There has been great excitement at nursery this week as we proudly opened our brand-new outdoor area for the children to enjoy. The new wooden play equipment has already become a huge favourite, offering endless opportunities for fun, challenge and development. The children have loved exploring the different features, including climbing the steps, scaling the climbing wall, carefully crossing the rickety bridge and whizzing down the slide. Our trim trail has also been incredi

Our nursery was buzzing with excitement as the children put their heads together to come up with the perfect names for our adorable new chicks. Suggestions came pouring in from every corner, creating a wonderfully imaginative (and sometimes very funny!) list. A big thank you goes to the school children who attend breakfast and/or after school club who took charge of gathering all the ideas and passing them along to the staff. From there, our youngest nursery members had the i

Yesterday, just as the final children were leaving nursery, a magical moment began to unfold. One child paused and said she could hear a faint “cheep, cheep.” Curious, we gathered around the eggs and noticed one starting to wobble… then crack. We listened closely to the gentle tap, tap, tap from inside - the hatching process had begun. Soon, more tiny cracks appeared, and before long, a very small, dark chick began to emerge. By the end of the nursery day, we were delighted t

“What have you got?” “What’s that?” The questions come thick and fast as all eyes turn to Karen and her intriguing visitor. Carefully, the man begins to set up his equipment: a wire cage, a feeding station, warming panels - each piece adding to the growing sense of anticipation. The children watch, captivated, as he gently opens a box and reveals something very special. One by one, he places them into the incubator. “Wow!” the children gasp in unison. Inside are e

Over the Easter break, the transformation of our Busy Bugs garden has truly begun to take shape. The children had already been busy filling the raised beds and planting a variety of plants, but when they return to nursery next week, they’ll be greeted with even more exciting changes. A brand-new herb garden has been created, beautifully bordered with the children’s painted stones. The bug house is starting to blend naturally into its surroundings, and wildflower seeds have be

We’re excited to share that our newly named garden space is already coming to life! The children have worked hard to prepare the raised beds, potato bags, and even a repurposed boat, filling them with natural materials and soil ready for planting. Potatoes, beans, sunflowers, and sweet peas have now been planted, and we’re already seeing the first signs of growth - something the children are thrilled about! We’ve also created a bug house using only materials found in our nurs

Our nursery was filled with excitement and imagination as we celebrated World Book Day. The children arrived dressed in a wonderful variety of fantastic costumes, proudly showing off their favourite storybook characters. From the moment they came through the door, there was a real buzz as the children shared who they were dressed as and enjoyed stepping into the role of their characters throughout the day. It was lovely to see their confidence and creativity shine as they act

We were incredibly honoured to welcome King Charles III to Thorney Island on Thursday 26th February. It was a truly proud and memorable occasion for our whole community. His Majesty arrived by helicopter to a magnificent 21-gun salute, which our children were thrilled to watch and experience. The excitement was clear to see as they gathered for his walkabout, eagerly waving and smiling. For some of our children, the day became even more special as they had the privilege of s

Despite the recent inclement weather, Thorney’s Cosy Courtyard has quickly become a much-loved addition to our nursery environment. The all-weather surface has proved to be an invaluable resource, allowing children to enjoy outdoor play whatever the conditions. Children have been enthusiastically making the most of the space-running laps around the track before jumping on the trikes, bikes and scooters to ride around with confidence and excitement. The courtyard has encourag

We are absolutely delighted to share the fantastic news that the Thorney’s Cosy Courtyard is now complete – and what an incredible transformation it has been! We would like to say a massive thank you to Made2play who have worked tirelessly over the last 10 days to create this amazing space, come rain or shine. Without the funding from The Armed Forces Covenant Fund transforming this space was only a dream, but it has now become a reality and we can’t wait to use the space

The planters have now been filled with a structured combination of under-soil and topsoil to support healthy plant growth. Trellis panels are currently being installed along the walls, and decorative chalkboards are being mounted between the planters to provide interactive spaces for the children once the area is complete. In addition, the previous concrete mounds have been removed and replaced with mulch. This surface will soon be sealed with a special non-slip resin coating

What an incredible week it has been in our Cosy Courtyard - so much progress and so many new features to look forward to! The colourful roof panels have started to go up on the new lean-to, and when the sunlight hits them, the ground below is splashed with vibrant colours - it looks absolutely magical. A new wooden fence has now been built, clearly defining the children’s play area. Just outside the preschool doors, smooth concrete mounds have been shaped and will soon be cov

Works have started in the courtyard and we have all been very impressed on the speed and efficiency by the boys carrying out the work. The children were all very excited, when the machinery made its arrival, staff had to make sure they were alternating the children they were holding up to the windows to observe. There is something about heavy machinery that sends children absolutely wild, and our pre-school room were no exception to this. The first things to be demolished we

Good morning parents/guardians/carers, we have some exciting news to share with you regarding the courtyard in the nursery. Back in November 2024, Karen applied for funding from the A rmed Forces Covenant Fund Trust f or the creation of an all weather play area. The vision Karen had was to create a communal play area in the unused courtyard for both babies and preschool to enjoy in all weather. In March 2025, we received the fantastic news that we have been successful in our

A Festive Week at Nursery 🎄 We have had a truly wonderful week at nursery as we prepared for the festive break. The children have been full of excitement and joy, and it has been lovely to see so much laughter and Christmas cheer filling our rooms. One of the highlights of the week was a surprise visit from Father Christmas after the children’s Christmas party. His visit was a huge success and brought lots of smiles, excitement, and wide-eyed wonder to the children. It was a

Today, we took a moment to remember and say thank you to all the brave people who have helped keep us safe - in the past and present. At Thorney Island Nursery, we talk about Remembrance in simple, gentle ways our little ones can understand. Today we made poppies, shared stories about kindness and peace, and have had a quiet moment together to think about people who help others - including our own military families. We are so proud of our children and the strength they show a

Starting the week of 17th November , we’ll be holding a Second-Hand Book & Toy Sale at nursery! It’s the perfect opportunity to: Clear out before the Christmas rush Give pre-loved toys, books, and games a new home Help raise funds for new nursery equipment and resources If you have any clean and complete toys, games, or books ready for their next adventure, please drop them off at nursery from Tuesday 4th November . Every donation makes a difference - helping us all to grow

We have had a wonderful week at nursery exploring Autumn and Halloween. The children have been busy making potions, scooping out pumpkins, painting bats and spooky witches, and discovering how the leaves fall from the trees with their beautiful colours. The week finished with the staff and children dressing up in costumes and having a party, with dancing and delicious Halloween treats. Everybody had a brilliant time.

Every day at nursery, both rooms set up a tuff tray to give the children something new and exciting to explore. Sometimes it ties in with our weekly theme, and other times it’s inspired by something the children have been curious about or enjoyed recently. Here’s a peek at some of the amazing tuff tray creations our wonderful staff have put together -encouraging the children to use their senses, spark their imaginations, and dive into new little adventures each day!

We’ve had such a fantastic start back at nursery this term! Everyone has settled in beautifully. Some children have moved into new rooms,...