Abbots Langley pupils adopt newborn chicks (From Watford Observer)

Pupils at Breakspeare Community Pre-School in Abbots Langley adopt newborn chicks

3:20pm Thursday 7th March 2013 in News By Rebecca Perring, Reporter

Spring has arrived at a pre-school in Abbots Langley with the hatching of a new brood of feathered friends.

After weeks of watching and waiting, young children from Breakspeare Community Pre-School in School Mead have excitedly welcomed eight new chicks into their classrooms.

Youngsters, aged between two and five years, have been waiting patiently for the eggs to hatch since they arrived on Monday, February 25.

This is part of an Early Years foundation programme which aims to improve the children’s communication skills, handling and caring for animals and understanding life cycle and change.

Amanda Ricciardi, pre-school leader, said: "The children have been absolutely fascinated by the eggs and watching them grow.

"They love holding them and caring for them. For some of the children, who haven’t got pets at home this is their first experience of caring for an animal.

Over the two weeks of brooding for their fluffy bundles, staff at the school will record a diary of what they hear the children say about the chicks.