week commencing 3rd September

Dear Parents

 

Nursery Photographer

The photographer will be coming to the nursery on Monday 10^th September. Every child who is in on Monday can have their picture taken and if your child is not in on Mondays you can come in between 11.30- 2.30 to have your photo taken. We can take pictures of siblings and family groups too so bring the whole gang! I can say how good the photographer is as she took a family portrait of my family last year and it was great, even my Dad smiled!

 

Parents Evening

Parents Evening is Tuesday 11^th September. We will be open from 6.45 – 8.30 for Parents to drop in and have a chat with staff. We will be showing you your child’s learning journey book and talking about how they have been progressing.

We are also holding a “getting ready for school” presentation for the parents of the Sunflowers children. This will be between 6.30 -6.45.

Hope to see you all there!

 

Donna’s Ten Years at Castle

It is Donna’s Ten Years of Service Anniversary today. We are having a little tea party this afternoon and I am sure you will all join us in saying Congratulations to Donna!

 

Lost Buggies

We have two abandoned buggies in the buggy sheds. One is a black quinny the other is a red chicco.

If these are yours please can you collect them or they will be re-homed when the new buggy sheds arrive in September.

 

New Early Years Foundation Stage Planning

This week’s email is laid out slightly differently as we have altered the way we plan.

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.

From next week staff days off may change, please see below.

If you have any questions please let me know!

 

Buttercups

Monday – Emma H will be playing peek a boo to develop listening and attention

Tuesday – Charlotte’s group will be taking part in a water play activity as they develop their gross motor skills.

Wednesday – Nilem will be leading a maths activity as the children explore different shaped containers.

Thursday -  Charlotte’s group will be reading the story “Where’s Spot”

Friday – Emma J’s group will be singing songs such as “Old MacDonald” and “ How Many Chickens”.

Charlotte off Tuesday, Emma J off Monday and Tuesday, Nilem off Monday, Emma H in Monday – Wednesday.

 

Bluebells

Monday – Donna’s group will be getting messy as they mix their own paint colours.

Tuesday – Donna will be leading a reading activity, as she reads familiar stories to the children.

Wednesday – Cristina’s group will be developing their gross motor skills as they play football outside.

Thursday – Donna’s group are exploring numbers as they count the linking elephants.

Friday – Cristina’s group will be exploring leaves as they look at the world around them.

Donna off Friday, Cristina off all week, Chloe off Wednesday.

 

Sunflowers

The topic for September and October is ‘Myself’ and ‘My Family’. If you have anything at home that links to this topic please can we have it for our interest table? Please make sure any items brought in are labelled.

The books of the fortnight are:

3^rd September – 14^th September - I'm Glad You're My Grandpa by Cathy Phelan and Danielle McDona

17^th September – 28^th September - I’m Glad You're My Gran by Cathy Phelan and Danielle McDona

1^st October – 12^th October - Mother Knows Best by Jill Murphy

15^th October – 26^th October - Just Like Daddy

29^th October – 2^nd November – Sleep and Rest by Sue Barraclough

Monday – Chloe will be leading an activity on making relationships using the Emotion Dolls.

Tuesday – Josie’s group will be extending their vocabulary as they play the Animal Soundtracks game.

Wednesday – Alison is back and will be talking to the children about height and length as they get measuring.

Thursday- Jess’s group will be developing their fine motor skills, encouraging them to start writing.

Friday – Jess’s group will be looking at letters and developing their letter recognition skills.

Jess off Monday, Josie off all week and Alison is back Wednesday 9.30-2.30

Week Commencing 27th August

Dear Parents

 

Chicken Pox

We have got one case of chicken pox in the Sunflower room. Hopefully there won’t be any more cases but if your child does catch it, they can return to nursery once their spots have scabbed over.

 

Nursery Photographer

The photographer will be coming to the nursery on Monday 10^th September. Every child who is in on Monday can have their picture taken and if your child is not in on Mondays you can come in between 11.30- 2.30 to have your photo taken. We can take pictures of siblings and family groups too so bring the whole gang! I can say how good the photographer is as she took a family portrait of my family last year and it was great, even my Dad smiled!

 

Exciting news!

Cristina in the Bluebell room is pregnant! She is due on the 4^th March and I am sure you will join us all in wishing her congratulations!

It is Donna’s ten year anniversary at Castle at the beginning of September so if any parents would like to add their wishes to her card please email them to me or pop in the office and sign the card. Please don’t let Donna know though as we are trying to surprise her!

 

Recommend the Nursery

There are postcards in the entrance hall if any parent would like to recommend the nursery. These are from a website that has different nursery details for prospective parents to see. If you would like to recommend us just complete the card and send it off. Many Thanks.

 

Buttercups

This week the Buttercups will be developing coordination skills as they roll balls to each other.

They will also be making music as they bang saucepans with wooden spoons!

 

Bluebells

The Bluebells will be developing their fine manipulative skills as they use the stickle bricks and mobilo.

They will also be getting messy as they explore gloopy cornflour!

 

Sunflowers

The topic for July and August is Transport (we will also be talking about going to school). If you have anything at home that links to this topic please can we have it for our interest table? Please make sure any items brought in are labelled.

The books of the fortnight are:

27^th  August: This is My Digger by Chris Oxlade

Jess’s group will be making their own very yummy fruit kebabs.

Chloe’s group will be taking turns as they cook biscuits

Josie’s group will be counting the toy animals.

