Once children are settled, secure and happy at nursery, they begin to reveal their unique selves: their strengths, values and interests. For our young children it is the valuing of their interests that can mean they develop those warm, loving relationships effectively and rapidly with staff at Rachel Keeling.
A group of children have been showing a real interest in horses and were observed coming into school always going to find the small world horses to engage in play together. Staff supported and encouraged this play, observing, listening as well as talking to the children about it and encouraging children to embellish their play further by creating habitats for their equines. 
Children worked with clay and natural materials such as twigs and stones to make worlds for their horses, returning to them each day and altering them. 
For the next step, children were enabled to photograph their habitats and horses and printed them out, using these to create collages. As part of our sustainability drive, children were also encouraged to access a range of recyclable materials, fabrics, wool and paper to add to their collage.
These were photocopied and children created stories which were scribed by adults.
Other children joined the horses group, creating spider and dinosaur models, storyboards and stories.
We are displaying these beautiful narratives in our corridor to inspire all and remind everyone that having your interests valued boosts your self-esteem and confidence.
What do you love? 

Kimis were the order of the day today with Mukhtar's mum coming in to share her family recipe and make them with our children. Kimis are a kind of Somali chapati (sabaayad).
As often happens when our families come in to volunteer their time in the nursery, children excitedly gathered, awaiting the big reveal! They helped Sara to measure out the flour, oil and water and spent a long time kneading the mixture. Most children sustained concentration for the entire process, including frying them (there were more than 20 kimis). Many, many more children then joined to share the kimis across the morning. Some were also enjoyed at lunch and then the remainder in the afternoon. 
The recipe will follow below so you can make them at home with your family and friends. 

As part of our Black History Month celebrations we have asked families to come into school to share their skills and knowledge with us.
We were so lucky, Yasmin's mum from Somalia volunteered to plait and braid hair. Children were very curious and came to hair their long, short, straight, curly, black, brown, red and blond hair styled. The skill and dexterity shown in the finger work was amazing. Children shared talk, songs and books while they sat watching. Today some of the plaits are still intact!