Friday 21 December 2018

Week Commencing 2nd January


Dear Parents and Carers,

 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all our Families J

 

Nursery News:

 

Buggy Sheds

Please can we ask all parents to stack your buggies carefully and close them down to ensure there is room for other families buggies. Please also be considerate when moving other buggies out the way to look for your buggy. If you ever need any help do not hesitate to ask a member of staff. Thank you for your co-operation.

 

Missing Bag

We are missing a bright pink and yellow bag with a soft dolly on the front of it, please keep an eye out for it and let us know if you have seen it.

 

Dates for your diaries

21st December – Close for Christmas

2nd January – Nursery reopens

3rd January –School term starts

7th January – Term time only Funding starts

 
 

This week’s activities and event-

 

In2 sports –  During sport this week the children warmed up by moving around the garden in different way e.g. jumping, hopping, skipping etc. The children then played a Santa and his elves game where the children had to match up different objects. 

 

French- In French this week the children have been learning lots of words to do with Christmas such as snowman, Christmas tree and Merry Christmas. They all read a Christmas story and sang a Christmas song.

 

Forest School-  This week’s forest school was an extra session where different children went, they explored their environment and played a fun reindeer game.

 

Theatre Bugs -

 

                                                                                                          

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Next week’s activities:

 

Each key person will be responsible for designing an activity based on their key children’s needs; however, all children who are in on that day will have the opportunity to access the activity too.

If the key person is on holiday or off, another staff member will be able to lead the activity in their place so that the children do not miss out.

For more information on the Early Years Foundation stage, the guidance we use to support our planning and practice, please visit:


 

This week’s planned activities are also on the ILD’S.

 

Buttercups 

 

Topic of the month: New Year

 

Wednesday – Leanne’s group are role playing with the toy phone supporting early language skills. 

Thursday – Hannah’s group is building relationships while exploring jigsaw puzzles together.

Friday – Jamie’s group will be discovering media while creating marks in paint using their hands and tools.

Leanne and Jamie are in all week, Sammy is off Wednesday, Hannah is on holiday all week.

 

Bluebells

 

Topic of the month: Food from around the world

 

Wednesday – Donna’s group is building their language while talking about their Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Thursday –Ruby’s group are making their own biscuits developing their shape awareness while naming the different shaped biscuits they make.

Friday –  Carla’s group will be going on a leaf hunt in the garden and will create their own leaf crown!

Donna is off Friday, Chloe is off Monday and Tuesday, Megan is off Thursday and Friday, Ruby and Carla are in all week.

 

Sunflowers

 

In the Sunflower room each Key Person plans and implements their own Key Group activity, but the room works on the same area and aspect to ensure the activity is individual to each Key Group and therefore meets the specific Key Group’s individual needs.

 

This will work alongside their weekly planned activity list which you can see in the room and on the ILD’S.

 

Becci’s group are building their ICT skills while operating the toy cameras and talking about their Christmas holidays developing their language skills.

 

Ines’s group is developing their communication and language while taking part in group games with their friends.

 

Eva’s group will be reading ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’ building an interest in stories and literacy skills.

 

Topic of the month: Winter

 

The letter of the week is: D

 

The children will be:

Talking about the letter d

Writing the letter d

Exploring the letter d alphabet shaker

Writing the letter d in the water tray

Thinking about animals that begin with the letter d

 

The Number of the week is: 13

 

The children will be:

Counting to number 13

Exploring number puzzles

Grouping together 13 objects together 

Writing the number 13 on the easel

 

The shape of the week is: square and cube

 

The children will be:

Counting the sides and corners of both shapes

Making a square shape with our hands

Finding both shapes around the room

Tracing the two shapes

Becci, Ines and Eva are in all week.

 

Ottilia is in all week and Jenni is on holiday all week.

I am in everyday working different shifts. 

If you have any queries when I am not here please speak to your child’s Room Leader or Jamie.

 

Interactive Learning Diary

Don’t forget to check out all the exciting things your child has done this week, on their ILD profile.

We aim to put at least one observation up per week.

Follow the link below: www.interactivelearningdiary.co.uk

 

Facebook

Castle Nursery and Preschool Facebook page promotes the company, engages with parents and team members across our nurseries.

If you would be interested in following this page, here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/Castle-Nursery-and-Preschool-790319011138020/. We will be regularly adding events and photos to the page.

 

Menus

There are no planned changes to this week’s menu.

See attached document for the weekly menu. 

If you would like to see a copy of our allergens menu at any time please ask!

 

Useful websites

Here are the links for the Surrey Family Information Service, Free Early Education (the 15 hours funding), Free Early Education for Two year olds and Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP).

 



 

Our Policy of the Week

 

Inclusion policy – talented and gifted children

 

Aim of the policy

Childcare and Learning Group is committed to providing all children in our care every opportunity to achieve to the highest standards of their ability. This policy helps to ensure that this happens for all the children at our setting including children who may be talented or gifted.

