Handmade Wreaths for Sale

From our heart to yours…

Each of these exquisite wreaths has been painstakingly and lovingly handmade by Helle. Surrounded by a sense of peace and tranquillity, each one is beautiful and unique. They each have a hidden symbolic meaning, which draws you in, opening up your spiritual awareness and focusing the mind and heart on the things of God.

Cinnamon scrolls represent the Word of God; gold berries denote the treasures of the Kingdom; red berries symbolise the blood of Christ and curly entwining oxalis vines signify the connection between all believers. Fruits of the Spirit are represented by apples, pears and berries, while green leaves hint at the hope of new life and red Autumn leaves bring the wisdom of age.

They are ideal for using as a focal point for prayer and meditation or simply as a beautiful seasonal table decoration.

If you would like one of these wreaths for your home, they are available from Helle, just give her a call on 01869 325075 or call 07828881708 to reserve yours now. All proceeds will be donated to the upkeep of Hunsdon House.

CHILDREN’S ART EXHIBITION

We are excited to announce an exciting exhibition of beautiful children’s art in partnership with L’Ecole in France, soon to be unveiled at Hunsdon House!

The Exhibition will open for a private viewing on Friday 5th January 2024 from 11am-2pm, and will run thereafter until 20th Feb during after-school hours, 3pm-5pm each weekday.

FUN DAY AND SALE

On Saturday 24 June 2023 10-4

Hunsdon House will be holding a Fun Open Day for all parents and children in our local area! We will be offering children’s activities and storytime in our beautiful gardens PLUS Mums can relax with a cuppa and treat themselves from our market stall of goodies! Take home a lovely bag of biscuits for tea…

We are busily preparing… Delicious home made cakes and treats… Jars of taste safe playdough in all rainbow colours…. Ukrainian crochet handicrafts…. Watercolour paintings…. and a lovely relaxing moisturising hand treatment massage!

All proceeds will go towards redecoration of the Nursery for the September term.

Open this Link to Fun Day Poster (Sorry, Squarespace won’t let us upload the actual poster!)

SUMMER 2023 ART CLUB!

This year, because of popular demand, we are extending our Art Club to FOUR WEEKS of the Summer Holidays! We have openings for children aged 4 to 10 years old.

Places are limited to ten children per day and are already filling up fast, so book your child’s place early to avoid disappointment!

Call us on 01865 762704, or 01869 325075.

WhatsApp, text or call 07765 574626 or 07828 881708.

Or email hunsdonhouse@hotmail.co.uk

Art Club runs from 10am till 4pm each day.

Dates:

24th to 28th July; 31st July to 4th August;

7th to 11th August and 14th to 18th August

Activities on offer will include:

Washing and dyeing sheep fleece and weaving on willow looms

Printing, pattern making and Decorating a picture frame

Wax resist Batik, Papier mache and Clay modeling

Simple Dollmaking and Sewing projects

Seaside collage making and transient art exploration

Pegdoll painting (make your own little doll family!)

Our beautiful wooded gardens will be open for free play and exploration each day, with water play, sensory play, bikes and swings as well as snacks and lunch under the trees (bring your own lunchbox, we will provide drinks).

CREATIVE PLAY SESSIONS

We have recently enjoyed a series of exciting morning play sessions with our visiting Creative Play Specialist, Cathy Owen, a long-time associate who comes to share time with us regularly.

Cathy brings with her a stimuating curated collection of natural open-ended play resources, many of them handmade and unique. Following the childrens’ individual interests, she sets up delightfully engaging child-led play invitations and enchanted little worlds for the children to make and explore. Cathy places great value on process-led play, in which each child is free to follow their own explorations and creative impulses. For some, this may look like simply transferring loose parts from one receptacle to another. For others, imaginative little worlds impulsively unfold. Space is given to those who wish to focus on working out their own constructions and ideas, either singly or in small groups.

Parents’ Contributions to our nursery life

Over the years, many of our parents and friends have shared their skills and talents to enrich our learning.

One father, Ashley Bale, created a beautiful wooden stage for a Playmobil circus set, which has been much enjoyed by the children.

One dad brought in a large pumpkin from his garden in a wheelbarrow, and the children had a fascinating afternoon dissecting it into pieces, pulling out the goopy seeds and making pumpkin soup!

