Hello to all our wonderful families,
We can’t believe we’re heading into the festive season already. The past two months have been packed with exciting activities and so much brilliant learning. It has been wonderful to see the children’s friendships blossom and their confidence grow.
Thank you for all your continued support as we head toward the end of our first term. We are looking forward to a very merry December filled with festive fun and celebrations!
Welcome to the Team
We are thrilled to welcome two new members of staff to our Puddle Ducks team, Heather and Tyler.
We want to say a huge congratulations to them both for recently completing their Paediatric First Aid training.
Heather is a very experienced practitioner who we have known for a long time. She is already amazing us with her wonderful songs, engaging puppet plays, and magical make-believe adventures. The children are captivated by her storytelling!
Tyler has a brilliant energy and is wonderful at getting stuck into all our messy play, building fantastic creations with the children, and bringing great fun to our outdoor adventures.
Please be sure to say hello when you see them.
Dates for Your Diary
Christmas Sing-Along & Santa Visit! We would love to invite all children and parents to our Christmas Sing-Along on Friday, 19th December at 4:00 pm.
We’ll be singing some of our favourite festive songs, sharing some seasonal treats, and we’ve heard a rumour that Santa himself might be stopping by! It’s a lovely chance for us all to celebrate together. We can’t wait to see you there.
Nursery Closures & Bank Holidays
- Christmas Closure 2025: We will be closed for the Christmas break from Monday, 22nd December to Friday, 26th December 2025, reopening on Monday, 29th December. Our Christmas 2026 holiday dates will be confirmed next year.
- 2026 Bank Holiday Closures:
- Thursday, 1st January (New Year’s Day)
- Friday, 3rd April (Good Friday)
- Monday, 6th April (Easter Monday)
- Monday, 4th May (Early May Bank Holiday)
- Monday, 25th May (Spring Bank Holiday)
- Monday, 31st August (Summer Bank Holiday)
- Friday, 25th December (Christmas Day)
- Monday, 28th December (Boxing Day)
What We’ve Been Learning About
It has been a very busy half-term, and the children’s curiosity has led us on some wonderful adventures!
- A Special Visitor: A huge highlight was the visit from a very gentle pony called Bella. The children enjoyed meeting her. The children loved learning how to stroke the pony and talked about its soft nose and swishy tail.
- Explosive Science!: We had a fantastic (and messy!) time creating our own erupting volcano. The children’s faces were a picture of amazement as they watched the ‘lava’ fizz and bubble over the top.
- Bonfire Night Fun: We’ve been learning all about Bonfire Night, discussing the bright colours and loud sounds. The children made their own amazing ‘fireworks’ in the tuff tray, using bright paints and tools for mark-making to create whizzes, pops, and bangs!
- Woodland Wonders: We wrapped up warm for a woodland visit, where we became nature detectives. We collected pinecones, colourful leaves, and interesting twigs, which we then used to create some beautiful nature art and collages back at the nursery.
- And so much more… Alongside these events, we’ve been strengthening our fine motor skills with threading and playdough, developing our language in the role-play corner, and snuggling up to share lots of lovely stories as the days get colder.
Polite Reminders: Wrap Up Warm
Now that the really cold weather is here, please could we remind you to send your child in with plenty of warm, named layers.
- A warm, waterproof coat, hat, and gloves.
- Lots of named spare clothes in their bag (especially trousers and socks).
- Wellington boots and a puddle suit that can stay at the nursery if you wish.
- Outdoor, waterproof booties for babies who are not yet walking.
We love playing outdoors whatever the weather, and these items are essential for keeping everyone warm, dry, and happy.
Healthy Packed Lunches and Teas
We encourage parents to provide balanced, healthy food options that keep energy steady throughout the day.
When packing lunches and teas, we recommend:
- Complex Carbohydrates: Wholemeal bread, wraps, crackers or pasta.
- Protein: Lean meat, poultry, fish, cheese, hummus, or hard-boiled eggs.
- Fruits and Vegetables
- Dairy (or Alternatives): Plain yogurt or cheese.
- Drinks: Water is always the best option. We politely ask that you avoid fruit juices and fizzy drinks.
- Please Avoid: Nuts of any kind, Chocolate bars, sweets, cakes and sugary snacks.
Thank you again for partnering with us to ensure a safe, nutritious, and supportive environment for all our children. If you have any questions about suitable food choices, please speak to a member of our team and we will be more than happy to share some recipe cards and ideas with you.
Donations Welcome
If you are having a clear-out, we would be incredibly grateful to accept any pre-loved items that are in good condition. We are always in need of spare clothing (especially trousers and socks!) for all ages, as well as any toys or books that your children may have outgrown. Thank you in advance.
Connecting Home & Nursery
A huge thank you to everyone who has sent in a family photo. The children love looking at them in our special box. If you haven’t had a chance yet, please feel free to bring one in or upload it to Tapestry for us to print.
Sharing Your News from Home
We love hearing about your ‘wow’ moments and family adventures. Please do continue to upload photos to Tapestry. The children are always so proud to share them with their friends during carpet time.
Important Information: Tax-Free Childcare
This is just a reminder that the option to pay for your nursery fees using the government’s Tax-Free Childcare scheme is live.
If you haven’t already, you can set up an account and check your eligibility here: https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-tax-free-childcare
To find us on the system, please use our Ofsted reference number: 2852482 and our postcode: TN32 5PJ.
Your Feedback Matters
We are always striving to make Puddle Ducks the best it can be. Your feedback is incredibly valuable, so please don’t hesitate to let us know what you think is going well or if you have any suggestions for how we could improve.
Thank you again for being part of our community.
Warmest wishes for a wonderful festive season,
The Puddle Ducks Team