 

 

Enjoy the Bank Holiday weekend!

week commencing 20th August

Dear Parents

Early Years Foundation Stage

From September 2012 the guidance that gives us our legal requirements and that we use to plan children’s activities is changing.

For you and your child, there will be very little that changes. For the staff team, we are minimising the amount of paper work that we are doing so we can spend as much time as possible with the children. The Learning Journey books will still look the same and your child will still be offered a wide range of fun activities inside and outside, every time they are in. The way we plan is changing so you will notice a difference to your weekly emails  and blog. Every day there will be a focused activity going on as well as a wide variety of other activities. The focused activity will be written by a key person specifically for their key children. This does not mean their key children will be the only ones taking part in the activity, all the children will be allowed to play, however it does mean that we can tailor activities to your child’s individual needs better.

From September the newsletter will show five activities per week in each room and the key person that will be leading them.  As always if you have any further questions you can let me know or have a look at the new Early Years website which explains about the new Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) in more detail:

http://www.foundationyears.org.uk/

Buttercups

The Buttercups will be getting wet as they enjoy playing with water outside (if it is nice!)

They will also be dusting off their vocal chords as they sing songs and use instruments.

Charlotte is off Friday, Nilem is off Monday, Emma J is off Thursday and Emma H is off all week.

Bluebells

The Bluebells are having fun taking turns as they throw balls into buckets and hoops.

They will also be letting their imaginations run wild as they play with the diggers and cars in the sand.

Donna is off Monday and Cristina is in all week

Sunflowers

The topic for July and August is Transport (we will also be talking about going to school). If you have anything at home that links to this topic please can we have it for our interest table? Please make sure any items brought in are labelled.

The books of the fortnight are:

13^th – 20^th August: Bus Driver by Sue Barraclough

27^TH  August: This is My Digger by Chris Oxlade

Jess’s group will be using their listening ears as they play animals soundtracks

Josie will be leading a describing activity as the children talk about their weekends.

Chloe’s group will be getting creative as they make transport models.

Jess is off Friday, Josie is off Wednesday and Chloe is in all week.

week commencing 13th August

School Leavers

It has come to that time of year when we say goodbye to some of our pre-school children, for those children who are leaving us for school and pastures new, we wish you all the best.

Contact details

We will be sending out new contact details forms in the next few weeks. This is to ensure we have the most up to date details, not just for parents but the emergency contacts too.

Buttercups

This week the Buttercups will be using the mirrors to gain awareness of themselves.

They will also be singing number rhymes to introduce numbers.

Charlotte is off Friday, Nilem is off Monday, Emma J is off Thursday and Emma H is off Tuesday and Thursday.

Bluebells

The Bluebells will be using their sign language skills as they sign stories.

The Bluebells are also playing the much loved animal soundtrack game to develop listening skills.

Donna is off Monday and Cristina is in all week

Sunflowers

The topic for July and August is Transport (we will also be talking about going to school). If you have anything at home that links to this topic please can we have it for our interest table? Please make sure any items brought in are labelled.

The books of the fortnight are:

13^th – 20^th August: Bus Driver by Sue Barraclough

27^TH  August: This is My Digger by Chris Oxlade

Jess’s group will be sorting objects by different properties.

Chloe will be leading an activity using scissors to develop fine motor skills.

Josie’s group will be working in pairs  as they build jigsaws.

Jess is off Friday, Josie is off Wednesday and Chloe is in all week.

week commencing 6th August

Olympics party

We are raising money for the children’s Charity Crackerjacks by holding an Olympic party on Thursday 9^th August.

We will be asking everyone who is in on that day to wear sports clothes and donate £1 (or more if you like) to the charity. We will be having an Olympic party in the afternoon and be taking part in our own Olympic events! Crackerjacks Children’s Trust, are committed to offer help and assistance to any child, or their family who have suffered a severe disability. To learn more about the charity you can visit  www.crackerjacks.org.uk

Lost property

We have lots of lost property clothing in the hallway, please can you have a look and see if there is anything that belongs to your child. Anything not claimed will go in to our spare clothing. Sunflowers also has lots of toys in their red toys from home box. Please can everyone have a look and claim anything that is yours, thank you.

End of term summary

For those of you yet to complete your child’s end of term summary, I have attached another copy to this week’s email.

Buttercups

The Buttercups are going to be developing their gross motor skills as they tackle an obstacle course!

They will also be exploring objects inside a feely bag.

Charlotte is off all week, Emma H is off Tuesday and Thursday, Nilem is off Monday and Emma J is off Friday

Bluebells

The Bluebells will be getting creative as they draw on big pieces of paper with chalk.

This week the Bluebells will also be having fun blowing their own bubbles in the garden.

Donna is off Friday and Cristina is in all week

Sunflowers

The topic for July and August is Transport (we will also be talking about going to school). If you have anything at home that links to this topic please can we have it for our interest table? Please make sure any items brought in are labelled.

The books of the fortnight are:

30^th July – 6^th August: Thomas and the Breakdown Train by The Rev. W. Audry

13^th – 20^th August: Bus Driver by Sue Barraclough

27^TH  August: This is My Digger by Chris Oxlade

Jess will be playing alphabet soup with the children as they learn letters.

Chloe will be talking about memories and asking the children to talk about past events.

Josie is helping the children explore the roles of different vehicles.

Jess is off Friday, Josie is off Wednesday and Chloe is in all week.

I am going to the Olympics on Monday to see the weightlifting but Jess is in charge if you need anything