A Jewish family introduced their faith with a Hanukkah celebration, bringing a traditional song, menorah candles, challah and matzah bread to share.

Louise Graham, a parent whose 3 children began attending the nursery 20 years ago, has been a regular visitor every summer since then, introducing different musical instruments with the help of her children. Louise and her children often play the music for our Nativity,

Another parent shared about her life in Africa, teaching the children an African Christian song. One father came to play his selection of trumpets and brass instruments for us and let all the children have a try.

Hugh Spight, a retired actor, dancer and puppeteer, comes in regularly to lead storytime and teach the children to play the Auto-Harp.

Bruno Guastello, a local violin maker, taught a woodworking workshop to the older children, teaching them how a cello is made and guiding them to use the tools to make their own percussion sticks. The lesson concluded with a music and percussion activity.

Anna, a visiting musician, brought along her harp to entrance us all with the music and let the children pluck the strings as she told the children about her instrument.

Sometimes fathers offer to lead the woodworking session on Thursdays. Families have also brought in their gentle, friendy dogs from time to time for the children to pet.

Please don’t hesitate to ask if you too would like to share your skill, culture, garden produce, pet or time with us!

Hunsdon House Celebrates its Hundredth Birthday!

In July 2022, we celebrated the 100 year anniversary of Hunsdon House with a gathering of families and staff old and new. We all enjoyed sharing a big strawberry birthday cake. The children sang traditional and modern songs, made music and danced. Former parents played instruments and shared emotional tributes remembering the happy times their children had with us.

One parent, Sophie Bale, sent us this note after the centenary celebration:

“We want to send you all our love and heartfelt thanks on the wonderful achievement of the Nursery’s 100th Birthday. We were lucky enough to attend 20 years ago and in turn all our six children have explored the wonder of all that you have offered over the following 15 years. Joy, wonder, discovery, warmth, patience, kindness and love. We are so fortunate to have had such a nursery for our children in our community, We send our grateful thanks for all your support and generosity and care”.

💕mother’s day EVENT~ Cherish all mums! 💕

All Mums and girls are invited to a free event at Hunsdon House on Weds 16 March 2021, 11am-12 noon.

Come along and treat yourself to a free relaxing hand massage and a friendly chat while enjoying a lovely hot cuppa and a slice of apple cake. A gorgeous selection of goodies, gifts and treats will be available. Actor Hugh Spight will be singing and playing his Auto-harp to add to the welcoming atmosphere.

Children are welcome and may play in the garden with Ilka.

Held in support of Cherish Ministries, run by Rev Erika Biscoe, a Christian teaching, mentoring and counselling service to help young women and girls who may be troubled by issues of self-harm, low self esteem or depression.

NEW LONGER HOURS!

In support of working parents, we have decided to offer longer afternoons to all children aged 3 to 5.

From September 2021, should enough parents request it, Hunsdon House can stay open until 4.45pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Afternoons are open to all Hunsdon House children over age 3.

Mondays and Fridays will continue at our normal hours of 8.45-2.45.

Please contact us ASAP to reserve your child’s place. These additional hours will need to be booked separately and can be added on top of your child’s normal days with us.

PAINTINGS FOR SALE

At Hunsdon House Garden School, 12 Osler road, Headington, Oxford OX3 9BJ

“CHILDREN AND THEIR RIGHTS”

We have recently acquired a collection of beautiful watercolours depicting families at play. All the paintings can be viewed on request, some are also shown below and on our Instagram page.

All paintings are for sale and all proceeds will go to a Sri Lankan orphanage and the Amos Trust, a charity working with street children. Please contact Georgia or Helle if you would like to view or purchase your own painting.

In today’s world when we are thinking of children’s rights, there are so many things to consider.

Their right to a peaceful childhood uninterrupted by war and conflict. Their right to enough food, healthcare and education. The right to be brought up by their parents and family members in an environment where they feel safe and secure.

In these paintings, the artist, Rosalie O’Nions, has concentrated on three rights that she feels are important in childhood: The right to play and be creative; the right to make and develop friendships with other children in an atmosphere of mutual respect; and the right to the love and companionship of their parents, grandparents and siblings. The paintings represent the joy of childhood memories and enjoying special time with family.

