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Nursery News
Friday July 23, 2010
There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when this group of four-year-olds “graduated” at Ashfield Nursery, Stanhope Road, South Shields.
Addressing the gathering of parents, relatives and friends, acting Nursery Manager Karen Mattocks said: “This is a happy occasion for the children but a sad one for us as the children are leaving to go to big school in September. I have to tell you it’s been a pleasure and a privilege to look after them and we shall really miss them.”
Karen, who has worked at Stanhope Road for six years, starting as a nursery nurse, added: “We’re not supposed to get too attached to the toddlers, but it’s difficult not to… some of them have been with us since they were babies.”
As a change from the usual cap-and-gown occasion, the youngsters were dressed in their “proms” best and on their best behaviour when they received their graduation certificates.
Some of Karen’s colleagues, Nicola Calder, Natalie Moulding, and Stephanie Sherrington, thanked the parents for their support over the years.
After the presentations the children enjoyed a magic show and a tea party. |
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Thursday July 15, 2010
They may slither, hiss, scuttle alarmingly, or simply look unpleasant, but the three and four-year-olds at the two Ashfield nurseries and early learning centres at South Shields, took them in their stride when Zoolab visited them to introduce a selection of live snakes, giant insects, and other creepy crawlies.
The purpose of the exercise was to help the toddlers to see and to handle creatures they might not otherwise encounter... and to have a lot of fun doing it!
Some of the creatures in Zoolab’s travelling menagerie include a four-inch long Mexican hissing cockroach, corn snakes, tarantulas, and scorpions. But, as Jim Young, the company’s marketing manager points out: “The snakes are completely non-venomous and the tarantulas and scorpions never leave their see-through boxes. The others are quite happily handled by the youngsters who find them fascinating!”
Says Leanne Howden, manager of Ashfield Nursery in the grounds of South Tyneside District Hospital in Shields: “It was absolutely amazing how fearless the children were, particularly when they were invited to hold or touch the animals.”
At Stanhope Road nursery, nurse Karen Beaton said: “The children were fascinated by the creatures. They had great fun mimicking their movements. I’m sure they’ll remember this visit for a long time.” |
Four-year-old Callum lets a giant stick insect
sit on his hand while his friend Ben (3) looks on.
(Left to right) Thomas (3), Joseph (4), Lucy (3), and Lennon (4) all display a fearless fascination at their close encounter with a corn snake. |
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Wednesday June 30, 2010
Craig Hindson, a 39-year-old North East war veteran involved in the Iraq and Afghanistan fighting has made a full recovery from resultant post-traumatic stress disorder … partly by writing stories for small children!
After first testing out the stories about three naughty witches – Heggy, Peggy and Meggy -- on his six-year-old and three-year-old daughters Danika and Maya, he has now had his tales enthusiastically endorsed by an audience of about 20 four-year-olds.
Dressed in a wizard’s outfit, the serviceman-turned-storyteller gave them a reading at the Ashfield Nursery, Low Fell.
Craig, who is manager of a Gateshead chiropractic practice, said afterwards: “The children seemed to love it, particularly as I provided them with opportunities for active involvement in the telling of the tales.
“They jumped at the chance of voting on the frequent ‘What do you suppose they did next?’ options which are essential interactive ingredients of all my stories.”
Craig served 15 years in the Navy, attached to the Royal Marines, mostly in Iraq but later in Afghanistan. Creative work writing imaginative tales for children, plus treatment by his wife, who runs Life Chiropractic in Durham Road, Gateshead, greatly helped him make a full recovery from post-traumatic stress disorder which dogged him when he returned to civvy street.
“I thoroughly enjoyed writing the stories and the creativity involved helped immensely in my recovery to full health,” he says. “I wanted to test them out before a more representative audience than my own children.
“Ashfield Nursery, which my girls had attended, kindly invited me to try one of them out on some of the four-year-olds in their care and I jumped at the chance.
“It was the first time my creations were aired in public and the response and involvement of the little ones was most gratifying.”
Craig plans to publish about eight of his stories in the near future. |
Ashfield Nursery youngsters demonstrate their enthusiasm for one of Craig Hindson’s tales of three witches |
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Tuesday June 29, 2010
Ashfield Nursery and Early Learning Centre, South Shields, which recently celebrated a good annual report from Ofsted, has held an Open Day.
Visitors were invited to tour the Stanhope Road complex, chat to nursery staff, examine facilities, and discuss future plans. |
Nursery manager Sharon Hobbs discusses facilities with Further Education College manager David Bowyer and his wife Ann-Marie interested in securing places for their daughter Caitlin and infant Olivia. |
This is fun! Three-year-old Caitlin Bowyer plays with a farmyard toy with nursery nurse Karen Beaton. |
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Tuesday June 22, 2010
It was blue skies and sunshine all the way today for 32 three-year-olds from Ashfield Nursery, Low Fell, when they took part in the Barnardo’s Big Toddle in Saltwell Park.
