CHILDREN at nurseries across the Isle of Wight put down their pens for a cowboys and Indians day and a hobby horse Grand National.

Nurseries under the Furzehill Childcare Centre Ltd group, which include Newchurch Nursery, Daisyfield Nursery in Nettlestone, Jigsaw Childcare Centre in Newport, Little Acres Childcare Centre in Newport and Furzehill Childcare Centre in Shanklin, all enjoyed 'no pens day' and focused on language and communication.

The nurseries have a no pens day every half term and each has a different theme.

During the cowboys and Indians no pens day, the children took part in activities such as sheep herding, a hobby horse Grand National, line dancing and tug of war.

There were also two Shetland ponies from Happy Ponies IW visiting the nurseries to join in with the Grand National events.

Lucy Coleman, company senior manager of Furzehill Childcare Centre Ltd, said: "No pens day is an annual nationwide initiative through The Communication Trust that we have now taken part in for the last three years.

"Rather than just do it annually, it is something that we have decided to do at the end of each half term because it is so successful and has such a positive impact on the children."