Noticeboard

- Toddling for haiti

Staff and children at Nunthorpe Early Years Centre in Middlesbroughbraved the cold and wet weather to go on a sponsored toddle to helpraise money for La Maison du Bonheur, House of Happiness, a SalvationArmy children's home in the earthquake-struck Port au Prince, Haiti.

- Pancakes by a pro

Children at Castle Nursery in Guildford, Kent, were shown how to makepancakes by a qualified chef - the father of one of the nursery children- when he came in on Shrove Tuesday to give a cookery demonstration.

- Staff get walking

Staff members Janette, Nikki, Becca, Gemma, Sabiah, Marcus and Catherinefrom Newlands Nursery in Preston, Lancashire, completed an 18-mile walkin fancy dress to raise money for Space, a multi-sensory centre foryoung people and adults with physical and learning disabilities inPreston.

- From the heart

Valentine's Day was celebrated by children at Little Acorns Day Nurseryin Boston, Lincolnshire, by making heart-shaped biscuits. At Hatton HillDay Nursery in Windlesham, Surrey, family members were invited in toshare a special Valentine's tea with the children.

- It hasda be Pizza

Children from Stanlaw Abbey Community Nursery in Ellesmere Port,Merseyside, were invited by their local Asda supermarket to make pizzaswith the store's cooks. They were given their own chefs' hats and pastrycutters to take home and finished off with a drink in the Asda cafe.

NEW YEAR FORTUNES

Children at Kendal Nursery School in Brantfield, Cumbria, and LittleAcorns Day Nursery in Gomersal, West Yorkshire, spent a lot of timemaking lucky red envelopes and fortune cookies in preparation for theChinese Year of the Tiger. They dressed up appropriately to dance totraditional music. Kendal Nursery also invited children, parents andgrandparents to a celebratory lunch at the local Chinese eatery, theSilver Fortune restaurant.

Garden prizewinner

Early Years from The Consortium and Nursery World would like tocongratulate the Monmouthshire childminder who won the Outdoor GardenGiveaway featured in Noticeboard in the 4 February issue. The prizeincludes a set of Yeo Minis, metal gardening tools and lightweightpop-up greenhouse.

EVENTS

- Toddling pirates

Nurseries, early years groups and childminders are invited to take partin Barnardo's Big Toddle, the annual sponsored walk for under-fives.

Money raised from the national event supports Barnardo's early yearswork, including services for children with physical and learningdisabilities, autism and behavioural problems. Early years providersthat hold their own Toddle can also choose to keep 25 per cent of thefunds they raise.

For the first time this year, the event will have a fancy dress theme -Swashbuckling Pirates.

To find out how you can take part, visit www.bigtoddle.co.uk or call0845 270 9900.

- Seek out the bug

Nurseries and playgroups are urged to go bug hunting this spring tosupport the fight against meningitis. The Big Bug Hunt organised byMeningitis UKaims to raise awareness about the disease while childrensearch for the meningitis character Cheeky Bug. Money raised from theevent will be donated to Meningitis UK's Search 4a Vaccine campaign,which funds research to find a vaccine that could eradicate all forms ofthe disease.

Early years settings who hold a Big Bug Hunt can get a free resourcepack containing Cheeky Bug stickers, tips on running an event,sponsorship forms and posters.

To receive a resource pack visit www.bigbughunt.org or call 0117 373 7373.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK - It was flipping easy for the children at Daisy ChainChildcare in Adel, Leeds, to make the most pancakes with the help ofnursery chef Stephen Tatler. Nursery manager Julie Anderson said, 'Itwas lovely hearing the children relive their experiences of making thepancakes when they sat down to eat them at teatime.'

Do you have a story to tell? Share it with us atnews.nw@haymarket.com.

The best photo of the week will win 30 worth of children'sbooks