A busy year for Buckland Beehive

Amazingly a year has passed since the Buckland Beehive opened its doors to preschool-age children, and what a busy year it has been. The children have had great fun making life-size portraits of themselves, performing their first nativity to a packed hall, planting beans and sunflowers, watching caterpillars turn into butterflies, making numerous art and craft creations to take home, as well as lots of walks and special trips out and about in the local community.

The guinea pigs, Honey and Bee, have been hand-fed every day by the children who love to handle them and care for them; the fish, Sunshine and Raindrop, are still thriving and Walter the dog occasionally visits just to check up on everyone!

Links have been made with the reception class at St. Andrew’s C of E Primary School and during the summer term children starting in the September have had weekly sessions at the school. Not only does this familiarise them with the classroom, they also meet and get to know Mrs Murdoch, the reception teacher and her staff, making the transition to school as smooth as possible.

Use of the school swimming pool has been a real bonus and each Monday the preschool has walked down the hill for a swimming session before trooping back up for a snack and much needed drink.  This has been a great hit with the children and a lot of fun.

Jane Beard, the owner of Buckland Beehive, said: “It has been a tremendous year, really hard work but I am lucky to have a very supportive team working with me. We have all learnt a lot during the last year and have still been able to enjoy every moment. The children are amazing and every day is different; it is so rewarding to watch their progress and help them prepare for the next stage in their lives. We have a lot of fun and laughs and that to me is what it is all about; if the children are thriving in our environment and achieving the goals that are set for them through having fun, then we have succeeded.”