The firsts couple of months at La Casita after the Summer break

It’s hard to believe it’s only been 10 weeks since La Casita re-opened after the summer break. These few weeks have been full of excitement and children and staff alike have really enjoyed the first half term of autumn. 

We all had fun getting to know each other a bit better… then ‘los 3 cerditos’ (3 little pigs) joined in.  We read the story and learnt songs about ‘el lobo feroz’ (big bad wolf). We loved playing with lots of exciting natural resources, mainly straws, bark, stones and mud. We built houses with boxes, made animals with twigs and stones and learnt about numbers 1 to 3.

To work on the Autumn topic we went on an outing to the Royal Pavilion Gardens to visit the squirrels and talk about this typical autumn animal. We saw lots of them and we also had the opportunity to feed them!

We have also enjoyed learning about fruits with ‘the very hungry caterpillar’ and ‘Handa’s surprise’. We printed with vegetables, peeled and cut fruit; made smoothies… we even had our own fruit shop with scales and trolleys! 

Halloween arrived soon after that and with it came the spiders, ghosts and pumpkins…  We loved dancing ‘el twist del esqueleto’, emptying pumpkins and lots of messy play: ‘jelly & eyes’, spaghetti… In the garden we managed to find all the hidden scary pictures during a gymkhana and indoors we made a magic potion using ‘ojos de gato y sangre de serpiente’… yuk!!

Guy Fawkes brought fireworks with lots of sparkly glitter; we even made a firework display, using spray guns and bright paint, that we hung on the ceiling… fantastic!!

We have learnt to recognise numbers and match them to quantities. We have also been linking sounds and letters with the jolly phonics and the older children are doing really well at writing their names!

This is just the beginning… next week is Diwali and we have lots more fun planned!

Daily Timetable

The team

Meritxell

Mother of two, moved to the UK in 1996 and has been working with children since 1999.
She has a level 3 qualification in childcare and is studing towards the level 5 in management in childcare.
Meritxell started Buenos Dias in 2001 and La Casita in 2009. She has extensive experience in teaching children of all ages including children with SEN.

Bea

Is a qualified primary teacher (level 6) with 10 year's experience with children. She has worked in England at Buenos Dias and La Casita since 2011 and with disabled children for a couple of years beforehand. She also worked with disabled children in Spain, in a foster house and as a scout monitor. Bea works with the 2 year olds.


Lorena

Is a qualified Higher Technician in Pre-School Education (level 5). She has worked in a Montessori nursery for several years and she is working now with 2 years olds and transitional under 2s.

Claudia

Is a qualified infant teacher (level 6). She has ample experience working in nursery settings and has volunteered in schools in Tanzania and Nicaragua. She is working with our 3 to 5 years old.

About us

La Casita offers bilingual Spanish-English childcare (Ofsted registered) for children aged between 4 months and 5 years. Since 2009, happy pre-school children have enjoyed a wide range of fun activities in a vibrant, stimulating atmosphere.

We are open Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm and accept Early Years Education Entitlement (EYEE), so you can claim up to 15 hours per week once your child reaches the age of three. We also take a range of work place vouchers.

Qualified, experienced staff follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), providing children with complete and varied educational and physical programmes in a safe, caring, nurturing and stimulating environment.

At La Casita, we understand the need for routine and balance. Every child at La Casita benefits from a range of guided activities, group games, creative and one-to one time as well as outdoor activities, free play and relaxation. Children have free access between the rooms and gardens, allowing them to become more independent and take part in activities of interest them.

We also host regular outings to help children expand their learning through enjoyable, educational experiences. Most outings and extra activities are included in the fees. An in-house library of books, music and learning aids are available to borrow free of charge.

Although we follow a Spanish language programme, we also make sure that children who are starting Reception the following September are proficient in English.