Newsletter Term 1 Autumn
2008
WELCOME
Welcome
to a new year at
Children who will be joining us this September:
Welcome to Arthur, Camila, Charlie, Harry,
Hannah H, Hannah R, Emma, Iwan, Nevaeh,
Roman, Summer, Timmy and William. We hope you will all
enjoy your time with us and settle quickly making lots
of new friends and exploring all the resources we have on offer. Welcome to all
your families as well. We look forward to getting to know you too.
Staff team:
We have
three new members of staff, all of who are familiar with the setting:
Alwyn
continues leading our staff team as Manager.
Julia and Sue will share the Deputy role and continue as keyworkers.
Valerie
remains as a keyworker and has special responsibility for the under 3’s
activities. Jean will also stay as a keyworker and is our special educational
needs coordinator.
The
team is completed by Carron who
works on Fridays.
Groups and keyworkers;
The
small group work introduced last year was very popular and will continue. All
of the children will be allocated a keyworker and a small group which enables
people to get to know each other well. As there have been lots of new people
and we want the groups to be balanced some children have been placed in
different colour groups. Lists of the keyworkers and the groups are up on the
notice board. Only a small part of the morning is spent in groups and each
child will have contact with all of the staff and be able to mix freely with
all of the children. There are two of three members of staff with each group so
if your child’s keyworker is not in there is someone else who knows them well.
‘Special this week’:
To help
us get to know each child well we ask for your help! We send home forms asking
about your child’s special interests, toys, likes and dislikes
, recent achievements and asking if there is anything you would like us
to encourage. We then use this information to plan in activities during that week
that are tailored to your child’s interests.
Show and Tell:
We love
children bringing in things for show and tell and this happens in group time.
This year we want to encourage children to bring in things linking with our
themes and interests and the groups will put notes on the board on the window sill
to tell you what the groups are looking at.
We will
have a colour, shape or number each week that everyone is invited to explore
and these will be posted on the board as well.
Cooking and gardening:
We lots of potential cooks and gardeners among the children
who showed great enthusiasm for developing their skills last year. Naturally we like to encourage this budding talent and if
any adults share this interest and are able to volunteer some help we would
love to hear from you.
Our Routine! Just a few
things to note……
Emergency contact details: please
make sure we have up to date details and inform us of any changes ASAP.
Story Box:
Emma
Langley, our Ecumenical Parish Minister will be leading a ‘Story Box’ story
once a month on Tuesdays for 15 minutes at 11.30am for toddlers and 11.45am for
preschool. Parents and carers are invited to come as well. We always love these
stories. Dates this term are: Tuesday 9th
September, 14th October, 11th November and 9th December.
Social Evenings:
Very
important of course! The first sounds a bit strange but is always huge fun and
is very necessary and important. Playdough Night will
take place at Sue’s house on
Thursday 25th September at 8pm. Dough making requires lots of wine and
nibbles, a willingness to stir and kneed dough and a provides
great opportunity to get to know each other. Many friendships have started in
this way!
Funding forms:
If your
child was 3 years old before 1st September you are eligible for up
to 12.5 hours funding. There are forms
to complete if this is the first time or to sign and date if you have claimed
previously. We also need to see and keep a copy of your child’s birth
certificate.
If fees
are due you will receive your bill shortly. Note that fees have increased to £8
per session from September.
Wanted:
Does anyone have any wellies
their child has outgrown. We would like to build up a
stock for those days that take us by surprise.
Are you upgrading your computer? Please think about
donating your old one to White Tree.
Does anyone have any window boxes or similar we can put
round the edge of the fire escape landing – and soil and plants to fill them.
Term Dates for 2008/9
This year all our terms start on Mondays and
finish on Fridays!
Term 1: Monday 8th September to Friday 24th October
Term 2: 10th November to 19th December
Term 3:
Term 4: 23rd February to 3rd April
Term 5: 20th April
to 22nd May
Term 6: 1st June to 24th
July