 

Points to consider

In order to be able to confidently identify talented or gifted children it is important to have a shared idea of what that means. Below is a definition of gifted, talented and more able children:

 

Gifted – The top 5% of age related intellectual or academic ability within the

setting.

 

Talented – The top 5% of age related practical or creative power or other natural ability or tendency within the setting.

 

More able – children who have the potential to or who are working above age related expectations in academic or practical subject areas within the setting.

 

Childcare and Learning Group aims to achieve this by:

 

·        Having regular, well thought out observations so that all children’s needs can be identified

·        Having a talented and gifted coordinator who will attend training and support the child, family and key person.

 

·        Where the attainment of a child significantly exceeds the expected level of attainment, practitioners may use materials designed for use with older children, or extend the opportunities for work within the area or areas for which the child shows particular aptitude.

 

·        Individual Support Plans (ISP’s) may be used to identify areas to support and develop and well thought time scales put into place.

 

·        Adopting a differentiated approach to ensure appropriate stretch and challenge for all children within group activities.

 

·        Balance must be found between stretching and challenging the child to develop them and ensuring they are still allowed to be a child.

 

The talented and gifted coordinator in this setting is: Becci Pullen

Kind Regards,


Jess, Jamie and the South Hill Team

Friday 7 December 2018

Week Commencing 10th December


Dear Parents and Carers,

 

Nursery News:

 

Phones/Photos

Due to our Safeguarding policies, please can we ask you not to make phone calls, take any photos or videos on phones or cameras within the nursery. I will take photos at our events and put them onto the ILD’s and print any off you would like to keep. If you have any questions please just let me know.

 

Christmas Party

A big thank you to everyone who came to our Christmas parties, they were a big success with a great turnout. Father Christmas enjoyed meeting everyone J

 

Nativity and Carol Service

A reminder that Buttercups and Bluebells carol services is Next Monday (10th December) at 3.00 and 4.30. The Sunflowers nativity will be next Tuesday (11th December) at 9.45 and 4.15. 

There is a couple of tickets left on the 9.45 Nativity performance so if anyone would like a third ticket please let us know. Extra tickets will be given out on a first come first served basis.

If you need your performance times confirmed please let Sammy, Becci or I know.

 

Free Entitlement Funding

A reminder that we need your funding forms back by Monday 10th. This is to ensure the system is correct for invoicing.

 

Dates for your diaries

10th December – Babies and Bluebells Carol Service – 3.00 and 4.30

11th December – Pre-School Nativity Play – 9.45 and 4.15

19th December – School term ends

21st December – Close for Christmas

2nd January – Nursery reopens

3rd January –School term stars

7th January – Term time only Funding starts

 

 

This week’s activities and event-

 

In2 sports –  At in2sports this week the children continued to build their football skills. They practiced how quickly, slowly, hard or soft they could pass the ball to their friends.

 

Forest School– At Forest School this week the children went over the safety rules when we built a fire. They then used this to make some yummy hot chocolate to have with snack. Afterwards when we explored the forest, they came across some Reindeer tracks which they all followed and found Gold Coins!

 

French- In French this week the children looked at the French Flag, which they then got to colour in as they learnt the colours in French.
                               

 

Next week’s activities:

 

Each key person will be responsible for designing an activity based on their key children’s needs; however, all children who are in on that day will have the opportunity to access the activity too.

If the key person is on holiday or off, another staff member will be able to lead the activity in their place so that the children do not miss out.

For more information on the Early Years Foundation stage, the guidance we use to support our planning and practice, please visit:


 

This week’s planned activities are also on the ILD’S.

 

Buttercups 

 

Topic of the month: Christmas

 

Monday – Jamie’s group are exploring their own reflections in the handheld mirrors.

Tuesday – Leanne’s group is singing ‘Old McDonald had a Farm’ developing an awareness of different animal sounds. 

Wednesday – Sammy’s group will be developing their fine motor skills while building their confidence pulling themselves up.

Thursday – Hannah’s group is decorating their Christmas decorations with a range of media and materials.

Friday –Hannah’s group are building lego towers creating their own stacks and building their counting skills.

Leanne is off Wednesday, Sammy is off Thursday, Hannah is in all week and Jamie is off Thursday.

 

Bluebells

 

Topic of the month: Christmas

 

Monday – Donna’s group is exploring the emotion dolls building a further understanding of different emotions.

Tuesday – Megan’s group are building an interest in reading while discovering their favourite stories together. 

Wednesday – Carla’s group will be experimenting with new ICT toys while exploring the Sunflower resources.

Thursday –Chloe’s group is making their own Christmas pudding cakes with their friends.

Friday –  Ruby’s group are developing their maths skills while exploring lots of different Christmas objects.

Donna is off Friday, Chloe is off Monday and Tuesday, Megan is off Monday and Friday, Ruby is off Monday and Carla is in all week.

