First Class Newsletter – June 2025

“First Class Nursery News & Highlights – Summer 2025”

We’ve had a fantastic term so far, full of learning, fun, and special moments. The children have been growing in confidence, making new friends, and exploring lots of exciting activities. As we get ready for the end of the term, we have plenty more to look forward to — from celebrations and trips to fun learning and family events. Thank you for being part of our journey!

Baby Room 

Theme: Listening & Language

As we head into the final stretch of the summer term, we’re continuing to support our babies as they grow through positive routines, loving relationships, and lots of playful learning. We’ve had a wonderful term full of cuddles, curiosity, and milestones – thank you for sharing your little ones with us!

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be focusing on:

• Encouraging babies to listen to stories and sounds
• Supporting early language development through songs, books, and naming familiar objects
• Enjoying a ‘Story of the Week’ together to help babies recognise repeated words and rhythms
• Visiting the local library to explore books in a new environment
• Helping babies express themselves through gestures, babbling, and simple words

All of this supports your child’s communication development — a key part of their early learning.

🏡 Home Learning Ideas – Baby Room – Read with Me!

We’re asking families to share in our love of stories by:

• Reading books with your baby each day — simple picture books, rhyming stories, or sensory books
• Talking about what they see in the pictures using clear, simple language
• Bringing in your child’s favourite book for us to share during story time at nursery

📸 Please share a photo of you and your child reading together — either by uploading it to ParentZone or emailing it to: firstclasshuddersfield@gmail.com

Bumblebee Room

Theme: Wonderful Words & Big Ideas

This term, our Bumblebees have been buzzing with excitement as they explore new words, stories, and ideas. Language development is a big part of our daily routine, and we’re thrilled to see the children growing in confidence and communication.

This term’s focus is vocabulary building. Each week, the children are introduced to five new words linked to our themes, stories, and everyday activities. We explore these words through:

• Stories and rhymes
• Role play and small world play
• Real-life experiences and objects
• Songs and movement
• Repetition and discussion during play

By using rich language in meaningful contexts, we help the children expand their understanding and express themselves more clearly.

🏡 Home Learning Ideas – Bumblebees – Show and tell with words

To support our vocabulary work at home, we invite families to:

• Choose one of the new words your child has been learning
• Help your child find a small object related to that word
• Bring it into nursery for Show & Tell time

This activity builds confidence, encourages speaking in front of a group, and makes learning fun and personal.

Sunflower Room 

Theme: Learning Through Play and Conversation

This term in the Sunflowers Room, we’ve been focusing on helping the children build important social and communication skills through games, stories, and playful interactions. It’s been lovely to see them growing in confidence and learning how to play together as a group.

We’re helping the children to:

• Take turns during group games and activities
• Understand and express their feelings and needs
• Use language to communicate and ask questions
• Learn new words through flash cards and songs
• Develop positive relationships and independence through PSED (Personal, Social and Emotional Development) activities

We’ve seen some great progress as the children are learning how to play fairly, listen to others, and use their words in new ways.

🏡 Home Learning Ideas – Sunflower Room – Bedtime Stories

To support language development at home, we encourage you to:

📚 Read a book with your child each evening at bedtime
💬 Talk about the pictures and ask simple questions like “What’s happening?” or “What do you think will happen next?”
📷 Feel free to send us photos of your child enjoying a book via Parent Zone or email them to firstclasshuddersfield@gmail.com

Reading regularly helps build vocabulary, imagination, and a love for stories!

Butterfly Room (Pre-school)

Theme: Growing Independence

As we move through the summer term, we’re continuing to support our pre-schoolers in building important self-care and independence skills to prepare them for their next steps. Through practical activities and fun, hands-on learning, the children are developing the confidence to do more for themselves each day.

We are helping children build independence through:

• Zipping up coats and learning how to manage buttons
• Practising shoelaces using fun lace boards and real shoes
• Daily finger gym activities to strengthen fine motor skills
• Encouraging children to wash hands, tidy up, and take turns during routines
• Using mirrors, dressing dolls, and self-care role play games

These experiences help prepare children not just for school, but for life!

🏡 Home Learning Ideas – Butterfly Room (pre-school room) 

To continue developing fine motor strength and coordination at home, we’ll be sending out Finger Gym Activity Packs with fun exercises and games.

These packs are designed to be simple, engaging, and support your child’s growing independence. 

Please take photos of your child having a go and share them with us on Parent Zone or by email. 

Bluebells Room

Theme: Growing Our Own!

This term, the children in Bluebells have been learning all about planting and growing. The children have been busy growing and planting, and we’ll continue this over the coming weeks. They’ve been very excited to take care of their own fruit and vegetable plants.

So far, we’ve planted:

• Peppers
• White & red strawberries
• Tomatoes
• Apples
• Melons

They’ve really enjoyed watering the plants, watching them grow, and talking about the changes they see. This helps them learn how things grow and how to care for living things.

We’re excited to see what else we can grow together!

🏡 Home Learning Ideas – Bluebells Room – Cook What You Grow!

As our crops begin to mature, your child will soon bring home a vegetable or fruit they’ve helped grow.

