy for children to dress up, or not to dress up. We do not wish any family to feel under pressure.
D. What are the children learning about this week?
The theme this week is Festivals and Autumn, Fireworks and Diwali
The children will be learning about colour and light, especially the colours they may have seen in fireworks. Some children may have experienced fireworks due to having celebrations such as Bonfire Night and Diwali.
The learning intention this week is for literacy; to show interest in illustrations, words in print and words in the environment. There will be lots of opportunities for the children to look at words and pictures in different areas throughout the school, we have a large library and cosy corners for the children to snuggle down and explore some books. Staff will also encourage children to look for signs and logos that are around the school and talk about what they mean.
Our seven C’s learning intention is to show an interest in others. We have been working on learning everyone’s names and similarities and differences. We will teach the children to remember to use names when talking to their friends and to show an interest in what their friends like to do at school. This makes playing with others more fun, because the children are sharing their interests and allowing others to join in with their play.
The children will also be working on improving their ball skills this week, including rolling, catching, throwing and kicking. There will be lots of opportunity to explore with bats, balls and basketball hoops.
Nursery News 19th October 2026
NURSERY NEWS
19th October 2026 – Edition 424
Find out About:
A. Important dates, a reminder.
B. Parent Consultations
C. Clothing for Winter Months.
D. Box modelling
E. What are the children learning about this week?
F. Easy Peasy App
A. Important dates, a reminder.
Mon 26th October 2026 to Fri 30th October 2026: Autumn Half term – School Closed
Wednesday 4th November and Thursday 5th November-School Photographer to visit.
B. Parent Consultations
Little Nursery will be having their Parent Consultations this week!
Parents have made appointments with Keyworkers, here are the times staff will be speaking to parents on the phone, as a reminder:
Monday 19th October Mrs Chiriac’s Orange Group Consultations. 5 minute telephone consultations between 9:15am and 9:55 am
Tuesday 20th October Mrs Whiting’s Little Yellow Group Consultations. 5 minute telephone consultations between 9:15am and 10:10am
Tuesday 20th October Miss Gaffney’s Blue Group Consultations, 5 minute telephone consultations between 3:15pm and 3:45pm
Each appointment lasts only five minutes. Please help staff to remain on time.
C. Clothing for Winter Months.
The staff have asked that I write about appropriate clothing for the children during Winter months…
Winter is coming and conditions become generally wetter and colder in the Nursery gardens. We go outside every day, in all weather conditions, so please make sure all children are appropriately dressed. A warm winter coat is important, preferably with a hood. We need children to learn to become as independent as possible with regard to their coats. At home, please encourage your child to put on their coat themselves. We know nearly all the Big Nursery children have the ability to do this, but they often ask for help. Please try to teach them to fasten their coat themselves.
Please can we ask that you do not provide ‘All In One Snowsuits’, as they are particularly difficult to get on and off. Staff do not have the time to assist children with these. Even in winter we have free flow play where children can choose to move from inside to outside as frequently as they wish, so throughout the day a child may have many occasions where coats are put on and taken off again.
Mittens are easier for children to put on themselves, rather than gloves. We do not mind helping the children to wrap up warm, because they love to play outside. Children enjoy the outside space even when it is freezing! Just remember to label mittens, hats and scarves with your child’s name so we can send them home with the correct child at the end of the day!
Now for inside school….
Our school is generally warm, we set our classroom thermostats to 21 degrees C. So for the majority of the year the school is comfortably warm.
However, unlike your homes, we have a lot of outside walls in each classroom and lots of windows. Our doors to the outside areas, situated in Room 1 for Big Nursery, and in Room 4 for Little Nursery are open for the majority of the day to allow for continuous free flow play. So, when weather temperatures outside begin to drop, it may feel a little cooler inside school. We would suggest sending your child to school in warmer clothing than they would need at home. We would always suggest adding layers, so children can adjust what they wear.
Parents may not be aware that staff act similarly to a child’s parent when checking a child’s wellbeing. We do act if we think a child is too hot, or too cold, and adjust clothing accordingly.
When we have extreme winter temperatures, we do limit how long we spend outside. We close outside, to maintain warmth inside, and allow shorter play periods outside, making sure no child gets too cold.
D. Box Modelling
We are running very short of recycled materials for our box modelling area. We would be very grateful for recycled materials that the children can use to create models. Children love boxes, but not too big please. The biggest boxes we can store are cereal boxes. Tiny boxes are useful, or unusual shapes. Plastic bottle tops make good buttons and wheels. Yogurt pots, butter tubs and other plastic containers are interesting to glue together, but please ensure they are clean. Toilet roll tubes become superhero cuffs, covered in foil. Egg boxes are great places to glue coloured tissue.
E. What are the children learning about this week?
The theme this week is keeping healthy. This week the children will be learning about how to make healthy choices and explore the importance of hygiene and exercise. Staff will be encouraging the children to go outside and be physically active.
Staff will explain how important it is to stay hydrated throughout the day, especially when exercising and getting hot. Staff will model lots of language for the children, so that they understand the meaning of words such as ‘hot’, ‘thirsty’, ‘tired’ etc. After lots of movement, the staff will encourage the children to think about how they feel by asking questions like ‘are you puffed out?’ or ‘is your heart beating faster than normal?’, and they will explain that these are the effects that exercise has on our body.
