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PEOPLE AND PLACES

Hungry tigers

This month's Chinese New Year proved a hit at Ashbridge School and Nursery in Hutton, Preston, Saint Felix School's Dragon Nursery in Southwold, Suffolk, and Stepping Stones in Lingley Mere, Warrington. Children tried their hands at chopsticks when eating traditional Chinese foods and had their faces painted appropriately for the Year of the Tiger.

Healthy and sporty

Children at See-Saw Day Nursery in Boston, Lincolnshire, have been learning how to have a healthy lifestyle and eat well by taking part in the nursery's Healthy Childcare Week and Sports Relief. The children went swimming, visited the gym, learned about dental hygiene and made healthy snacks and meals.

Helping Haiti

Early years settings across the country have been holding special fundraising events for families affected by the earthquake in Haiti.

Kinderland Day Nursery in Croydon challenged both staff and children to wear as many colours as possible for a week of rainbow fun. Staff dressed up in tutus and dyed their hair different colours, while the children enjoyed an especially colourful lunch and made rainbow cupcakes. A total of £480 was donated to the World Vision appeal.

Grena Road Day Nursery in Richmond, London, raised over £400 for Haiti by holding special breakfast mornings for parents and staff, while children at The Croft Nursery in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, made cakes to sell in the entrance to the Total Fitness Gym, where the nursery is based, and raised £436.40.

The WOW factor

Children and staff at Happy Jays Nursery in Clifton Moor, York, all wore something 'wow' for World Orphan Week, a campaign led by charity SOS Children. They also created mosaic pictures which were sold to the nursery parents, raising nearly £200 for the charity.

TLC TO BUSY BEES

TLC Nursery at Milton Keynes Hospital held a relaunch party to mark the setting officially becoming a Busy Bees nursery. Children's television character Fifi of Flowertots fame hosted the event, while the deputy mayor of Milton Keynes unveiled the nursery's new image.

IN STOCK

Sing and listen

Children under five can have fun learning to count, talk and listen with the new Earlybirds Songsheets published by A&C Black. They include Five Little Monkeys, which focuses on counting songs for the classroom, Clap Your Hand Follow Me and I Hear the Band. All songsheets come with a full performance CD, lyrics and activities and are designed to support the EYFS. Each book can be ordered for £8.99 at www.acblack.com. Photo of the week

Reception children from Alderman Leach Primary School in Darlington found out what it's like behind the wheel of an army truck and inside a tank when they visited the nearby army base at Catterick Garrison. They got to try on soldiers' grease paint for camouflage and learned how to march and salute.

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