Wednesday, 31 July 2013

Millies House Blog - August


 
Millie’s House Chef
We are pleased to inform you that as of Monday the 5th August we will have a full time Chef starting with us at Millie’s House. Pat has been working as a chef for the company for the past 3 years and has gained a level 3 qualification in catering. Pat’s menus are always enjoyed by the children (staff too!!!) Pat implements a sugar and salt free diet, and as she has also worked as a Childcare practitioner she recognises that some children can be quite fussy so hides the vegetables in many ways!! Pat will ensure all children’s dietary requirements are followed, and will also be happy to talk through the meals with you. Please feel free to pop to the kitchen when you are next at the nursery to say ‘hello’.
Ofsted
We are pleased to inform you all that we have had our Ofsted inspection. I have attached the Link below to enable you all to have a read.
We are really pleased with the result and we were just two points away from outstanding!!! We have made changes to the nursery following the guidance given by Ofsted. These changes are:
·         We have ordered a range of equipment and resources to support the children’s understanding of diversity and cultural back grounds. These include a range of dressing up items, books, posters and dancing music.
·         We have also ordered new items for our garden; these include chalk boards, mirrors and new play equipment. We will continue to go out each day and use the outdoor environment to support the 7 areas of learning.
·          We are also awaiting delivery of a Millie’s House Bus. This bus will allow 8-10 children to travel out on trips to a range of fun environments such as Battersea Park, Museums and other child friendly areas. We will ensure you will be given prior notice for any planned trips along with permission slips.
Staff
We have been carrying out interviews over the past few weeks to find staff to join our team. I can now announce that we have employed two new lovely girls to start with us.
Leanne will be joining out pre-school team from the 19th August. Leanne has a level 3 qualification in childcare and has previous experience in working at one of our other nurseries. We chose Leanne has she shows strong ambition, love for children and is very dedicated to working with children.
Danielle will be joining our toddler room in September. Danielle has previously worked at a setting in Wimbledon, where she gained her level 3 qualification. Danielle is really excited to share her ideas and enthusiasm with us all at Millie’s House
We look forward to welcoming them to the team at Millie’s House.
Extra Curriculum Sessions
Over the past few weeks we have been inviting outside agencies to come along to Millie’s House and hold some taster sessions. This has allowed us to see which activities the children have enjoyed the most and has helped us in our decision.
Extra Curriculum sessions that will be held at Millie’s House are as follows;
Monday: Rhythm and Rhyme
Rhythm and Rhyme will encourage the children to learn through a range of activities which include, puppets, songs, dance, music parachute play, instruments, bubbles and balls.
Almost 90% of the brain develops in the first five years.
Neuro imaging shows that singing involves large swathes of both sides of the brain and uses and develops both sides of the brain.
Babies and young children love to bounce, laugh and clap through rhythm and rhyme, the best kind of learning is taking place and it is active and fun!
The programme links with the national ‘early years foundation stage’ framework, which celebrates the development of young children, recognising that babies are competent learners from birth.
Sessions have been designed to accelerate babies’ learning in this vital early stage of life
Baby’s brains are built for music.  They pick out high and low sounds before they recognize words and more often than not try to sing before they can speak.  The repetition of tunes and words forge new pathways in their brains.
At rhythm and rhyme we will start with a few songs that encourage baby’s natural impulse to communicate and experiment with their voices.
 
 
Tuesday: Calm Child Yoga
Calm child classes bring stories to life through specially developed moves inspired by yoga. Combining fun with exercise children will go on wild adventures where they may roar like a lion, fly like a bird or blast into outer space!
All children can do yoga to their own ability. Children do not need to be fast, have good hand to eye co-ordination or be physically fit. Children are encouraged to be vocal during a class and express their emotions physically. Through creative visualisation techniques we help children believe they are unique and special. Balancing postures help children to focus their mind and concentration techniques keep the mind in one place instead of letting it wander.
There is a big emphasis on children having fun in a yoga class as we take children on wild adventures and encourage them to use their creative imagination.
Gabby will be our yoga instructor.
Wednesday: Spanish with Maria
Maria our Deputy Manager will be taking groups of children to learn Spanish.
Maria has been teaching children Spanish for many years and runs her own class each Saturday.
Maria will start with children under the age of two and will encourage Spanish words through songs, books and play. Maria will then move to the older children when the lesson will become more structured and Spanish will be taught through a range of activities.
Maria will provide an information sheet each month to highlight the songs and  words that have been taught each session. This will allow you as parents to encourage Spanish at home and maybe pick up some words yourself.
Thursday: Teddy Tennis
Teddy Tennis works by combining music, pictures and teddy bear stories into a learning adventure that children love.
 
