News

Friday 27 February 2026 DfE Congratulates Our Schools on Opening Three New Nurseries We are delighted to share that we have received three letters of recognition from the Department for Education, celebrating the successful opening of our new Orion Little Stars school‑based nurseries at Orion Blenheim, Orion Ravensworth and Orion Scotts Park.
Thursday 26 February 2026 At Orion Little Stars Nursery, every morning is filled with imagination, laughter and learning Earlier this week, our Little Stars stepped into the world of real life heroes during a wonderful role play session. The classroom was transformed into a busy town, complete with a police station, hospital, and emergency response team!
Thursday 5 February 2026 Learning Comes to Life at Orion Little Stars Nursery Children at Orion Little Stars Nursery have been busy developing their early learning skills through a range of hands-on activities designed to make learning fun and engaging. This week, the nursery was full of excitement as children practised counting numbers displayed on the wall, confidently calling them out together and reinforcing their early numeracy skills.
Thursday 5 February 2026 Learning Names & Minibeast Decorations The children have been focussing on name recognition and creativity this last week. They enjoyed decorating their very own minibeasts and practiced recognising their names, combining literacy and art in a fun and engaging way. It was a wonderful activity to encourage fine motor skills, self-expression, and learning through play.
Thursday 5 February 2026 Role Play & Cooking Fun Inside the nursery, imagination has been in full swing this last week! The children made themselves a delicious dinner in the role play area, practicing counting as they used the till and money to “pay” for their meals. Creativity continued with homemade playdough and Rice Krispie cake making. The children were thrilled to enjoy their tasty creations! It was a wonderful day for learning through play and hands-on experiences.
Thursday 5 February 2026 Outdoor Exploration: Minibeast Adventures Last week, our nursery children enjoyed a wonderful adventure outdoors! We opened up our grass area and gave the children magnifying glasses to hunt for minibeasts. The little explorers found spiders and worms, and they loved searching for our hidden minibeasts in the sand. Some children even got messy and creative in the mud kitchen, exploring with curiosity and delight. It was a fantastic day filled with laughter, discovery, and hands-on learning!
Wednesday 21 January 2026 Learning through sensory and imaginative play Imaginative and sensory play is a vital part of early development, especially for children from the age of two. At this stage, children are beginning to make sense of the world around them through hands-on experiences, exploration, and play. Activities that allow them to use their imagination, practise fine motor skills, and describe what they are feeling help to build strong foundations for future learning.
Wednesday 21 January 2026 Understanding the world through animal environments Learning about animals and their environments plays an important role in children's development from the age of two. At this stage, children are naturally curious about the world around them and begin to notice similarities, differences, and patterns in their everyday experiences. Exploring animal habitats helps children make sense of the natural world and supports early scientific thinking.
Wednesday 21 January 2026 Helping children regulate their emotions At Orion Little Stars Scotts Park, we have introduced a regulation station to support children's emotional wellbeing. This calm and welcoming space gives children the chance to take a break, reflect, and manage their feelings when they feel overwhelmed or need some quiet time.
Wednesday 21 January 2026 Yoga in music and movement sessions Yoga was introduced last week as part of our music and movement sessions, and the children thoroughly enjoyed taking part. They practised simple poses, stretches, and breathing exercises, following instructions and moving their bodies in a calm and controlled way.
Wednesday 21 January 2026 Developing hand-eye coorindation Last week, our Little Stars at Scotts Park spent lots of time enjoying outdoor play in our nursery garden. One of the favourite activities was playing a game of skittles, where the children took turns rolling a ball to knock the skittles over. This activity encouraged the children to focus, aim carefully, and coordinate their movements. They showed great enthusiasm, celebrating their successes and supporting their friends.
Wednesday 14 January 2026 Curiosity and communication shine through play This week, our Little Stars discovered a brand-new favourite game: “What's in the Box&quest;” The game was a hit, encouraging the children to use their senses, ask questions, and communicate with one another as they tried to guess the objects hidden inside.
Wednesday 14 January 2026 Exploring Snow and Discovering Feelings at Orion Little Stars Our little stars have had a magical time exploring the snow last week! Wrapped up warm, they took time to notice and talk about what they could see, feel, and discover in the wintery garden. This sensory exploration helped the children develop observation skills while enjoying the beauty of the season.
Wednesday 14 January 2026 A Fantastic First Week Back for Our Little Stars
Wednesday 14 January 2026 Winter sensory exploration The children at nursery have had another busy and engaging week filled with learning, creativity, and outdoor fun. Wrapped up warm, they enjoyed spending time in the garden, where they explored the mud kitchen and made imaginative potions using a variety of natural materials found outdoors.
Wednesday 14 January 2026 Building Bright Futures Through Phonics and Early Writing at Orion Little Stars At Orion Little Stars, developing strong phonics and early writing skills is an important part of everyday learning, alongside plenty of fun and play. The children work hard to build the foundations they need for confident reading and writing, through carefully planned activities that are engaging, practical, and age appropriate.
Wednesday 14 January 2026 Animal fun at Orion Little Stars This term's theme is Animals. The Orion Little Stars have enjoyed painting with toy animals since returning back to nursery. They have been busy creating animal footprints across paper.
Monday 15 December 2025 Seamless Transitions: How Our School-Based Nurseries Prepare Little Stars for Primary Success One of the most valuable benefits of being at Orion Little Stars nursery at Scotts Park, Blenheim, and Ravensworth is our unique setting of being within the school environment. This give our Little Stars the chance to interact with children in Reception and Year 1 and to visit the 'Big School'.
Monday 15 December 2025 The Balanced Day That Delivers Holistic Development at Orion Little Stars A key pillar of the Orion Little Stars experience is our balanced daily routine, ensuring children benefit from both focused indoor learning and essential outdoor exploration. The day is expertly structured to allow for deep engagement in learning activities inside, complemented by invigorating outdoor fun.
Monday 15 December 2025 Significant Progress Through Play: Celebrating Reading, Writing, and Numeracy Success At Orion Little Stars, we see tangible results every day from our commitment to learning through play. While the children might see themselves exploring the sensory tray or building a tower, our staff plan activities that drive improvement in core skills.