Friday 23 March 2018

Week commencing 26th March 18


Dear Parents and Carers,

 

Nursery News:

 

Staff news

Both Jamie and Hannah have passed their probation periods this month. Congratulations to both of them and well done on all your hard work.

 

Bank holidays

A reminder that it is bank holiday Friday (30th) and bank holiday Monday (2nd) next week, we will open as usual on Tuesday 3rd April.   

 

Up Coming Events

19th March – Living Eggs here

29th March – Term time only and funded only children break up for Easter

30th March – Closed – Bank Holiday

2nd April – Closed Bank Holiday

27th April – Muddy Puddle Walk

 

This weeks activities and events

 

In 2 Sports – This week at in2sports the children enjoyed playing football in the snow. They then recognised and named their body parts in a fun group game.

 

Forest School – At Forest school the children improved their den they had previously made by collecting new fresh sticks for it. They then found a long log where they practiced their balancing skills as they walked across it.


 
Next weeks 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: Easter

 

Monday – Sammy’s group are exploring the egg shakers in the garden.

Tuesday – Leanne’s group will be making chocolate cornflake cakes for Easter.

Wednesday – Hannah’s group is having a fun Easter Egg hunt supporting listening and attention skills.

Thursday – Jamie’s group will be making their own rabbit and chick masks and will have fun making sounds as chicks and jumping for rabbits.

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

 

Bluebells

 

Topic of the month: Transport

  

Monday – Donna’s group are building a knowledge of emotions while reading ‘The Coloured Monster’.

Tuesday – Megan’s group is exploring the computer in the Pre-School room developing simple ICT skills.

Wednesday – Maria’s group will be playing hide and seek with shapes in the sand pit supporting shape recognition. 

Thursday –  Ruby’s group are taking part in an egg and spoon race building hand eye co-ordination and physical skills.

Donna is off Wednesday and Thursday, Chloe is off Monday and Tuesday, Megan is off Thursday and Friday, Ruby and Maria 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.

 

The Pre-school room are making their own Easter nests. The children will talk about Easter and build their understanding of the festival. They will be involved in the process of melting the chocolate and learn about the characteristics of solids and liquids. They will then mix the shredded wheat and chocolate together and scoop it into their own cake case. 

 

Topic of the month: Our bodies  

 

The letter of the week is: O

 

The children will be:

Talking about words beginning with O

Writing the letter O on the easel

Naming Our own body parts

Fishing for the letter O in the water tray

 

The Number of the week is: 9

 

The children will be:

Talking about the number 9 and what it looks like

Jumping 9 times

Writing the number 9 in the sand tray

 

The shape of the week is: Sphere, circle and oval

 

The children will be:

Recognising the differences between the 3 shapes

Talking about the three shapes

Find the shapes around the room

Becci is off Tuesday, Ines is in all week and Almu is on holiday all week. 

 

Jenni and Ottilia are in all week.

I am in every day 7.30 – 4.00. So I will get to see you all in the morning, If you have any queries in the evening 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

 

School readiness policy

 

Aim of policy

 

To give guidance to all practitioners so they understand their role in developing school readiness in each child.

 

Points to consider

 

It is easy to think that only the preschool practitioners need to be concerned about getting the children ready for school, but ensuring a child is prepared for the transition is part of every practitioners role.

 

By supporting the children as they move rooms though the setting, we are helping them see transition as an exciting relaxed process rather than something to be scared of.

By developing their social skills and language we are giving them the skills they need to thrive and grow.

 

By supporting a child’s cognitive skills we are giving them the skills they need to become inquisitive active learners. 

 

Whilst it is unclear whether school readiness means the start of reception or the start of year one, at Childcare and Learning Group we use the term school readiness when the child starts reception.

 

“School readiness is something that children develop inwardly as a result of a range of experiences. It takes ages to build up and is something that we should focus on in the years as well as the months before children start school. To build up in a child the sense that they are capable, they need plenty of experience of managing things for themselves as well as making their own decisions”                                                                        Penny Tassoni

 

A child who is ready for school will:

 

       Have strong social skills

       Can cope emotionally with being separated from their parents

       Are relatively independent in their own personal care

       Have curiosity about the world and a desire to learn

 

And should be able to:

       Sit and listen

       be aware of other children

       understand the word no and the borders it sets for behaviour

       understand the word stop and that such a phrase might be used to prevent danger

       be potty trained and able to go to the toilet independently

       recognise their own name

       speak to an adult to ask for their needs

       be able to take off their coat and put on their shoes

       To talk in sentences

       To open and enjoy a book

 

Childcare and Learning Group aim to achieve this by:

 

When a child starts at the setting the child’s key person will ask the parents to complete an ‘all about me’ form. This helps us to see where the child is in their development.

 

Throughout their time at the setting planned and unplanned activities support the child develop through the seven areas of learning.