Combining music and pictures into the learning process produces amazing results. Sound and sight are two of the key human senses and this dual stimulation produces a ‘total’ learning package rolled into one.
Teddy Tennis speeds up the learning process, inspires a love of sport, teaches the essential tennis skills, enhances co-ordination, improves confidence and self-esteem, builds communication skills and team work, lays the foundations for listening and learning, teaches the concept of sportsmanship & fair play and introduces the basic English language skills.
 
For more information on teddy tennis please follow this link;
 
 
All these extra-Curricular session are included in you Millie’s House nursery fees so you will not incur any additional charges.
Fruit and Vegetables
We will now be encouraging fruit and vegetables of the month. This will allow the children to recognise, taste and explore the different fruits and vegetables. We will encourage up to 5 different types each month and through a range of activities the children will soon learn how they grow, how to prepare them, what they taste like, which part of the world they are from and their colour, shape and size.
As well as talking about them and eating them we will also carry out fun activities such as creative play (potato printing, black berry printing on paper), visits to the local grocer, cooking and baking. We will also provide the fruit for the children to play with in the role play area.
We also hope that by supporting their knowledge this will minimise any fussy eaters and allow them to become excited over new foods.
Events
We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for joining us and taking part on our afternoon tea. It was a delight to meet all the new parents and children.
Teddy Bears Picnic 22nd August
We would like to invite all our families along to a teddy bears picnic on the green opposite to Millie’s House. This will be another opportunity for families to come together and to share a fun time together. We would like all children to bring a teddy bear on that day and we will provide the picnic.  We do hope the weather will be kind to us.
I will send out details to confirm timings of this event.
 
We look forward to hearing your feedback and welcome any new ideas you would like to share with us.
 

Monday, 13 May 2013


The Team at Millie’s House would just like to say a big thank you to you all for making our Open Day on Saturday a huge success! We were delighted to meet so many new families, some of whom we have met again this morning and are looking forward to settling your little ones in with us over the next few weeks.
If any of you would like to make an appointment to have another look around when the little ones are here playing and learning then please call Laura the Nursery Manager on 020 7731 0440.

We look forward to updating you on our adventures and what we have been learning this week at the end of the week!

Laura Standen - Nursery Manager, Millie's House Nursery and Pre-School
laura@millieshouse.net
020 7731 0440

 

Wednesday, 8 May 2013


We are delighted to be opening the doors of Millie’s House Nursery and Pre-School this coming Saturday 11th May 2013 from 10.00a.m until 2.00p.m. We have had a fantastic response from you all eager to book your tour and are very much looking forward to meeting with you.

If you would like to make an appointment to view Millie’s House on Saturday, please contact Laura on 020 7731 0440 or pop along and see us on the day! We are pleased to be offering no Registration Fee for all families who enrol on Saturday and are very excited to offer a free taster session of Amanda's Action Club held by Amanda herself between 1030 and 1130 a.m.

We look forward to welcoming you to Millie’s House Nursery and Pre-School!

Laura Standen – Nursery Manager, Millie’s House Nursery and Pre-School
020 7731 0440
laura@millieshouse.net

 

Monday, 22 April 2013


Wow what a busy couple of weeks we have all had here at Millie’s House!!
We have been welcoming lots of new families on tours around the nursery and are now busy preparing for our Open Day on Saturday 11th May 2013 from 10 o’clock until 2 o’clock. If you would like to view the nursery on this day please contact Laura on the nursery details below for an appointment or if you are passing by please feel free to pop in and see us!

Over the last couple of weeks the children have been exploring the local environment with daily walks to the park, the local library and to the pond to feed the ducks. The trip to see the ducks sparked a particular interest in animals and on their return to the nursery they continued to learn about fish, birds, dogs, cat and rabbits. Extending the children’s learning further, the team took them out the next day for an adventure to the local pet shop where they learnt about all sorts of different creatures! Please do have a look at the wonderful photographs of your inquisitive little ones peering into the tanks and also at their animal collages made out of lots of different materials!

