Nursery children share £1,000 win from literacy competition with care home residents

Nursery children who won £1,000 in a reading and writing competition have decided to split their prize money with care home residents they’ve visited, after photos of the children reading with residents helped them to win first prize.

Children reading with care home resident

Children from Brookhill House Day Nursery, in Stapleford, won the prize money after entering the Nottinghamshire Poem 2018 competition. Photographs taken of them visiting residents at Longmoor Lodge Care Home, formed a crucial part of the competition entry.

The joint winnings have gone towards activities materials for the home and supplies to be used by nursery children for continued intergenerational activities.

Samantha Ely, home manager at Hillcare's Longmoor Lodge Care Home, said: “It was so kind of the nursery to use their prize winnings for activities our residents could take part in alongside the children.

“The residents always love seeing the children and were particularly excited on their last visit as they brought along loads of new toys, books and games.

“A lovely morning was spent by all and we look forward to their next visit.”

The budding young poets beat hundreds of other nurseries in Nottinghamshire to win the competition.

Materials bought for residents include soft dolls, blocks, laces, sensory tubs, a blow-up hoop game, water painting materials and books.

Nursery manager Jane Harker said: “The children have visited before to share their favourite books with the residents. They also wrote to them afterwards to say how much they enjoyed their visits.

Intergenerational activities at Longmoor Lodge

“We used photos and examples of the letters to enter the Poem 2018 competition. We were absolutely delighted to win. We chose to use some of the prize money for joint activities between the children and residents because they all really enjoy spending time together.”

The children have since visited the home in nearby Sandiacre, to take part in activities using the new toys and equipment.

Resident Pauline Jess, 77, read a book called “Family Life in Pictures”, which is one of the children’s favourite stories featuring photographs from traditional family events, such as meals, weddings, gatherings with elderly relatives.

Pauline said: “We talked about each picture and linked them to our own family times.”

Another resident, Betty Bonsal, 91, said: “I felt like a teacher with all the children round me while I showed the picture cards and explained what each was about.”

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