Creativity is key to our children’s learning at Grasshoppers. Art and crafts are always available, and activities such as cooking, music, gym and gardening happen every day.
We encourage free play during the afternoons, which offers a great opportunity for the children to explore their imagination, communicate ideas and express their emotional and physical selves.
Art sessions
Grasshoppers boasts an exciting programme of creative activities, outdoors and indoors. Our weekly Art Hoppers art sessions have been introducing the children to a world of artistic expression and, when spring began slowly to stir this year, the art class decamped to the the park for a fresh look at the wonderful surroundings they enjoy so much. Art Hoppers is delivered by local artist Claire Ward-Thornton throughout the year. Each term we start with a new theme such as ‘art history’ or ‘the park’ . Weekly sessions start with the inspiration of a playful anecdote and visual references and end by gathering in a circle to talk about the work created. There are no ready-made templates to decorate or colour in, the aim is for each child to produce something different based on their own ideas and imagination. The sessions are fun, messy and occasionally chaotic but voices are heard and incredible original artworks are made.
Forest School
Grasshoppers hosts a Forest School program at Springfield Park each Wednesday.
Forest School is an inspirational process that offers children, young people and adults regular opportunities to achieve and develop confidence and self-esteem through hands on learning experiences in a local woodland environment – Forest Education Initiative (FEI)
Based on a Scandinavian idea of embracing the outdoors as a learning environment, Forest School involves children working with a Forest School Leader on a frequent basis, ideally once a week, in a local woodland setting or on a designated Forest School site. We take the Grasshopper’s to Springfield Park, where our Forest School Leader Bruce uses learning and teaching strategies to raise self-esteem and develop confidence, independence, language and communication skills. The Forest School sessions are not considered an ‘addition’ but are a part of the children’s learning experiences and part of their nursery week. Sessions take place in all weathers, so it is important that the children are dressed warmly. We ask for children to wear long sleeves and long trousers/ tights as this helps protect arms and legs from scratches and brambles.
Music & Play
Every Friday between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m., the Nursery holds a free outreach session to which all families in the local community are invited.
The session is publicised locally and children are free to come and explore the nursery and participate in any of the activities which take place. These usually include arts and crafts and our very popular music sessions with our two visiting artists; multi instrumentalist Jorge the Music Man and Holly from Tiny Time Music.
In these fun and exciting sessions, children can sing along, dance, play a variety of musical instruments, and even learn to conduct!
Community Events
We take pride in being a creative organisation and delivering inspiring artistic projects into the wider local community. We also aim to include the local community through our Friday drop in sessions, monthly swap shops and parties throughout the year.
We also have our annual summer picnic in Springfield Park to celebrate a great year and to give our older children and their families a happy farewell as they prepare for the move up to school.
