Next week we are stepping into the magical world of the woodland. Through creative play, songs, and sensory activities, the children will be exploring autumn colours, woodland animals, and seasonal changes. Both the toddler and baby rooms will enjoy learning experiences that build independence, imagination, and early communication while celebrating the beauty of nature.

Toddler Room

On Monday the children will be practising their fine motor skills with a woodland animal threading activity. Using brightly coloured animal shapes and threads, they will carefully weave the string through each hole. This activity not only supports concentration but also encourages conversations about different woodland animals and where they live.

On Tuesday we will bring autumn colours into our artwork as the children enjoy painting conkers with orange and brown paint. They will notice how the colours mix together and will use different brush strokes to create patterns. This activity supports creativity and gives plenty of opportunities to talk about autumn treasures.

On Wednesday the children will create their own decorative acorns using green and brown paper. They will cut, glue, and stick to build their design, thinking about the colours and shapes they choose. This activity is a wonderful way to support early mark-making and develop knowledge about how acorns grow into mighty oak trees.

On Thursday the focus will be on independence as the children learn to make their own sandwiches. They will practise spreading, layering, and following simple instructions. Making food together helps build confidence and self-care skills while also offering plenty of fun discussion about tastes, textures, and healthy choices, perfect for any future woodland picnics you may take your little adventurers on.

On Friday the children will come together to share a story time with The Gruffalo. This much-loved tale will spark imagination as we talk about the woodland setting and all the animals who live there. Storytelling builds language and listening skills while bringing the week’s woodland theme to life in a magical way.

Baby Room

On Monday the babies will enjoy an exploratory walk to the woods to collect fallen leaves. They will look closely at the shapes, textures, and colours, feeling the crispness of the leaves and listening to the rustling sounds. This sensory-rich experience supports early curiosity and gives them the chance to connect with nature.

On Tuesday the focus will be on exploring autumn colours with a sensory tuff tray filled with orange and brown objects and fabrics. Babies will be encouraged to feel, scrunch, and move the items, noticing the different textures. This hands-on play helps develop early sensory awareness while also introducing seasonal colours.

On Wednesday the babies will make handprints with paint to create an autumn handprint tree. Practitioners will support them in pressing their painted hands onto paper to build the tree design. This activity introduces mark-making in a fun way while allowing babies to feel the paint and notice how their hand shapes look on the page.

On Thursday the leaves collected earlier in the week will be used for leaf printing. Babies will dip the leaves into paint and press them onto paper, watching how the patterns transfer. This activity encourages cause-and-effect exploration and gives babies an early understanding of how natural objects can be used in creative play.

On Friday the week will close with autumn-themed stories and songs. Babies will gather with practitioners to share seasonal books and join in with singing simple rhymes. These moments support early listening skills, language development, and the joy of joining in with group activities in a warm, supportive environment.