Welcome to Willow Room at Little Hayes Nursery School.
Here, you’ll discover essential details about our team, see the latest news from the room and much more.
Our mission is to foster a secure, caring, and dynamic setting that encourages your child’s development and joy in learning.
Stay tuned to this page for the latest snapshots of life in our Willow room, including our current projects, special events, and daily adventures. We aim to keep you connected and engaged with our vibrant room community.
Little Hayes
Welcome to Little Hayes Nursery School. We are one of twelve local authority-maintained nursery schools in Bristol offering high-quality early years education for 2, 3 and 4-year-olds.
Little Hayes has been at the heart of the local Fishponds community since 1957. The site was originally an open green space enclosed by a hedge, hence the name, from the old English word hayes for hedge. In its long history, the nursery has been attended by several generations of many local families and some of our staff were former parents and pupils. We are always excited to welcome back families, meet new siblings and offer fantastic learning opportunities to the next generation of learners.
We strive to provide a welcoming, nurturing, family centred provision and are proud of the role Little Hayes has played in the local community for over 60 years.
News and Updates from Willow Room
Owls Visit Little Hayes Nursery School
Last week we were visited by Dave from Owl Occasions and his beautiful barn owl Loki. Dave gave us a very informative presentation and we learned about the different parts of the owl's body, what they eat and much, much more. You can see some of the pictures from the...
In Willow Room We Are Learning… (October 2024)
We Are Learning... To use Some Counting Words, or Engage in Counting-Like Behaviour (Making Sounds, Gestures, Pointing or Saying Some Numbers in Sequence) We will be focusing on developing number confidence, in particular knowledge around number and counting. We will...
In Willow Room We Are Learning… (September 2024)
We Are Learning... To Settle, Build Relationships and Find Out How to Learn in a Group. We have been busy re-settling returning children as well as welcoming new children and their families. We have been finding out which groups we are in and where we meet. We are...
Imaginative play with The Travelling Light Theatre Company
Practitioners from Travelling Light Theatre Company (https://www.travellinglighttheatre.org.uk/take-part/schools/) have been at Little Hayes over the past few Mondays, delivering some creative arts and storytelling activities for the children. The project, called...
Music with Ellie
This term we are delighted to welcome Ellie, an early year's music specialist from Bristol Beacon. She is joining us on Thursday mornings for musical exploration in both Oak and Willow rooms. We are learning new songs, playing instruments together and dancing in lots...
In Willow Room We Are Learning… (June 2024)
We Are Learning... To use Fine and Gross Motor Movements with Confidence, Purpose and Joy According to the Chief Medical Officer, children under 5 need 180 minutes of physical activity each day!This term we are getting active. We will be reading stories linked to...
In Willow Room We Are Learning… (Term 5, 2024)
We are Learning... To Observe the Natural World The garden will be noticing signs of spring and growing cress and sunflower seeds. We will be reading Jasper’s Beanstalk to help the children understand about caring for plants and realising that they don’t grow...
In Willow Room We Are Learning… (Term 4, 2024)
We Are Learning... To Notice, Explore and Experience Shapes Our maths focus this term is around SHAPE. We will be exploring and noticing shapes in the environment, in books and in our creative exploration. Adults will be using informal language e.g., slanty, pointy,...
In Willow Room We Are Learning… (Term 3, 2024)
Copying Simple Patterns, Particularly in Sounds and Actions We will be using patterns of actions in songs and stories, as well as thinking about the pattern of the daily routine, with language such as first, now, next, after and later. Linked to our core book we will...
Key Information
Default
Hidden
Your Key Person
Your child will have a special person to link with when they come to nursery called a key person.
This member of staff will work very closely with you and your child to make sure your child settles well and that we meet their needs.
They will plan carefully for your child’s development and learning and will communicate with you as much as possible.
Your child’s learning will be shared via the Tapestry interactive learning diary, which you can access online and add your own photos and comments.
What to Bring
Things you need to bring every day:
- A complete change of clothes, including socks (we do use aprons whenever possible)
- Shoes that are comfortable and that your child can safely run and jump around in are important
- On hot days, please bring a sun hat, a top that covers shoulders and put sun lotion on before your child comes to nursery
- A piece of fruit to add to our fruit bowl for sharing
- A water bottle
- Nappies and wipes if your child uses them (and nappy cream when needed)
- A coat suitable for playing outdoors in all weather
- Wellies (these can be left at the nursery)
Please put your child’s name on their belongings.
A voluntary contribution of £1.00 per week towards art resources
A termly donation of a box of tissues or a pack of wet wipes
Illness
Please don’t send your child to nursery if they are unwell with a high temperature, unexplained rash, vomiting or diarrhoea.
If they have vomited or had diarrhoea they must stay home at least 48 hours after the last occurrence.
For more information about school and common childhood illnesses, please see this link.
Please ring us if your child is ill and not able to attend nursery as this helps us manage any infections in the nursery.
Medicines
Please tell us about any prescribed medicines, drugs, health, diet or allergies that your child may have.
We can only give medicines to children if they are prescribed.
Meals and Snacks
All children will have snack time in their key group, during which they will be offered fruit and milk or water. We ask parents to bring in fresh fruit or vegetables such as cucumbers, carrots, or peppers to share at snack time.
When your child is here for a whole day , please provide a suitable packed lunch:
- Please make sure that your child’s lunch is in a bag or box clearly labelled with their name.
- Please do not include any nuts or nut products – including peanut butter or chocolate hazelnut spreads such as Nutella.
- Please do not include chocolate bars or sweets.
- Please do not include fruit juice, squash or fizzy drinks. We provide a choice of water or milk to drink at lunchtime and snack time. Children can bring their own water bottle if they wish.
- No cutlery is needed as we have cutlery available for children to use e.g. spoons for yoghurt.
- Popcorn can be a choke hazard for children under 5, please do not include it.
- Foods such as grapes and cherry tomatoes must be cut lengthways to reduce risk of choking.
- Sorry but we are not able to reheat any foods for children.