We will also be learning about oral hygiene and how important it is that we look after our teeth. There will be lots of activities to show the children how to brush their teeth properly and staff will talk about visiting the dentist and making healthy food choices.
We will also be focusing on scissor skills. The children will learn how to use scissors safely and effectively. We will be providing lots of cutting opportunities to upskill our children and encourage them to cut appropriate materials such as paper, card and boxes in the creative areas. Scissor skills are tricky to master so we aim to provide as much practice as possible.
F. Easy Peasy App
Last week we had a visit from Vicky Lucas from Central Bedfordshire’s Early Years and Childcare Team. She wanted me to share with you a new FREE APP for parents:
We (Central Bedfordshire Local Authority) are excited to offer you free, premium access to EasyPeasy – an app full of parenting tips, advice, and activities for you and your 0-5-year-old.
With EasyPeasy, you can transform everyday family moments into playful and enriching connection experiences that will support your child’s development, with materials you will already have access to at home.
Register for free easypeasyapp.com/central-bedfordshire or via Central Bedfordshire Council Family Information Directory and join the community of Central Bedfordshire EasyPeasy parents today!
See below for information posters:
Nursery News 12th October 2026
NURSERY NEWS
12th October 2026 – Edition 423
Find out About:
A. Parent Consultations
B. Willow Pumpkin Patch
C. What are the children learning about this week?
A. Parent Consultations
We aim to offer all parents the opportunity to have a Parent Consultation with their child’s keyworker once per term.
Now it is time for Big Nursery parents to book appointments to speak with your child’s Keyworker.
These consultations are offered to talk about how your child is settling in and the progress your child is making. They are not compulsory, but if you would like an appointment please arrange this with your child’s keyworker when they are outside before morning sessions, or after afternoon sessions.
These consultations will be on the telephone, will last 5 minutes and will be available at the following times:
Monday 2nd November, Mrs Patterson’s Green Group Consultations, 5 minute telephone consultations between 3:15pm and 4:20pm.
Tuesday 3rd November Mrs Cashmore’s Yellow Group Consultations, 5 minute telephone consultations between 3:15pm and 3:50pm
Wednesday 4th November Miss Skai’s Red Group Consultations, 5 minute telephone consultations between 3:15pm and 3:55pm
Thursday 5th November Miss Howe’s Yellow Group Consultations, 5 minute telephone consultations between 3:15pm and 4:05pm
B. Willow Pumpkin Patch
The Pumpkin Patch has been a great success!!
Mrs Patterson has provided wheelbarrows and delivery trolleys, and a big bike with a delivery box on the front to allow children to move the pumpkins around. There has been some super problem solving. Groups of children have been working together to load the wheelbarrows with pumpkins most efficiently. They have been working out how best to stack the pumpkins, considering the size, shape and weight, into a wheelbarrow without pumpkins toppling out. Children have been lining up the pumpkins and counting them to find out how many pumpkins there are. One group built an enclosure with large wooden blocks, and put a large amount of pumpkins inside. This structure was labelled the ‘Pumpkin Police Station’. Some big pumpkins are quite heavy. Children like feeling the challenge of the weight, lifting and moving the pumpkins. We have provided golf tees and little wooden hammers to allow the children to tap the golf tees into the pumpkins. In the 2+ class they have been exploring rolling the smallest pumpkins down sloped guttering. The children really laugh as the pumpkins roll off in a wobbly way along the floor.
There is more to come next week…. If the weather is good enough, the children will be able to use paint brushes and paint to cover their pumpkins completely in paint, then put them in water to wash the paint off with sponges and cloths. Things may get messy!
C. What are the children learning about this week?
The learning intention this week is for the children to know some of the things that make them unique, and talk about similarities and differences in relation to friends and family.
The theme this week is ‘Happy in Our Skin’, so the children will be using mirrors to look at their reflections and adults will take these opportunities to talk to the children about what they can see. This can then evolve into an opportunity to discuss things that make us different and any similarities that we may have with each other.
The children will begin to look at their features, and think about their friends features then identify and compare features such as eye and hair colour. Staff will highlight the similarities that they may have with children and each other, they will explain that we are all unique even though we may have some similar features or habits.
Our seven C’s learning intention is for the children to be able to feed themselves. Staff encourage the children to be as independent as possible during lunchtimes. They are asked to get their own lunch boxes and drinks bottles and to feed themselves with as little support as possible. Our aim is for the children to understand the importance of being able to do things for themselves and how things become easier with practise.
Nursery News 5th October 2026
NURSERY NEWS
5th October 2026 – Edition 422
Find out About:
A. Parent Consultations- A reminder
B. How to keep your child healthy over the coming Autumn/ Winter season.
C. Local Schools offering School Tours/ Open days for families looking for reception class places in September 2027
D. What are the children learning about this week?
A. Parent Consultations – A reminder
We aim to offer all parents the opportunity to have a Parent Consultation with their child’s keyworker once per term
Little Nursery will be having their Parent Consultations during week beginning Monday 19th October, 2026
These consultations are offered to talk about how your child is settling in. They are not compulsory, but if you would like an appointment please arrange this with your child’s keyworker when they are outside before morning sessions, or after afternoon sessions.
