Red Foxes have been busy wrapping up presents this week! Some of the children decided to build a sleigh to put their presents on. They worked together to build it, carefully placing wooden blocks and bricks so "Santa has a seat" and leaving a space for the reindeer to "pull the sleigh in the sky".

Arwen painted a detailed picture of Father Christmas.

Ronnie and Vinnie built a wall around the stone to keep them safe.

This week the G2 children have been exploring how to get ice out of a container and free the gems frozen in them. They experimented using their hands to tap the container. They then used a spoon and tried putting the containers into warm water.

The G2 children were very excited when they saw the festive curiosity cube!

Santa left a letter in the nursery garden asking for help to deliver Christmas presents. Jasmine had an idea after reading the letter, she built a sleigh using the wood blocks.

Kai enjoyed rolling out the mixture to make the shortbreads.

Alex had fun mixing the ingredients for the shortbread biscuits.

The boys collaborated for 40 minutes on this wonderful structure. There was discussion about who was building the wall, how high it needed to be and problem solving when the wall came crashing down. The children showed perseverance and rebuilt the wall with a different approach. They sourced some decorations from the nearby tree and added the final touches. Grand Designers, budding architects of the future.

G2 have been exploring a winter scene and enjoyed making houses for the polar bears.

Look at our Christmas shortbreads - yummy!

Vladimir decided to make a fire engine with the mobilo construction, He found all the pieces he needed and worked out independently how to connect them together. He said, "I make a fire truck".

The children in G3 have been exploring ice, freezing objects and using different tools to "rescue" what's inside. The children have described the ice as "chilly" and noticed that if they hold cubes of it in their hands it begins to melt, the children have learnt that their hands are hot so the heat melts the ice.

The preparation area is ready for a week of baking. The children will be using the visual recipe strip to make their own shortbread. We look forward to seeing the creations and hearing the children's views on how they make their shortbread and how they taste. There's only one thing left to say …. On your marks, get set, bake ...

The Red Foxes have a shop! The children enjoyed writing their shopping lists and buying their favourite food. Some of the things they have said: "Money! 123" and "I need yoghurt and butter". They have been talking about their own experiences of shopping, "I go shopping with my my Mummy. We buy popcorn for our movie".

Jack was rolling balls with the playdough, he then placed one on top of the other. Jack told me "Look its my snowman! He needs arms, a carrot and a hat now!"

Ethan explored the clay and made a walkie talkie. He independently wrote his name.

The children in G2 have been busy tidying the garden. They used rakes to collect the leaves, then placed them in the trolley to push them to the rubbish bag. Great work, you all worked very hard.

The Red Foxes enjoyed experimenting and exploring in the outdoors. They mixed mud and soapy water, used different sized utensils and containers. "I'm making cupcakes. I'm following the recipe".

Hugo explored mark making using paints on a large surface. Using gross motor movements initially and then making smaller fine motor marks on the board.

This week in the construction area G2 have been looking at different images of buildings. They spoke about what the children could see, some mentioned "houses, shops, towers and bridges". The construction is "Elsa's Castle, she lives in there!"

Lottie enjoyed making some "wine for mummy" while experimenting and exploring outside.

Emilia painted a picture of a cat. She added whiskers and a tail.

The boys constructed a "shopping centre using the large wooden blocks.

The children worked together to create "A Queen's house garden"

The boys worked together to build a castle for Princess Justyna. Wow, what an amazing castle.

Amelie made a tree with clay. She had been into the nursery garden and picked twigs to put into the clay.

A child completed this painting, he was very proud, saying "I did it, my picture, it's Mummy, He was exploring the paint, using the brushes and his hands.

The children enjoyed the book Colour Monster and asked to make their own feelings bottles like they do in the book.

"That's my table … one more chair, it's my house"

"This child maintained focus on their activity and used their own ideas selecting a variety of resources"

Raseem used a mixture of blocks and loose parts to create a car. He told his friends he has a Ferrari like this at home. What a brilliant model. We wonder which car is faster?

Madeleine and Ethan spent time writing and drawing their ideas. They put their plan on the wall and used blocks and items from the resources box. They played for over an hour. Wow this is brilliant. We wonder where the pirate ship will sail to next?

This week the children have been working on some collaborative art. Nurture Nest have been using paints which they have mixed themselves and adding different textures such as wool and feathers.

This is Buddy's family. Created using the interactive white board.

Mariam wrote a letter to her friend Madeleine. She drew Spider-M and 2 dresses for her friend to choose. We wonder which one she liked? We like the dress with the heart and green emeralds on.

"We made a castle for them". Rafferty and Skye worked to build this wonderfully symmetrical building.

The Red Fox children used pipettes to create a collaborative firework picture.

"Its a castle and the witch lives here. The fairy climbed up the wall. The fairy said "Boo" to the witch. She just runned away" What a wonderfuld story. I wonder where the witch ran away to?

The children were using their hands to make large circular movements, to make marks and were looking at the colours to see if they changed. What fun!

"Rainbows are my favourite, the glitter is because rainbows sparkle, did you know that?"

Madeleine created a bug hotel at the junk modelling table for ladybirds.

"My brother is scared of spiders! Catch them in a box and take them to the garden". Wow you are brave and what a kind thing to do for your brother

What a wonderful painting and signed by the artist