Newsletter Term 6 summer 2008
Welcome to the final term of our academic year. This year has been so much fun and really busy with preschool almost full to capacity, Twiglets full and toddlers so busy that we have had to restart the Friday session. We have also had a lot of extra adults working with us with this number of children, and as our numbers will remain high in September we are recruiting extra members of the team. (See Alwyn or Emma for details)
This July 16 of our children will be leaving us to go to school. 7 will go to Westbury Park, 3 to Henleaze, 2 to Westbury on Trym, 1 to Our Lady of the Rosary, 1 to Hannah More Nailsea, 1 to Badminton and 1 to Cedar Park. We wish them well and look forward to reports of their progress.
If your child is leaving before the end of term and they will not be returning in September please can you let us know the last date they will be in preschool.
Sessions in September
Please can you let us know if you would like to increase, decrease or change your child’s sessions in September. If your child is 3 before September you will be eligible for the Nursery Education Grant which is available for up to 12 ˝ hours (slightly less than the full 5 sessions here). In line with increased costs the fees for the unfunded time will be rising.
Friday Toddler Club
We have restarted the Friday Toddler Club as Tuesday is full to overflowing. Please tell your friends with toddlers about it. No need to book just turn up.
Time keeping
Please can you try to arrive before 9.25 in the mornings as we need to start Apple Tree time promptly to fit in all our activities. This is the time when we talk about the day’s activities. Your child may also miss out on being helper if you are often late arriving. Similarly it matters to your child that you are there at the end of the session.
Outdoor Play
Sunhats and suncream please. The children are getting quite good at telling us about whether they have come prepared for the big outdoors. Although we have some spare hats we cannot cream up children. We would never get out!
Photographs
We have a photographer booked for Tuesday 17th June for preschoolers, Twiglets, toddlers and siblings. This is the same one as at Christmas but she is doing colour photos this time.
Also, new at preschool! We now have lots of photographs of your children and can put these onto your memory sticks if you would like to have them.
Sports Day 11th July
This is a rather grand title for our informal but fun end of year event to which everyone is invited. This will include a picnic on the Downs behind Downs Park West and ‘races’ and games for all the children. If wet we set up all our activities in the church and make a wonderful noise and mess in doors!
Babysitter
Alwyn’s daughter Becky is available for babysitting. She is raising money to fund her trip to Uganda this summer on a Scout community project. Call her on 07891980127.
Children’s interests
The current favourite interests have been ‘underwater’ which has stimulated a beach café ( now with beach football) water play, octopus making and stories. A number of children have been bringing in activities to do with this theme and we have enjoyed that.
We have also been playing ‘I spy’ and quite a lot of children of different ages have really enjoyed this. Some children are keen to work out initial sounds. If you would like to practise sounds with your child try to say them as they sound in words, avoiding the extra vowel sound we learnt as children – its tricky but you will get the hang of it eventually and it does make reading much easier for your child if they can sound c-a-t rather than cuh-a-tuh
What’s new?
We now have a Clonker Board!
Alwyn and Sue and eight children had a Clonker Board workshop where we all learned together the potential of this large and colourful wooden board for drumming, singing, story telling and listening.
Do feel free to ask for a demonstration, it is great fun.
Storybox
Emma Langley is continuing the Storybox tradition and sessions will take place on the second Tuesday of every month
Dates for 08-09
Term 1 8th Sept – 24th Oct
Term 2 10th Nov – 19th Dec
Term 3 5th Jan-13th Feb
Term 4 23rd Feb -3rd Apr
Term 5 20th Apr – 22nd May
Term 6 1st Jun – 24th Jul