Nursery News
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
Tuesday July 14 2009
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.
Wednesday, 08 July 2009
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.”
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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