Our daily walks not only give us a little fresh air and exercise, promoting our health and wellbeing, they also enable us to explore and learn about the world around us!

‘Understanding the world: The world
Positive Relationships:
Arouse awareness of features of the environment in the setting and immediate local area, e.g. make visits to shops or a park.

Enabling environments:
Use the local area for exploring both the built and the natural environment’
(Development Matters in the Early Years Foundation Stage, EYFS)
 
If you would like further information on the Early Years Foundation Stage, the curriculum we follow here at Millie’s House, please speak to Miss Laura for a ‘Parents guide to the EYFS’ or visit www.foundationyears.org.uk

Please do not forget, if you would like your child to play a starring role on Wednesday 24th April in photographs for our prospectus and website, to complete a written permission form. Please see Laura for further details.

We wish you all a fantastic week ahead!
Laura and the Team at Millie’s House

 Laura Standen – Nursery Manager, Millie’s House Nursery and Pre-School
020 7731 0440

Thursday, 28 March 2013


The children have been having lots of fun this week with Easter activities galore! They have been very busy making Easter crafts and dressing up as Easter bunnies and chicks! If you have a moment take a look at the pictures they are very cute!

We have been focusing on ‘Messy play’ this week as the children have shown a great interest in the art areas. In each of these areas we have provided a range of accessible tools and resources for all children to play with. As an Adult-Led activity the Early Years Practitioners have been supporting the younger children with exploring ‘Crazy foam’ encouraging them to enjoy this sensory and physical experience. This activity promotes the area of ‘Physical Development’ in the Early Years Foundation Stage 2012.

'8-20 months – Enjoys the sensory experience of making marks in damp sand,
          paste or paint.

What adults can do – Show babies different ways to make marks in dough or
paint by swirling,   poking or patting it.
What adults could provide – Use gloop (cornflour and water) in small trays so
that babies can enjoy putting fingers into it and lifting them out.'
                           Development matters in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

 If you are feeling brave at home, mixing cornflour and water is a great sensory experience for babies. Don’t forget your aprons and a camera!

 The team have also been encouraging the children to experiment in ‘Water play’ by making the water look attractive changing its appearance with different colours and adding scents for a further sensory experience. This activity promotes the area of ‘Communication and Language’ in the Early Years Foundation Stage 2012.

‘ Speaking – Vocabulary develops as children experiment with words to articulate experience. Children must experience water with all their senses before they can describe its wetness, coolness, reflections, drops, ripples, and splashing sounds’.

It also promotes:

‘Mathematics – Shape, space and measure – Children learn about space, volume,
weight, and measure while dipping and pouring.’
                            Play and the revised EYFS, Community Playthings with Anne O’Connor

 If you would like further information on the Early Years Foundation Stage, the curriculum we follow here at Millie’s House, please speak to a member of the team or visit www.foundationyears.org.uk

 We would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a fantastic Easter break and we look forward to catching up with you next week!

Laura Standen – Nursery Manager, Millie’s House Nursery and Pre-School
020 7731 0440

 

     

Monday, 25 March 2013


We would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for making such a huge effort to brave the horrendous weather on Saturday and pay us a visit for coffee and cake! Thank you to Joyce in the office for the delicious cupcakes they were amazing! I hope you all enjoyed your tour of Millie's House, it was great to meet some new families.
I hope you all have a wonderful week and we will catch up with you on Thursday this week, to let you know what exciting things we have been up to!
 
Laura Standen - Nursery Manager, Millie's House Nursery and Pre-School
020 7731 0440

Friday, 15 March 2013


I hope you have all had an enjoyable week!
The children have been on many adventures this week exploring their local environment, with trips to the Library, the local parks and the supermarket!

 The Toddlers are learning about different types of vegetables and have been down to the local shops to buy their produce. This activity supports their Knowledge and Understanding of the World and encourages healthy eating. Next week they will be extending this activity further and will be exploring painting with vegetables! Keep your eyes open for the display!

Working together with the toddlers on their project, the babies have also been out and about and have taken many photographs of their visits to the library, the local parks and their trip to feed the ducks! Make sure you take a peek at their display on ‘Exploring the local environment’ next week.