 

When the child is ready to move into the next room, the current and new key person will work with the family to ensure the move is as smooth as possible.

 

In the autumn term the Preschool holds a presentation about getting the children ready for school. This lays out how we plan to support the children in their last year at the setting as well as supporting the parents in their role in their child’s school readiness.

 

In the summer term, the Preschool begins the transition process by speaking to parents to ascertain which school they have been allocated. Then a letter is sent home detailing what parents could do in transition to support their child and what parents could do at home; for example read stories to their child about school and talk to their child about their future teacher.

 
Changes will be made to the Preschool; for instance the role play area may become a classroom with school uniforms, and staff share books with children about going to school to emotionally prepare them for the transition.


The parents also have a role in supporting the children’s school readiness and we must work with them to support the children’s progression.


In the summer term, the child’s key person will prepare a Setting Transfer Summary for the child, which parents contribute to, to pass on to school ahead of the child starting.



Kind Regards,

 
Jess, Jamie and the South Hill Team

Friday 16 March 2018

Week commencing 19th March


Dear Parents and Carers,

 

Nursery News:

 

Spring/Summer Menus

The Summer menus will be starting in April, please have a look through the attached menus and let us know what you think, they are still to be finalised, so any suggestions are welcomed J

 

Up Coming Events

19th March – Living Eggs here

30th March – Closed – Bank Holiday

2nd April – Closed Bank Holiday

27th April – Muddy Puddle Walk

 



This weeks activities and events

 

In 2 Sports – This week at in2sports the children warmed up their bodies by moving in a variety of ways in and out of cones, such as jumping and running side wards or backwards. They then practised their football skills and finished off playing find the turtle! 

 

Forest School – At Forest school the children had lots of fun climbing trees. They built a structure using sticks to help protect a new tree growing. They also discovered different prints in the mud!



 

Next weeks 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: Easter

 

Monday – Leanne’s group are playing ‘Simon Says’ encouraging early recognition of their body parts.

Tuesday – Jamie’s group will be playing a game where they hide different objects and try to find them.

Wednesday – Sammy’s group is exploring the musical instruments discovering the sounds they make.

Thursday – Hannah’s group are reading favourite stories building an interest in early reading.

Friday – Leanne’s group will be singing Easter songs while exploring the egg shakers and chicken puppet.

Jamie is off Monday, Leanne is off Wednesday, Sammy and Hannah are in all week. Leanne is on training Friday afternoon.

 

Bluebells

 

Topic of the month: Transport

  

Monday – Megan’s group is talking about different vehicles they see in the environment around them while having a fun role play car wash.

Tuesday – Donna’s group will be discovering different sized small world cars and the car garage encouraging language through play.

Wednesday – Maria’s group are exploring media and materials while creating their own plane to take home. 

Thursday –  Ruby’s group will be building their shape awareness while 3d shape painting.

Friday – Chloe’s group is making their own road on the floor using paper and will drive cars along the road discovering the marks they make.

Donna is off Friday, Chloe is off Monday and Tuesday, Megan is off Thursday and Friday, Ruby and Maria 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.

 

The Pre-school room are transforming their role play area into Castle Nursery. They will work together to collect all the resources they need and they will be supported to share these out evenly. The children will be dress up and be encouraged to talk about nursery life.

 

Topic of the month: Our bodies  

 

The letter of the week is: N

 

The children will be:

Talking about words beginning with N

Writing the letter N on the easel

Making different noises

 

The Number of the week is: 8

 

The children will be:

Talking about the number 8 and what it looks like

Clapping 8 times

Writing the number 8 in the air

 

The shape of the week is: Rectangle and Trapezium

 

The children will be:

Recognising the two shapes

Talking about the two shapes

Talking about the differences

Counting how many corners each shape has

Almu is off Wednesday, Ines is off Monday and Becci is on holiday all week. 

 

Jenni and Ottilia are in all week.

I am in every day 7.30 – 4.00. So I will get to see you all in the morning, If you have any queries in the evening 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

 

Food play policy

 

Aim of policy

 

To give clear guidance on the use of food in play.

 

Points to consider

 

As part of the ethos of the company we feel strongly about teaching our children to respect the food we have.

 

The use of food in play is a dated practice which through better understanding of the cultures of others, the food and famine issues in our own neighbourhoods as well the rest of the world, the mixed messages we give to children by telling them to play with food at play time and not at meal times, we have accepted that this practice is inappropriate.

 

In recent years food play has brought about concern by Ofsted, in particular after a child choked to death on a raw jelly cube.

 

Childcare and Learning Group aim to achieve this by:

 

       Not allowing the use of food in play. This includes the use of fruits or vegetables for stamping activities, spaghetti, rice, pasta, jelly, etc.

       Corn flour and flour are allowed to be used to produce play dough and slime substances for play which bear no resemblance to edible food.

 

Kind Regards,

 

Jess, Jamie and the South Hill Team