NEWS!

September 2008: Michaelmas Fair Fundraising
As you are aware we had our Michaelmas Fair on Friday the 26th of September 2008. There were many different items for sale as well as a variety of art and craft activities that the children could join in with. It was a great morning and a lot of fun. The total money raised was £178.25! Thank you to everyone for making it such a success!
(And don't forget we have an Advent Fair on the 28th of November...)

June 2008: Visit from Steve Webb, South Glos. MP
Friday the 20th of June 2008 we had a visit organised for Steve Webb, MP for South Glos. The visit went really well and was good fun. Steve was really interested in kindy and involved himself with everything he could in the hour he was there. He asked the children what they liked best to which they responded: the walk, play and apple crumble! He seemed to really get involved in the activities and learnt a few new rhymes too! We hope he enjoyed himself as much as we did and that he will carry our ethos to the Heart of Parliament...

June 2008: Mulberry Tree Summer Camp
In June the Mulberry Tree celebrated its Summer Festival Camp in Wotton-Under-Edge. Please, click here to read all about it!

May 2008: Mulberry Tree Website Update
In May 2008 our website had a complete overhaul. We hope you find the site informative and user friendly. Feel free to make suggestions and we always welcome feedback... Enjoy!

February 2008: Increase in Hours
Due to the increasing interest in our Kindergarten, we have made some changes to opening times. From February 2008:

Mon 8.45 -12.30 or 3.30
Tue 8.45 -12.30 or 3.30
Wed 8.45 -12.30 or 2.30
Thu 8.45 -12.30

Open Eye Campaign about Early Years Foundation Stage

Save our Steiner Schools

December 2007: Recent Fundraising
We held an Advent Fair at Cromhall on 30th Nov, and we had a very successful stall at Chipping Sodbury Victorian Evening on Friday 7th December - thanks to all who supported us!

New signs
Our recent car boot sale raised funds for our new signs, photo shows them in situ.

Help us raise funds for Mulberry Tree by shopping online!
There’s now a new and easy way for you to help us raise funds for Mulberry Tree Early Years Group - simply by shopping online!

Easyfundraising is a shopping directory that features some of your favourite online stores, including Amazon, NEXT, Debenhams, John Lewis, Toys’R’Us, HMV and over 400 others. All you have to do is use the links on the easyfundraising site whenever you shop online and, at no extra cost to you, we'll receive a free donation of up to 15% from every purchase you make. It really is that simple!

It’s completely FREE to register and use and you still shop with each retailer in exactly the same way. Many retailers even offer additional discounts and money saving e-Vouchers when you shop using easyfundraising.

If you shop online anyway then why not raise valuable extra funds for us by using this fantastic scheme. All you need to do is visit http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/mulberrytreeearlyyearsgroup and when you register, select Mulberry Tree Early Years Group as the organisation you wish to support.

September 2007: Craftgroup
Our Craft Group continues at Cromhall Village Hall on the first Friday of each month, 9.30 - 11.30. Primarily for parents to have a chance to chat and learn new skills or practise old ones - bring your knitting / woodwork / whatever or join in with a new craft. Children are welcome to come and play. Drinks and a snack too!

See Toddler Group page for opening times and locations.

September 2007: Welcome
Mulberry Tree have recently appointed Catherine Jones as our Administrative Support person. We welcome her enthusiasm and knowledge of early years education.

May 2006: Ofsted Report
We have been awarded "Good" in our recent OFSTED inspection (May 2006), and are very pleased with the report.

You can read the whole report here. The report is informative and gives a really good feel for what we are doing and why we are different from many other settings!

Just a taster...

"Children's concentration is very good. They are encouraged and supported to use all of their senses to test different materials, such as wood, soft fabrics, water, grains and mud. Staff offer effective support through well-timed interventions, such as knowing when to assist and when to leave children to explore on their own. Children make decisions about their own play and learning. They politely make their needs known, for example an older child explains that she wants to make a 'roof' for her 'house'. Staff suggest possible solutions for example "you may need two sheets to make a roof". The child confidently selects sheets, clothes pegs and knitted rope to secure her 'roof'. Later, when she hears the song indicating that it is time to tidy away, she helps a member of staff to fold and tidy away the sheets, and returns the pegs and rope to the places where they are kept."