Life at Fennies: July & August | Community, families & nursery life

Every month at Fennies, our nurseries are filled with moments that bring people together. We have the chance to welcome new families whilst also celebrating the amazing achievements of our current children.  

Welcome to the first edition of ‘Life at Fennies’, our new monthly series celebrating the people, milestones and everyday moments that make each nursery so special. Throughout the last couple of months, we’ve seen our community come together in so many ways. We’ve welcomed new families within new local communities, whilst we’ve also celebrated the children at our existing nurseries for the milestones they’ve recently achieved.

Here's a look back at what brought our community together this month.

Welcoming families into our community

Before a child’s first day at nursery, the foundations of a strong community are already being built.

Garden party open morning

A strong community starts with welcoming families through the door. This July, our nurseries opened their gardens to current and prospective families for our Garden Party Open Morning, with nearly 400 families signing up across our settings to join us.

The event gave families the opportunity to explore their local Fennies nursery, meet our educators and experience the environments where children learn, play and grow. From discovering our thoughtfully designed spaces to joining in with activities, families could see the relationships and connections that make each Fennies community unique.

For prospective families, it was the first step in building a relationship with their future nursery team, while existing families had the chance to celebrate the community they are already part of.

High Wycombe coffee morning & first aid event

As we prepare to open the doors to our new Fennies High Wycombe nursery, building relationships with local families has already been a key part of our journey.

Earlier this month, we welcomed families to a coffee morning, giving parents the opportunity to meet our team and ask questions, while learning more about what they can expect from their new nursery. We also hosted a first aid event for local families, providing practical guidance and support while creating another opportunity to connect with the community.

These events reflect the importance of building relationships before a child’s first day. By meeting families early, it allows us to share our expertise and creating opportunities to come together, we can begin establishing the strong partnerships that sit at the heart of our nursery communities. As we get closer to opening our doors, we look forward to continuing to become a valued part of the High Wycombe community.

Supporting families beyond the nursery day

Being part of a nursery community means supporting families beyond the moments they spend with us each day.

Parenting Hub: Paediatric First Aid

At Fennies, our connection with families extends far beyond the nursery day. Through our Parenting Hub, we create opportunities for families to access expert guidance, learn together and feel supported throughout their child's early years journey. This July, parents joined our online Paediatric First Aid session, led by our Learning and Development Trainer, Kelly.

The session provided practical advice and reassurance around responding to everyday first aid situations, helping families build confidence and knowledge that can support them both at home and beyond the nursery environment. By sharing the expertise of our own team, our Parent Hub helps strengthen the partnership between families and educators, creating a connected community where parents feel supported, informed and empowered.

Parenting Hub: Screen Time with Dr Aric Sigman

The Parenting Hub continued a month later, with another expert-led session, this time exploring screen time and young children's development with Dr Aric Sigman.

As technology becomes an increasingly important part of family life, we want to continue giving parents access to evidence-based guidance and practical strategies they can use at home. By creating opportunities for families to connect with experts, we can continue strengthening the relationships that sit at the heart of our nursery community.

Celebrating important milestones together

A child’s journey through early years is shaped by the people around them, making moments like graduation a celebration for the whole Fennies community.

Inventors graduation ceremonies

July has been a special month for our Inventors children as they prepare for their next big adventure... starting school!

Across our nurseries, teams have celebrated this important milestone with graduation ceremonies, giving children the opportunity to celebrate alongside their friends, educators and families. They got to wear their graduation gowns and share these memorable moments together. Each ceremony was a special reflection of the children's growth and achievements during their time at Fennies.

Graduation photos & leavers' hoodies

Families were also able to capture these moments through graduation photos

and optional leavers' hoodies, creating lasting memories of their child's early years journey.

As our Inventors take their next steps into school, these celebrations highlight the strong relationships built between families and educators, and the important role our community plays in supporting every stage of their development.

Building connections within and beyond the nursery

Our community stretches beyond the nursery doors, creating opportunities to connect with our local communities and with each other across Fennies.

Welcoming MP Jack Rankin to Fennies Windsor

We were also delighted to welcome Jack Rankin, MP to our Fennies Windsor nursery, where he met our team, explored our thoughtfully designed environments and learned more about the educational approach we provide for children.

Visits like these provide a valuable opportunity to connect with our local communities, showcase the work happening within Early Years and share how we create environments where children can thrive.

The final BEYT BBQ of the summer

Our final BEYT BBQ of the summer brought educators from across the Fennies family together for an evening of connection and community.

Standing for Bringing Early Years Together, BEYT is a chance for teams across our nurseries to come together to celebrate achievements and strengthen the relationships that connect our wider Fennies community (While enjoying some great food!) These events strengthen the relationships between our educators, creating a closer community across our nursery network.

Everyday moments that bring our community together

Community is built in the small moments too, with everyday experiences creating opportunities for children and educators to connect.

A trip to Build-A-Bear

Learning extends far beyond the nursery environment, and this month our children at Fennies Windsor had the opportunity to explore their local community with a special trip to Build-A-Bear.

The visit gave children the opportunity to try something new alongside their friends and educators, helping them grow in confidence and independence as they explored a different environment. Experiences like these are an important part of children’s learning journeys, allowing them to discover more about the world around them while creating shared memories together.

Live music at Fennies Cheam

At Fennies Cheam, children enjoyed a special visit from a guitarist, bringing music and creativity into the nursery environment.

Experiences like this give children the opportunity to explore something new and enjoy creative experiences within the nursery environment. Sharing these moments with their friends and educators' helps children feel connected and builds a strong sense of belonging within their Fennies community.

Cardboard Box Day

Across Fennies nurseries, children celebrated Cardboard Box Day, turning a simple cardboard box into endless possibilities through imagination and creativity.

Cardboard Box Day encouraged children across Fennies to think creatively as they transformed simple boxes into their own imaginative creations. Through shared play and collaboration with their friends and educators, children enjoyed an experience that celebrated creativity and the connections built through everyday moments.