The toddlers, accompanied by their nursery nurses, walked from their nursery in nearby Joicey Road through the park to the start of the event on the main green where they joined scores of other toddlers taking part in the popular event.
All the children were sponsored by their parents and the nursery is looking forward to handing a substantial cheque to the charity. |
A pause for a picture on the way to the Big Toddle. |
Toddling for Barnardo’s… the Ashfield Nursery contingent set off with regional manager, Jill Miller. |
Wednesday June 9, 2010
Children at Ashfield Nursery and Early Learning Centre, Low Fell, have so many engagements during the year it has become necessary to install a “special events board” to keep track of them.
“The number of events both inside and outside the nursery has grown each year and they are an excellent way of building the children’s awareness of the world they live in,” says nursery manager Angela Thomas. “They also enable them to take an active part in and enjoy traditional and new activities.”
Ashfield’s toddlers have taken part in eight events so far this year, including support for the World Cancer Research Fund, making shields and dragons on St George’s Day, and taking part in a Chinese food tasting session at Chinese New Year. They have also dressed up as characters from their favourite story books on World Book Day, and made cards and biscuits at Easter and enjoyed a traditional egg hunt.
Future engagements include Barnardo’s Big Toddle in Saltwell Park this month, a harvest festival, Hallowe’en, bonfire night, and Children in Need.
One annual event is, however, viewed with very mixed emotions.
Angela Thomas explains: “Every year we have a graduation ceremony for the older children before they leave us for the last time to start a new life at school. Many of them have been with us since they were babies so it can be an emotional time.
“The ceremonies consist of well-rehearsed cameos reflecting their life and times at nursery and parents and staff are always impressed by the way the four-year-olds rise to the occasion.
“The happiest events, of course, take place at Christmas time but none of us at Ashfield needs a reminder of the start date for those!” |
Caption to pic attached: Gemma Pescod, Ashfield Nursery’s deputy manager, adds another event to the notice board. |
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Wednesday June 2, 2010
Ashfield Nursery at Stanhope Road, South Shields, has received a “good” report from Ofsted following a recent detailed inspection.
Sixteen different provisions of the nursery received “good” assessments and there was one “excellent” for “The Effectiveness of Partnerships”.
“We are naturally delighted with Ofsted’s report,” states executive director Brian Powell.
“We are immensely proud of the standards of care provided for the 70 little ones at our nursery and Ofsted’s response confirms we have good reasons for that pride.
“Sharon Hobbs and her team of 14 qualified nursery nurses at Stanhope Road are, of course, particularly pleased, and we are passing on the good news to all our parents.”
Dealing with the subject of the effectiveness of the Stanhope Road nursery’s leadership and management of early years provision, the report notes:
“Staff have a good understanding of policies and procedures, which are implemented well. In particular, they have a clear understanding of the action to be taken to safeguard children from harm.”
The report also details good relationships which have been developed by the nursery with parents and describes as “good” the overall quality of early years provision. |
Three cheers! Toddlers and nurses at Ashfield nursery celebrate the good Ofsted report. |
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Thursday March 25, 2010
Children and nurses at Ashfield Nursery, Low Fell, decided to make their own contribution when they learned that adults at neighbouring Springslite gym were staging a charity night in aid of “Help for Heroes”.
With the active support of parents and Springslite they put on a fancy dress day in which they turned up in many different and eye-catching military outfits.
“It was a lot of fun which everyone enjoyed but it also had a serious side as the children were sponsored by their families and friends,” said nursery manager Angela Thomas afterwards. “The aim was to add a worthwhile contribution to the money raised by Springslite.” |
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Friday January 22, 2010
Twelve young nurses who sacrificed their precious pre-Christmas weekend off and worked without pay at three Tyneside nurseries to enable parents to do their Christmas shopping, have raised £750 for a charity for disadvantaged and disabled children.
The nurses at the two Ashfield Nurseries and Early Learning Centres at South Shields, plus another at Low Fell, volunteered to look after children on a Saturday morning in December to enable the parents to do their Christmas shopping unhindered. The parents were not charged for the service but made donations to the charity. The nurses also donated the wages they would have received.
All the proceeds went to “Cash For Kids” a Metro Radio charity dedicated to raising funds for disadvantaged children throughout the North East region.
