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Saturday July2nd will be ABC Nursery’s first family fun and open day. We are having a bouncy castle, face painting, dance lessons, hook a duck, barbecue, sponge the staff in the stocks, cake stall, ball pool and lots more.

So if you would like to join us please feel free to pop along and see what we’re all about.

The day is open to existing parents and anyone else who would like to join us. It is the perfect opportunity to meet us informally and see if you would like your child to join us in the future. We will also be taking bookings for the free nursery places available for children from September.

We look forward to seeing you there!!

We have reduced our rates for holiday club for over 5’s in the Starship Troopers Holiday Club – please call us to find out more details!!!! There will also be a 10% reduction if you have a second child at nursery!!

No full time commitment is required. Children can come as little as often as you want – anything to help out in the schoool holidays!

So let us know what you need and we will do what we can to help. Speak to you soon!!!!

We’ve recently asked for feedback from parents about the care their children have received over the years before they leave us to go to big school and are pleased to share some of their responses!!

“I wondered if I had done the right thing keeping my boys at ABC instead of transferring to school nursery. Now I am glad I did as you have all helped so much with my boys and helped work around the training I had for L. Thank you all so much. You have all done a great job with both my boys, getting them toilet trained etc and thanks to Donna (as well as other staff members) L has come on leaps and bounds and is one happier child. I’m sad they will be leaving this safe and nurturing environment.”

“Both of my children have been in your care from 6 months old. I have no complaints whatsoever. They have both enjoyed coming to ABC Nursery. Thank you for your continuing care you have given my boys!”

“H has loved her time at ABC and has been cared for as she would at home. She got on really well with all members of staff and I can say I am pleased with how she has been cared for. ”

“really happy with the care my son has received within ABC Nursery”

Today children, staff, parents and grandparents from ABC Nursery, Hednesford took part in a sponsored walk in aid of Help for Heroes. This was organised with the help of Andy Sawyer, a parent at the setting, who is himself taking part in the Big Battlefield Bike Ride for Help for Heroes in June. He will be cycling over 300 miles taking in many of the northern beaches of France where some of the most significant World War 2 battles were fought.

  The children and staff got involved by dressing in army uniforms and painting their faces in camouflage. The children took part in an assault course in the outdoor area of the nursery which involved crawling under camouflage netting, clinging onto the climbing wall, jumping off the sandpit and throwing balls into buckets.They also got the chance to colour in Union Jacks and pictures of soldiers. Songs from 1930’s provided background music whilst the children tucked into traditional British food – mince and potatoes followed by a specially prepared cake which had army soldiers and camouflage netting on it. Andy gave a presentation to the children and showed them his old uniforms, hat and medals – one lucky boy even got the chance to try it all on!

Andy also arranged a raffle with excellent prizes including a full valet donated by Polish Perfection. Over £300 has been raised so far from the raffle and sponsorship with more to come. Andy said “I can’t believe the response and I can’t thank the parents enough for getting so involved”. Fiona Myatt, director of ABC Nursery commented “As always, the parents have come up trumps by going out of their way to support the children and this charity. We are so proud of the children getting involved – it was great to see them getting so excited about the while event.”

If anybody would like to sponsor Andy please feel free to send your donation to the nursery or visit the charity website www.bmycharity.com/andysawyer1

Getting to grips with Army Uniform!

How smart am I?!

GI Jane times 2!!

Check out the new pictures on our gallery! http://www.abcnurseryhednesford.com/gallery/

Last Saturday we held a Dad’s day at the nursery. This gave the dads (and granddads!) the opportunity to get involved with the children and have some fun. We found that a lot of the time dad’s are out working during the week and don’t get the chance to sit and actually play for a couple of hours without any interruptions. So it was decided to hold a fun activity morning at the nursery – and no Saturday morning is complete without bacon butties!!

The adults got involved with lots off different activities including painting (with brushes and hands!), building trains and cars from old boxes and junk, playing in sand and water, singing nursery rhymes and a quick game of football outside.