 

Sunflowers

 

In the Sunflower room each Key Person plans and implements their own Key Group activity, but the room works on the same area and aspect to ensure the activity is individual to each Key Group and therefore meets the specific Key Group’s individual needs.

 

This will work alongside their weekly planned activity list which you can see in the room and on the ILD’S.

 

Becci’s group are following instructions while creating their own Christmas creations with their friends.

 

Ines’s group will be developing their imagination skills while pretending to be Father Christmas and going on a bear hunt!

 

Eva’s group are making their own pizzas for snack, they will wash their hands and prepare their own ingredients.

 

Topic of the month: Christmas

 

The letter of the week is: B

 

The children will be:

Talking about the letter b

Writing the letter b

Playing ball games in the garden

Exploring the letter b alphabet shaker

Thinking about names that begin with the letter b

 

The Number of the week is: 11

 

The children will be:

Counting to number 11

Exploring number puzzles

Grouping together 11 objects together 

Writing the number 11 in the sand tray

 

The shape of the week is: cross

 

The children will be:

Counting the sides and corners

Making a cross shape with our hands

Find crosses around the room

Painting crosses

Becci if off Wednesday, Ines is off Tuesday and Eva is in all week.

 

Jenni and Ottilia are in all week.

I am in all day Monday and Tuesday, working early shifts Wednesday and Thursday, and in meeting in London on Friday.

If you have any queries when I am not here please speak to your child’s Room Leader or Jamie.

 

Interactive Learning Diary

Don’t forget to check out all the exciting things your child has done this week, on their ILD profile.

We aim to put at least one observation up per week.

Follow the link below: www.interactivelearningdiary.co.uk

 

Facebook

Castle Nursery and Preschool Facebook page promotes the company, engages with parents and team members across our nurseries.

If you would be interested in following this page, here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/Castle-Nursery-and-Preschool-790319011138020/. We will be regularly adding events and photos to the page.

 

Menus

There are no planned changes to this week’s menu.

See attached document for the weekly menu. 

If you would like to see a copy of our allergens menu at any time please ask!

 

Useful websites

Here are the links for the Surrey Family Information Service, Free Early Education (the 15 hours funding), Free Early Education for Two year olds and Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP).

 



 

Our Policy of the Week

 

·       Inclusion policy – Special Educational Needs and/or disabilities

·         

·        Aim of the policy

·         

·        Childcare and Learning Group is committed to the integration of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities at all of their nurseries.  We believe that provision for children in the early years and assessment of their needs are of paramount importance and will give the best long term benefits to children, families and the whole community.

·         

·        Points to consider

·         

·        We recognise that all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities have the same rights to development, care and play.  All children attending our nurseries will be offered the same opportunities with support and assistance available to overcome any disadvantage they may have to face.  We will help and encourage every child, regardless of individual needs to reach their full developmental potential. Inclusion is making sure that all the children can access all parts of setting life.

·         

·        For information on the SEND Code of Practice 0-25 years go to:

·         


·         

·        Childcare and Learning Group aim to achieve this by:

·         

·        All our nurseries will have an appointed Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator who has knowledge of the SEND Code of Practice (2014) and the Equality Act 2010 in relation to special needs.

·         

·        We promote positive images of those with special needs.

·         

·        We offer wheelchair access where possible.  Where appropriate, ramp and lift access will also be provided.

·         

·        Where appropriate our nurseries will assess each child’s needs in terms of access, where appropriate our setting will be adapted to accommodate the child/ren.

·         

·        We will provide suitable bathroom, toilet and changing facilities.

·         

·        By ensuring play areas will be accessible to all children.

·         

·        By treating all children as equals and encourage all children to participate in setting activities, e.g. garden, music and movement.  When outings/visits are organised, children with special needs will always be included with appropriate travel and care arrangements made.

·         

·        By ensuring resources including, play equipment, toys and books will be used to support all children’s understanding of ability and children’s individual needs.

·         

·        By planning activities to include all children and ensuring children with special needs have full access to those activities.

·         

·        By maintaining accurate records based on appropriate observation.

·         

·        We will endeavour to employ members of staff who are experienced in the care of children with generic special needs.  The training needs of all staff will be identified.  Appropriate staff training and development will be a priority.

·         

·        Staff will work closely with parents/carers as partners to give day-to-day care for the child.

·         

·        Support will be offered to parents/carers by the staff team and/or referrals will be made or suggested.

·         

·        By ensuring that staff, parents/guardians/carers are aware of the policy and procedures.

·         

·        By ensuring confidentiality at all times

·         

·        Using a differentiated approach, where needed, during group activities to ensure inclusion and successful outcomes for the children.

·         

·        See the Special Educational Needs and Disability policy and the procedure for previously unidentified needs for more information on SEND and how and when to refer.

·         

·        The SENCO in this setting is: Becci Pullen.

·         

·        The deputy SENCO is: Jess Smith


·       Kind Regards,

 

Jess, Jamie and the South Hill Team