Accepting the cheque for the charity, Metro Radio’s Breakfast Show co-presenter Anna Foster said: “This is a fantastic donation. Children who come to nursery have a great start in life, but there a many who don’t and it’s these we want to help. Every penny counts and it’s great that Ashfield Nurseries gave their time to get involved. Charities are having a hard time due to the recession and this fund raising effort is much appreciated.”
The staff at Ashfield have also agreed to make “Cash For Kids” their sole charity for the foreseeable future.
The three nurseries are at Stanhope Road, South Shields, at Joicey Road, Low Fell, and in the grounds of South Tyneside District Hospital. They are owned and operated by Ashfield Nurseries and ELC Ltd, based at South Shields. |
Left to right: Anna Foster, Angela Thomas (Low Fell nursery manager), Sharon Hobbs (Stanhope Road nursery manager), Dan Smith (charity executive), Leeanne Howden (South Tyneside District Hospital nursery manager), Karen Powell, Director of Ashfield Nursery & ELC Ltd, and Jill Miller, Regional Manager. |
| Monday December 21, 2009
More than 30 children at Ashfield Nursery, Low Fell, adapted the X Factor theme with four-year-old Harry Jones playing the role of compere Dermot O’Leary when they staged their Christmas production. They stuck strictly to the television format, the only difference being that all the participants were declared winners.
Harry introduced each of the acts starting with a group of Christmas trees who sang ‘Jingle Bells’ and ‘Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree’. Next it was the turn of the reindeers with their rendition of ‘Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer’ followed by the group of singing Santas who performed ‘When Santa Got Stuck Up The Chimney’.
Harry invited everyone to applaud their favourite group before reading the result from a golden envelope clearly marked with a giant X. |
Harry Jones, alias Dermot O’Leary announces the result.
The reindeers perform for their parents, friends and relatives.
The Christmas trees prepare to start rockin’
The ‘Singing Santas’ |
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Tuesday, 17 November 2009
Two young South Shields nursery nurses who trained and spent their work placements together at an Ashfield Nursery in their hometown, are together again – this time at their employer’s sister nursery at Low Fell.
Natalie Moulding (21) who lives at Brockley Whins, and Abbygail Hayes (20) of Dacre Street, could barely believe their luck when they were both offered full-time jobs at the Low Fell nursery. “We really like it here, in spite of the travelling back and forwards to Low Fell every day,” says Natalie. “We are good friends as well as colleagues and we are delighted to be together again.”
Nursery manager Angela Thomas says the double appointment is timely because of a marked increase in the number of children being placed at the Low Fell establishment. “We’re receiving requests from parents to come and see the nursery’s facilities practically every day of the week, and the majority of the visits result in children being placed with us,” says Angela.
“The appointments of two new members to our nursery team will help to meet this rise in demand for our services.”
Both Natalie and Abbygail, studied at Hebburn College for their B.Tec National Certificates in Early Years. Natalie, who has a four-year-old daughter, says the nursery profession runs in her family. Both her sister and her mother are qualified nursery nurses.
Abbygail, who works in the baby room at the Low Fell nursery, is also qualified in British Sign Language and for the last two years has worked with a group of deaf children at Trinity House in South Shields.
Ashfield Nurseries & ELC Ltd operate three nurseries. The other is in the grounds of South Tyneside District Hospital, South Shields. |
Abbygail Hayes (left) and Natalie Moulding,
newly-appointed nursery nurses at Ashfield Nursery, Low Fell. |
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Tuesday 3rd November 2009
Little ghosts, Draculas, witches and skeletons were among some of the fantastic costumes worn by children at the Low Fell nursery at Hallow’een.
Nurses, too, pulled out all the stops to ensure a suitably spooky atmosphere by spending days decorating the nursery with fake spiders, spider webs, and hollowed out pumpkins.
“All children love dressing up and ours are no exception,” says nursery manager Angela Thomas. And judging by some of the outfits worn by the nurses, they are not alone! |
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Tuesday October 27, 2009
Nursery nurses at all three Ashfield locations have agreed to sacrifice part of one of their precious December weekends off to help parents and to raise money for the charity Cash For Kids.
About 20 of them are turning in for work on Saturday, December 12, to look after youngsters while parents enjoy a free-from-care day to do the bulk of their Christmas shopping.
The nurses are doing the extra stint without pay. Parents won’t be charged but will be expected to make a donation to the charity.
“Cash For Kids is one of our favourite charities and we believe this is the first time a nursery has been opened on a Saturday for this reason,” says Ashfield regional manager Jill Miller.
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All the children and staff at Ashfield’s Low Fell nursery were tickled pink to earn cash for Breast Cancer Awareness Day.
They turned up dressed in pink for the day while parents donated money to the cause.
