Friday 13th June

In The Nest, our summer topic is Under the Sea. Pupils have been exploring sea life through creative, sensory activities while using our Total Communication approach. Communication boards support children in making choices, expressing preferences, and engaging with the theme in a meaningful and inclusive way.

🏃‍♀️ Why 60 Minutes of Daily Activity Matters

The UK’s Chief Medical Officers recommend that children and young people (aged 5–18) accumulate an average of at least 60 minutes of moderate‑to‑vigorous physical activity each day (letsgowiththechildren.co.uk, gov.uk). This isn’t just to burn energy—it supports:

• Physical development: Improves cardiovascular health, builds strong muscles and bones, and helps maintain a healthy weight .

• Mental well‑being: Physical activity boosts mood, reduces stress, and enhances self-esteem in children.

• Social & cognitive skills: Through play and sport, kids learn teamwork, problem-solving, and resilience.

However, recent data reveal that ~3.6 million children in England (roughly 30%) fall short of this target, with a third doing under 30 minutes daily (gov.uk). The UK Government’s School Sport and Activity Action Plan (first launched in 2019 and updated in 2023) aims to rectify this by ensuring all children can access 60 minutes of activity every day—whether during school hours, after-school programmes, weekends, or holidays (gov.uk).

Encouraging movement isn’t just a health imperative—it's a key to unlocking lifelong habits that underpin happier, healthier childhoods and futures.

🌳 Free Family Activities Near SL1 3BQ

Here are zero-cost ways parents in Slough can ensure their kids stay active—and have fun too!

1. Herschel Park (Upton Park)

Grade II listed park and nature reserve with lakes, ponds, wildlife trails, historic paths.
– Perfect for walking, wildlife spotting, pond dipping, paddling (en.wikipedia.org).

2. Haymill Valley Nature Reserve

Ancient woodland with ponds, trails, and art installations (e.g., Kingfisher sculptures).
– Ideal for exploring nature, running, orienteering .

3. Cocksherd Wood

“Bluebell Wood” local reserve with coppiced woodland and clear paths.
– Great for nature walks and seasonal wildflower spotting (en.wikipedia.org, sloughrocks.co.uk).

4. Kedermister Park

A spacious local park with open green fields.
– Suitable for ball games, tag, picnics (familyinfo.buckinghamshire.gov.uk, nhs.uk).

5. Black Park Country Park (just outside Slough)

Large woodland and lakeside park with playgrounds and outdoor trails.
– Perfect for forest walks, lakeside play, or storytelling picnics (themummystylist.com).

6. Burnham Beeches (nearby open woodlands)

Ancient beech woodland with easy walking routes and fairy-tree groves.
– Excellent for rambling and nature discovery .

7. Slough Family Services – Active Sessions

Slough-based programmes offering free inclusive football, street dance, gymnastics, boxing, and more (sloughfamilyservices.org.uk).
– Weekly sessions: e.g. Saturday inclusive football; street dance at Westgate School (Wednesdays).

8. Burnham Family Centre

Free play & explore sessions for children aged 0–5, plus messy play (sloughfamilyservices.org.uk, familyinfo.buckinghamshire.gov.uk).
– Held at Minniecroft Road, Burnham, SL1 7DE.

9. Library Story & Activity Time

Check local branches (e.g. Cippenham, Slough Library) for free storytime, craft sessions, Lego play, Duplo fun, often combined with light movement (familyinfo.buckinghamshire.gov.uk, themummystylist.com).

10. Eventbrite Listings in Slough

Free Zumba or taekwondo classes for kids appear periodically on Eventbrite (eventbrite.com).

✅ Tips for Parents

• Mix it up: Combine walking or cycling to the park with running games, dancing, or sports.

• Involve the whole family: Siblings, parents, grandparents—activity is more likely to stick when it’s social.

• Routine matters: Try to fit in 20 minutes morning, afternoon, and evening.

• Be spontaneous: Playground races, imaginative outdoor adventures, or nature-themed scavenger hunts all count!

By championing daily movement through play, walking, exploration, and social activities, parents help children meet the UK’s recommended 60 minutes of daily activity. It’s not only essential for physical health—it’s an investment in their emotional well‑being, social development, and lifelong habits.

Unfortunately, our children have lost 1321 days of school so far this year due to illness - that's the equivalent of 1 child missing every day of every school year until Year 7. 

Whilst we understand, as an Infant School, our children are always susceptible to illness and can easily pick up "bugs", we are always looking for ways to support our families and to help make the process easier. 

To help guide you through childhood illnesses and whether you should send your child to school, we have created a digital guide to outline some of the common illnesses and what you should do if you suspect your child has one of these. The guide has been written in line with NHS guidance and is here for you to use, to help you decide whether you should send your child to school. 

Click on the following link to be taken to our new Reporting your child's illness guide for more information. 

https://sway.cloud.microsoft/1ecGyDyObJlhXZ5h?ref=Link

We want this guide to be supportive and useful for our parent community to help improve attendance, so if you have any feedback on this 'guide' or you think there is some information missing that would be helpful - please feel free to offer your feedback either via Class Dojo to Mr Bowskill or via email - post@phoenixinfants.uk - for the attention of Mr Bowskill.