We’d love for you to:

1. Use it to make a simple dish or snack together at home
2. Take a photo of the dish or your child helping
3. Share the photo with us via Parent Zone or by emailing firstclasshuddersfield@gmail.com

This helps children see the full journey from soil to plate and builds positive connections with healthy eating.

Key Dates & Events

We have lots of exciting events coming up as we head towards the end of the summer term and into the holidays. Here’s what’s happening:

📅 Eid ul Adha – Friday 6th June
We’ll be learning about and celebrating Eid ul Adha with crafts, stories, and festive fun! If your family celebrates, we’d love for you to share your traditions with us.

📅 Eid Party Dinner & party Tea – Monday 9th June – Dress up 

📅 Parents Evening – Wednesday 11th June, 6:15–8:00pm
Come along for a one-to-one chat with your child’s key worker to discuss their progress, achievements, and next steps. Booking info will be shared closer to the date.

📅 Father’s Day themed Special Breakfast/Brunch for Dad’s, Grandad’s, Father figures – 10-11am

📅 Father’s Day – Sunday 15th June
We’ll be doing some lovely activities in the nursery to celebrate the special people in our lives, including dads, grandads, and other important figures!

📅 Transition to School Day – Tuesday 1st July
This special day is when many of our nursery children visit their new primary schools to help them prepare for starting Reception in September. It’s a fantastic opportunity for them to explore their new school environment, meet their future teachers, and start making new friends. Transition days are an important part of supporting children as they move from nursery into school life. Visiting their new classroom helps them become familiar with the setting, routines, and people they’ll see every day. This experience builds their confidence, helps them feel more settled, and makes the big step into Reception a positive and exciting one.

📅 School Leavers Graduation – Wednesday 2nd July
A proud and emotional day! Join us to celebrate your child’s time at nursery with a special graduation ceremony and lots of smiles.

📅 School Leavers Trip to Whistlestop Valley – Wednesday 9th July
An exciting adventure for our leavers! We’ll be heading out for a fun day with train rides and outdoor play. Details and permission slips will be sent home soon.

📅 Sports Day – Wednesday 16th July, 10:00–11:00am at Greenhead Park

We are excited for our Sports Day at Greenhead Park! There will be fun games and races, and families are welcome to join us and cheer on the children.

👟 Getting to the Park:
Please let us know how your child will get to the park:

• Will you meet us at the park?
• Will you walk with us from nursery?
• Do you want staff to take your child to the park?

📞 Please speak to your child’s room staff know your plan. This helps us keep all children safe and organised.

We can’t wait for a fun morning!

📅 End of Summer Term – Friday 18th July
This marks the final day of the summer term for term-time children. We’ll be celebrating the children’s achievements and reflecting on a fun-filled term. A big thank you to all our families for your continued support!

📅 Yorkshire Day Menu – Friday 1st August
To celebrate Yorkshire Day, the children will enjoy a special lunch featuring traditional Yorkshire dishes. We’ll also explore some local culture through themed activities, music, and stories that highlight what makes Yorkshire unique.

📅 Beach Day – Tuesday 12th August
Join us for a fun-filled Beach Day! There will be sand and water play, beach-themed crafts, and summery activities for you and your child to enjoy together. Please make sure your child brings a sun hat and spare clothes for the day.

📅 Afternoon Tea – Friday 15th August

The children will enjoy a special Afternoon Tea at nursery! We’ll have light treats, fun activities like cupcake decorating, role play tea parties, and a calm story session to finish the day. It will be a lovely, relaxing experience for the children to enjoy with their friends.

📅 Visit from Rachel’s Pets – w.c. 18th August
Our very own staff member Rachel will be bringing in her pets for the children to see and learn about. This will be a fantastic opportunity for the children to get close to animals in a safe environment and learn how to care for and handle them gently.

Parent Notices & Reminders

✔ Eid Absences: Notify the nursery in advance if your child will be absent.
✔ Running Late? Call ahead to avoid late collection fees (£10 for the first 15 minutes, then £1 per minute).
✔ Breakfast Deadline: Breakfast is served until 8:30 AM only.
✔ No Toys from Home: To prevent loss or distraction, children should not bring personal toys.
✔ Parent Zone: Check your child’s learning journey, bookings, and invoices online.

Funding & Childcare Updates

• 30 Hours Funding Deadline: Apply by 31st August 2025 if your child turns 3 before this date.
• 15 Hours Funding: If your child is aged 2 or 3, they may be eligible for 15 hours of funded childcare per week. Please check your eligibility and apply as soon as possible to secure a place.
• Funding for Babies: Some families may be eligible for funded childcare for babies under 2 years old, depending on their circumstances. Please speak to our team for more information on how to apply.
• More Info: Visit www.childcarechoices.gov.uk for eligibility details.

Contact Information

📍 First Class Childcare Huddersfield

📞 01484 950746

📧 firstclasshuddersfield@gmail.com

📍 Address: 16a Portland Street, HD1 5PB

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Thank you for being part of the First Class family! We appreciate your support and look forward to another fantastic half term of learning and fun! 🎉