We have also featured this week in the Fulham Residents Journal so if you get the time have a look at the editorial piece on Millie's House.

On Saturday the 23rd of March we will be inviting local residents and parents to come and visit us at Millie’s House for coffee and cake. If you get the chance to pop in between 10 and 2 we would be delighted to see you all! Please feel free to bring along friends and family, the more the merrier!


I hope you all have a fantastic weekend and we look forward to seeing you all next week!

Laura Standen – Nursery Manager, Millie’s House Nursery and Pre-School
laura@millieshouse.net
020 7731 0440

 

Thursday, 7 March 2013


Yet another fantastic week has been had by all at Millie's House!

Once again our little artists have been creating some amazing pieces for a certain special day this weekend! The Teachers have been in undated with so much creativity that we now have our own little art galleries in the rooms.

I know you are all very busy but please do take a moment to have a look at your little ones work and the photographs of the activities we have been doing during the day. If you would like a copy of any of your child’s pictures please just drop me an email and I will forward them straight to you.

Thank you once again to all of you who have been keeping me busy this week by recommending Millie’s House it is a real pleasure to meet new families and to show such a beautiful place off!

Laura Standen - Nursery Manager, Millie's House Nursery and Pre-School
laura@millieshouse.net
020 7731 0440
 

 

 

Friday, 15 February 2013


We have had a wonderful week at Millie's House with the children settling well and enjoying all the brand new equipment and resources.

The Toddler room seem to be creating budding artists with some beautiful paintings, drawings and presents for Valentine's Day!

The babies have been exploring different textures, scent and colours with the sand and water and have posed for some adorable photographs of their time at nursery.

We have also been wrapping up warm and getting out and about investigating the local parks.

It is really lovely to have the nursery open and to be welcoming new families. Thank you to you all for keeping us busy on show rounds this week by your kind recommendations.

If you have not had the opportunity to visit Millie's House and meet with the team, please contact me on the telephone number below or via the email address.

Laura Standen - Nursery Manager, Millie's House Nursery and Pre-School
020 7731 0440
laura@millieshouse.net



Thursday, 7 February 2013

Millie's House Nursery and Pre-School is now open!

We have all had a very exciting week this week with the opening of the Baby suite and Toddler room at Millie's House. The children are settling well and are thoroughly enjoying the new equipment and resources.

It has been fantastic to finally meet with you all and to share this amazing environment which we have created for the children to play and learn in.

Please do contact me on the details below if you would like to visit us and have a look around.

Laura Standen - Nursery Manager, Millie's House Nursery and Pre-School
020 7731 0440
laura@millieshouse.net

Sunday, 27 January 2013

I am pleased to inform you that we are now showing parents around the Baby and Toddler room at  Millie's House Nursery and Pre-School! Both these rooms are filling with exciting toys and resources and will open as of Monday 4th February. We are hoping that the Pre-School rooms will also make this deadline although the final decision on this will be made later this week.

If you would like to book a show round, please contact me either via the email address or telephone number below.

I look forward to meeting you all!

Laura Standen - Nursery Manager, Millie's House Nursery and Pre-School
laura@millieshouse.net
0207 731 0440

Wednesday, 16 January 2013


We are all working extremely hard this week to get Millie's House Nursery and Pre-School finished and open! We have faced a few delays with the sheer amount of work that has been done to transform the building but I am sure you will all agree on show round that it has been worth every second! We want to ensure that you get to see this amazing new nursery as a completed project and that we never have to see another builder again!!

 
After a few queries this week from prospective parents I would just like to clarify that Millie's House is a totally separate nursery from Pippa Poppins and is by no way linked to any of the owners of those nurseries.

 
We would like to thank you all for your patience and support with the building work and are delighted that you are all as excited as we are to get the doors open!

 
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any queries.
Laura Standen - Nursery Manager, Millie's House Nursery and Pre-School
02077310440
 

Tuesday, 8 January 2013

Just adding the finishing touches!

Millie's House Nursery and Pre-School is almost ready. We are all working hard to open the doors by the end of next week to show you all around!

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like an enrolment form or if you have any further queries.

We are looking forward to meeting with you all next week!

Laura Standen - Nursery Manager, Millie's House Nursery and Pre-School
laura@millieshouse.net
020 7731 0440