Nursery and Pre-Prep had a wonderful day celebrating Harvest this year. We started the day joining the Prep School in celebrating at the Harvest service. The children delighted in seeing all the produce displayed and watching the older children perform. The highlight of our day was welcoming many of the parents to our informal Harvest lunch. There were 30 children & approximately 25 parents and siblings celebrating together and it proved to be a delightful occasion. We had perfect weather, enabling us to all share lunch together with the children on the decking. The children behaved beautifully and really enjoyed their extra special lunch consisting of a Ploughman’s, home made cakes and apples from the Sisters’ garden. Thank you for taking time to share in our special day.

On Wednesday 5th December, the children from Nursery and Pre-Prep performed a brilliant nativity in front of Key Stage 2 in the chapel. It was really good and, as always, very adorable! There were all the main characters of the traditional story, and then a few very amusing extras, like two fierce Roman soldiers (Rhys and Freddy) who came to Mary (Rose) and Joseph (John) and told them they had to go to Bethlehem for the census. Mary was especially smiley and the angel Gabriel (Schuyler) shone and danced very well down the aisle. There were also three very realistic camels (Connor, Werner and Hattie) with the three kings (Lucy, Sebby and Will J). Mrs Ongley and her percussionist (Sophie) played brilliantly. The excited nursery sung very well, and they were clearly enjoying themselves as much as we were. The scary things for us now is that the teachers now know how loud Early Years can project their voices!

Children, staff and parents from the Nursery and Pre-Prep department enjoyed a day at Marwell Zoo recently. Despite the rain nearly thirty children had fun visiting the animals and riding on the train. The afternoon brought the sunshine along with ice creams and a flurry of activity from the animals. A lovely way to end a busy term.

The children of the Nursery and Pre-Prep department, along with their teddybears, had great fun at the Teddybears’ Tea Party. New children and their families, who are due to start next term, joined them. The children enjoyed a teddybear hunt through the woods, stories and a tea-party in the Convent garden.

On the 8th of December the children in the Nursery and Pre-Prep undertook the Nativity and much to the delight of watching parents performed Little Donkey. Both children and Parents enjoyed the event which was a huge success and a real achievement for the 24 children whose ages ranged from below threes to four year-olds. Commenting on the success of the occasion staff in the Nursery and Pre-Prep said that they were very proud of each of the children's involvement and achievement.

On the 9th December the children in the Pre-Prep, Reception and Nursery, together with some parents, visited the Miller's Ark animals at Roke farm.
As well as gaining hands-on experience of many of the larger farmyard animals such as pigs, cows, sheep, dogs, goats, the children were also allowed to interact the smaller inhabitants of the farm, the hamsters, guinea pigs and rabbits. Following this they watched a re-enactment of the Nativity and finished the day with hot refreshments and a visit from Father Christmas.