PEOPLE AND PLACES
Down on the farm
Woking childminder Kara Hewitt and the children she cares for visited Horton Park Children's Farm in Epsom, Surrey, as part of their topic on the book Farmer Duck by Martin Waddell.
Lights out
Children and staff from Building Blocks in Fife, Scotland, learned about saving energy to mark Earth Hour on 26 March, when businesses and individuals turned off their lights for one hour to make a stand against climate change.
Top of the tree
Treetops Hopscotch Nursery in Chester has been rated outstanding by Ofsted. It is the eleventh setting in the chain to receive top marks.
Doctor's home visit
Looking Glass Day Nursery in Tooting Bec, London, enjoyed a visit by one of the children's parents, who is a doctor and came to discuss the need for hygiene, healthy eating and what to do if you are not feeling well. After the visit, the nursery home corner was transformed into a role-play doctor's surgery.
Springtime colours
Children at Rhymes Nursery in Ipswich, Suffolk, celebrated Holi, the Hindu springtime festival of colours, with traditional activities such as smearing coloured paint on each other and chasing each other with water balloons and Holi water guns called Pichkaris.
Healthier food
Stepping Stones Day Nursery in Nottingham has revamped its menus and is now using only British assured meat and eggs and fish approved by the Marine Stewardships Council.
Nursery group Treetops has also made changes to the meals served to children by working with a nutritional therapist to create new dishes for the chain's 31 settings.
IN STOCK
Bully book
A book to help practitioners support children who are being bullied, or who bully others, has been devised by Persona Dolls Training. It features 18 stories designed to build empathy and develop understanding of fair and unfair, along with a guide to working with Persona dolls. Understanding Bullying is available with one of the Persona Dolls DVDs at a special price of £20.50 plus p&p until 31 May. Visit www.persona-doll-training.org or phone 020 8446 7591.
Reader offer
Nursery World, in conjunction with Montessori St Nicholas, is offering readers a free DVD that demonstrates how the Montessori teaching method can be delivered. The film was shot at Paint Pots Montessori Nursery in Hyde Park, London, and features Tana Ramsay, a qualified Montessori teacher. The DVD also includes an interview with Barbara Isaacs, principal of Montessori Centre International. To order a free copy of 'Discovering Montessori with Tana Ramsay', e-mail dvd@montessori.org.uk.