B. How to keep your child healthy over the coming Autumn/ Winter season.
With the new school term starting, children spend more time together, which can lead to more colds, flu, and other illnesses.
Here are some ways to keep your children healthy and in school:
1.Keep your child’s vaccinations up to date.
Measles and whooping cough are still around. The best way to protect your child from getting sick is to make sure they have had all their vaccines. If you are unsure. you can ask your GP or use the NHS app to check.
- Make sure your child gets the flu vaccine.
Flu can make children very sick. The Flu vaccine reduces the risk of needing hospital care. Most children from age 2 to 16 can get the vaccine. The vaccine is usually a quick, painless spray in the nose. There is also a version without pork ingredients. Children aged 2-3 can get the flu vaccine at their GP. Vaccinating your child also helps protect others, like family members, from getting the flu.
3.Teach your child good handwashing habits.
Washing hands helps stop the spread of germs. Remind your child to wash their hands after using the toilet and before eating. Teach them to use tissues for coughs and sneezes and to throw them in the bin afterwards.
- Know when to keep your child at home.
Sometimes it is hard to know if your child should stay home. For minor illnesses, like a slight cough or cold, it’s usually OK to send them to school. But if they have a high temperature or a rash, keep them at home and speak to your GP
C. Local Schools offering School Tours/ Open days for families looking for reception class places in September 2027
Dunstable Icknield Lower School has been in touch with our school office, asking us to share with you information about their upcoming Open Days:
EYFS OPEN DAYS
CONSIDERING SCHOOLS FOR YOUR CHILD?
Admissions are now open for Reception places in September 2027
We will be holding Open Sessions in our new EYFS area, starting at 9am, on:
Monday 5th October
Tuesday 6th October
Wednesday 7th October
There will be an opportunity to hear from our new Senior Leadership Team and tour our updated facilities, as well as ask any questions you may have about your child starting school.
Their address is Burr Street, Dunstable, LU6 3AG. Tel 01582 663709
Website www.dunstableicknield.co.uk
I have looked at schools local to Willow Nursery School to see if they are offering open days too. All information is taken from the individual school’s website.
Hadrian Academy
Open Mornings for Reception.
We are delighted to be able to invite prospective parents and guardians, whose child starts school in 2027 into Hadrian Academy for an informal tour of our school in action.
Our Open Mornings will take place on:
Tuesday 20th October 2026 at 9:30am
Thursday 12th November 2026 at 9:30 am
Thursday 3rd December 2026 at 9:30am
There is no need to book, just come along at 9:30am.
Their address is Hadrian Avenue, Dunstable, LU5 4SR Tel: 01582 618400
Website: hadrianacademy.co.uk
Vale Academy
We’d love to welcome you into our Dunstable primary school community! Come and see our vibrant classrooms in action, explore our fantastic facilities, and experience the exciting learning opportunities we offer every child. There’s no better way to get a real feel for what makes our school so special. Come and see it for yourself!
We currently have the below dates available for a school tour:
- Wednesday 7th October 9.30am – 10.30am
- Wednesday 14th October 10.30am – 11.30am
- Thursday 15th October 9.30am – 10.30am
Their address is: Wilbury Drive, Dunstable, LU5 4QP Tel:01582 211150
Website:thevaleacademy.co.uk
St Christophers Academy
Open Day!
Everyone is welcome-
Come and meet our dedicated team, look around our school and ask any questions you may have.
Monday 12th October 2026 9:30am to 12:30pm
Come along to:
- Explore our school facilities
- Meet our dedicated teachers
- Learn about our curriculum, enrichment activities, and support services
- Ask any questions you may have about joining our school community
Book via the school office and come along and see what makes our school such a special place to learn and grow.
We look forward to welcoming you!
Their address is: Gorham Way, Dunstable, LU5 4NJ Tel: 01582 500960
www.stchristophersacademy.org.uk
D. What are the children learning about this week?
The theme this week is ‘who is who in nursery?’
This week each morning the children will see photographs of each member of staff and they will learn the names of the staff. This is to help the children to feel more at ease with the staff and to encourage children to use names when talking to someone. We will talk about the importance of addressing people by their names and recognizing who each person is and where they work within the nursery. Learning the names of the people around you, helps to build confidence and create a sense of self.
The learning intention this week is for the children to be able to count up to five items, recognising that the last number said, represents the total counted so far. Children will be taught lots of number songs to help them count in order and they will be encouraged to check their counting by using fingers to represent the numbers. Staff will model number language throughout the week and will give children targets such as ‘please give me one or two things’. This helps to check the children’s understanding and confidence with numbers and amounts.
The skill we will be focusing on this week is riding a bike. We have a large selection of bikes for the children to use, including two wheeled bikes, tricycles and tandems. We will provide a timer to support the children to take turns on the bikes and play fairly. All children are encouraged to ride safely and to park their bikes up in the designated parking area after their turn.