They are sized between 18x24cm and 30x50cm and very reasonably priced between £15 and £30.

If you would like to know more or purchase any of these paintings, please pop into the Nursery between 11am and 4pm on 29 May to 2 June. If you can’t make it but would like a painting, please call Helle or Georgia on 01865 762704 or 01869 325075.

Summer 2020

COVID-19 ARRANGEMENTS AND PRECAUTIONS

• Now that we have been allowed to open the School again, we are carrying out the following precautions:

  • The classrooms will be prepared to minimise the number of children sitting at one table: seating arrangements will be separated to avoid close contact between children as they play and work, with individual tables of activities both outside and inside for children to move freely and safely between both.

  • We will maximise use of outdoor play activities during the warmer weather.

  • We will be following the Government guidelines regarding social distancing in the Nursery, together with any other requirements they ask us to take.

  • We will continue our regular handwashing practice, as well as disinfecting toys, surfaces, chairs etc as always. We have purchased the best quality antiviral soap.

  • We are following all Government guidelines for nursery schools, including relevant risk assessments.

    
    
    

    We have been able to offer Art Weeks during the Summer Holidays this year, with many activities taking place outdoors in our garden.

This delightful naive-style painting depicts the Ark in full sail on a rolling sea, filled with mischievous animals peeping out of every window. Your child will enjoy spotting all the pairs of animals as you tell them the age-old story!

Lanka Kade lower case Alphabet letters, FULL SET £55

More pictures coming soon!

These beautifully painted chunky wooden letters are not available from Lanka Kade anymore (they only have the capitals, which are not so good for small children just learning the alphabet). We have managed to get hold of a set of lowercase letters which we are selling as a whole alphabet set for £55.

Please contact Helle or Georgia if you wish to reserve these items.

CELEBRATING PRECIOUS MOMENTS

We love to watch the children making connections and discoveries and becoming more creative in their play. We’d like to celebrate these precious windows into the childrens’ world by sharing them with you.

L: This child has built a ‘Rescue Machine’ for his teacher who was feeling poorly!

R: Colouring the gardening tools like our green grass

L: This boy comes from South Africa and had the idea to nibble the shape of the continent out of his cracker!

R: A serious rider on his horse, sitting up very straight.

L: Receiving instruction in learning to fly…

R: A shy boy is proud bus driver for the first time

Over Summer 2018 we carried out some renovation work in the kitchen and the wooden room to beautify our space.

Our Charity Spring Concert on 15th March 2017 was a great success, it was absolutely wonderful to see all our former children so grown up and talented, and singing and playing their instruments so beautifully. The concert was a delight to all and inspiring for parents and children, listeners and performers. A great deal of practising and dedication had gone into preparing for it. Many of the children who took part had discovered a love of music while exploring the cello as four year olds at Hunsdon House. The standard of playing was excellent, but more importantly, these children are helping to inspire the younger ones to do the same,  contributing to our community and those of children less fortunate. Over £275 was raised for our favourite charity, the Amos Trust which supports street children in Africa.

We intend to organise another Charity Concert in the future.

Any parents interested in longer nursery hours for their child please contact us to discuss your requirements for a longer afternoon session until 5pm. For details please see posters below.              

                            December 2015

This year we invited parents on three consecutive Thursday afternoons to join us for a Christmas Craft Workshop, where they learned to make felt tree decorations, wreaths, hanging garlands, paper stars and many more beautiful ornaments. It was lovely to discover the wonderful talents some of our parents have been blessed with, and a nice treat to be able to sew or craft in peace while the children were taken care of by staff in the next room. (One rather heroic mum turned up every week and sewed beautifully while juggling a restless snuffly baby!)  We sold the decorations at our Christmas Market to raise money for the Ugandan orphanage and street childrens' charities we support.

Our Nativity

For the first time we invited a professional photographer, Danny Reeve, to make a video of our traditional Nativity play which we hold every year on the last day of the Autumn Term. The Nativity went very well, with the children looking lovely as angels, shepherds, kings, animals and the Holy Family. There was as always an excellent audience of parents and younger siblings, with contributions of a poem, a beautiful solo and talented musicians to accompany the carols. Parents were able to take home a copy of the video. A clip is shown below.