The nursery supported the charity last year, but this time everyone got involved – even the little boys donned pink.
Pictured are nurses and some of the youngsters during a temporary pause in the fun.
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Tuesday September 1, 2009
Thirty little ones at the Stanhope Road nursery had a VIP visitor when Cabinet Minister and Foreign Secretary David Miliband MP called to officially open their brand new soft play area.
Two four-year-olds Sophie Weir and Aaron Pascoe-Watson held a ribbon for the Cabinet Minister to cut. There was laughter, however, when three-year-old Alanna Millar unexpectedly muscled in to help hold the ribbon.
BBC Television came along to cover the event and their report appeared on BBC ‘Look North’.
 
Wednesday July 22, 2009
Toddlers at Ashfield nurseries at Low Fell and Stanhope Road, South Shields pictured enjoying the delights of a bouncy castle and tempting tombola prizes at their respective summer fairs last weekend.
Rain forced a move indoors, but Ashfield Court Nursery is hoping for much better weather when they hold their summer fair this Saturday. |
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| Tuesday July 14 2009 |
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There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when 15 four-year-olds graduated at Ashfield Nursery, Stanhope Road, South Shields.
Nursery manager Sharon Hobbs told a gathering of parents, relatives and friends: “Many of the children have been with us since they were babies and the staff all feel quite sad now that they are moving on to pastures new.”
And turning to the children, she added: “We’ll welcome you back for a visit at any time.”
Dressed in caps and gowns each child was presented with a certificate of graduation before enjoying tea and biscuits, and a magic show. |
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| Wednesday, 08 July 2009 |
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Wearing special T-shirts emblazoned with the legend ‘Class of 2009’, 24 three and four-year-olds celebrated their graduation at Ashfield Nursery and Early Learning Centre, Low Fell, and delighted an audience of relatives and friends with songs and a display of their painting skills.
The highlight of the event saw the children stepping up individually to receive their “degrees” suitably dressed in caps and gowns.
Nursery manager Angela Thomas said: “These occasions give the children a chance to shine and impress their parents and relatives. Members of the class of 2009 were certainly no exception.” |
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Thursday July 2, 2009
Work in progress! A start has been made with the complete refurbishment and upgrading of the outdoor play area at Ashfield Court Nursery in the grounds of South Tyneside District hospital.
The project has been made possible by substantial government funding via the local authority. It will enable the nursery to deliver a new curriculum promoting outdoor activities for the children.
The outdoor play area will be transformed into a “soft play zone” and will, says nursery manager Leanne Howden, be hugely beneficial.
Work on the transformation of the outside play area at the Ashfield nursery in Stanhope Road starts next week. |
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Monday April 27, 2009
South Tyneside pre-school children attending Ashfield Court Nursery in the grounds of South Tyneside District Hospital, can now take advantage of a newly-introduced “Leaps and Bounds” programme designed to keep them fit and active, to develop their physical skills, and improve their confidence.
Says nursery manager Leanne Howden: “The programme links well with the new Foundation Stage for Early Years. It will benefit the children in numerous ways not only by developing their physical skills such as balance and agility, but also their vocabulary through the use of rhymes and action songs. They will also learn to use a range of equipment, and to listen, learn, and remember instructions.”
Specifically designed by Tumble Tots (UK) Ltd for children from walking to school age, the “Leaps and Bounds” programme is delivered by the company’s fully trained and regularly assessed qualified team who provide feedback on the children’s progress to nursery managers and parents.
Parents of children attending the nursery have been quick to take advantage of the series of 10-week sessions offered by the nursery. “This is the first time we have embarked on the programme and the positive response from parents has made it viable to introduce it,” adds Leanne. |
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Monday April 20th 2009
Two South Shields nursery nurses are celebrating promotion by their bosses at the town’s Stanhope Road nursery of locally-based Ashfield Nurseries and Early Learning Centres Ltd.
Karen Mattocks (34), whose home is in Widdrington Avenue, has been promoted to deputy manager of the nursery, while Nicola Calder (23), of Taylor Street, moves up to senior nursery nurse.
Both women have worked at the nursery for several years and have a number of qualifications in child care and administration.
“As we are both ambitious to make further progress up the career ladder we are studying for additional qualifications to help that along,” said Karen.
Stanhope Road nursery is one of three owned and operated by Ashfield Nurseries and ELC Ltd. The others are at Low Fell, and in the grounds of South Tyneside District Hospital. Promotion from within is an active company policy which recently resulted in two former nursery nurses being raised to managerial positions.
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Happy smiles of nursery nurses Karen Mattocks (left) and Nicola Calder as they celebrate their promotions. |
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