We also had a surprise visit from the local fire officers with their fire engine. The children got the chance to spray some water with the hose and get to sit in the fire engine. It was great fun!

We are hoping to make this a regular event although mums have already started asking when “Mums Day” is going to be. Watch this space!!!!

ABC Nursery now accepts Kiddivouchers along with Computershare/Busy Bees, Accor/Edenred, Cooperative, You at Work and Care4. These, along with the tax credit system are a brilliant way of saving money on your childcare costs.

We always recommend looking at the tax credit system first as this is “free” money from the government. If you are employed it’s then worth looking at childcare vouchers. All employers can offer this (nag them if they say they don’t as it actually saves them money in National Insurance if they offer them!). Parents have the opportunity of sacrificing a maximum of £243 per month from their salary and in return they don’t pay tax or National Insurance  on that money. This can save parents over £1,196 per year! Definitely worth investigating!!

If you would like more information please call us and we’ll be happy to talk about the options available to you.

Staff, children and parents all went on a teddy bear toddle to raise money recently for Meningitis Trust. They all took their teddies (grown ups included!) and walked round to the local park where they sat down and enjoyed a Teddy bear’s picnic. They were also joined by ABC’s own Teddy Bear who thoroughly enjoyed the walk.

The charity is close to the heart of the company director, Fiona Myatt whose own daughter was diagnosed as having viral meningitis just before her 2nd birthday. “We saw a rash on our daughter’s wrist and thought it looked suspect so we took her to the local hospital. They weren’t sure either so we went on to the main hospital in Sutton Coldfield. Luckily, they’d had a couple of cases that week so they kept her in as a precaution. After taking numerous tests they found she did have the virus but because we caught it early enough there was no lasting damage. Other people aren’t as lucky as us so we try to support Meningitis Trust as much as possible so that help can be given to those who need it.”

A total of £315.50 was raised by the children and they had great fun doing it!

Teddy Bear Toddle at ABC Nursery in aid of Meningitis Trust

Violet Beauregarde, Mike TV and an Oompa-Loompa!

Roald Dahl Day was celebrated in style at ABC Nursery! The children got the chance to learn who the man was, what he wrote and even managed to act out scenes from Matilda. The staff got dressed up as the BFG, Oompa-Loompas, Violet Beauregarde, Witches & Twits whilst the children cam as Mike TV and little Oompa-Loompas to name but a few! The children took part in loads of activities including mixing witches potions, making chocolate treats and searching for treats in gloopy custard!  It was great fun – what will the next theme day be about? Watch this space (and that’s a BIG clue!!!)

An emotional day for all as the Super Stars prepare to leave for school

It was an emotional day when the older Super Stars graduated in preparation for school. Each child wore their cap and gown with pride. They key worker for each child read out a speech detailing all of their achievements with funny anecdotes of their time at nursery. Some of the children have been with us since being a baby so it was wonderful to see how they’ve progressed. Good luck to all!!

Here’s what just a few of the parents had to say:

“Just to say a big thank you for giving SJa very good and enjoyable learning time at nursery. You’ve all been perfect and kind”

“A huge thank you to everyone for your care and support of B over the 4 and 1/2 years he’s been with you. You’re a fantastic team”

“Thank you for all that you have done for me over the last 4 years. I’ll miss you all very much but I’ll pop in and see you lots”

“This is not just the end of I’s time at nursery but the end of an era in my life. I have been travelling to ABC nearly every day for the last 6 years and consider you all friends! You have all played such big parts in both my daughter’s early years and had an obvious impact on them. I have never once worried about leaving my girls in your care, knowing they would be cared for in every aspect and for that i cannot thank you enough. Both myself and I will miss you all so much”

“Thank you so much for the excellent care you have given to both N & K over the years. I know they were happy with you and we couldn’t be more grateful.”

“Many thanks for all your hard work over the last 5 years with both our girls. You all do a great job”