Hopscotch was very pleased to support Natasha with her part time studies and congratulate her on her fantastic achievement.

Throughout January and February, they will be planting carrots,
and salad onions, and then tomatoes, beetroot and potatoes throughout March. Planting is an activity we carry on throughout the year, talking to all the children involved about growing and tending to the plants, and hopefully resulting in some produce to take home and try. We recently had a bumper crop of leeks and parsnips.

Any produce which doesn’t go too well is fed to Billy the Snail or becomes a composting activity for the children – so nothing’s wasted!

Donations of gardening equipment such as seeds or pots are always gratefully appreciated. We particularly need hand tools and grow bags.

The children have enjoyed discussing life in Australia and had lots of messy fun creating boomerangs and Australian flags. After discussing native animals they all a good time dancing like kangaroos!

There has been extra fun at Hopscotch over this festive period.  The children have performed Nativity Plays and Carol Concerts in local Churches with appreciative audiences of their parents, grandparents and families – with not a dry eye in the house!

The children are especially enjoying their Christmas parties with visits from Father Christmas who has a present for every child.

The Hopscotch Christmas Dinner was a special occasion made fun for children and staff members with crackers, hats and lots of party games too.

Thanks to all the Hopscotch Staff for their hard work and dedication to give the children a special time through December; the staff thoroughly deserve their Christmas break!

On Sunday 6th November 2011, staff, parents and children from  Hopscotch Peacehaven held a sponsored walk to raise money for Children in Need.  A nice cup of hot chocolate helped to get us going as it was a very cold and windy day.  We walked along the Seaford promenade from the Martello Tower all the way to the Sailing Club and back again.  Once back at the Tower and past the finishing line, all enjoyed much needed drinks and biscuits.  Thank you to everyone who braved the weather to raise money for this worthy cause – so far we have raised £433.61.  Please enjoy looking at our photos.

Portland Road children enjoyed their Diwali, Hindu Festival of Light, celebrations. They made Thengai Burfi (a traditional sweet), candles and lanterns to give as gifts and decorated the nursery with bright red, green and yellow colours.  Oil lamps were placed by the children on the interest table and they read stories about Lakshmi, Rama and Sita. They were very lucky as Mishka and Anaaya wore their traditonal dress (Shalwar Kameez) for the day and a member of staff also brought other Saris from home for the other children to wear.

Lots of fun was had by children, mums and dads, grannies and grandads and friends who came to Hopscotch Preston Park’s Spooky Open Day.  Everyone enjoyed all the Halloween games and activities including ‘Pin the Head on the Skeleton’, face painting, make mummy a mummy and refreshments in our beautifully decorated spooky nursery.

Everyone is welcome. You can take this opportunity to come and look around the nursery,  join the messy and creative fun activities. There will be free spooky refreshments, apple bobbing, trick or treat lucky dip, face painting and much more.

Bring your family and friends  -  SEE YOU THERE IF YOU DARE

It was wonderful to meet children and young people from all over Sussex who have achieved so much,  many of them overcoming difficulties and challenges, and who thoroughly deserved their awards.