week commencing 20th January

Dear Parents/Carers,

 

Fee Increase

Our fees will be increasing from 1^st March 2014.  Whilst we strive to keep our fees competitive, this increase is unavoidable due to increased costs incurred whilst operating the nursery and maintaining the high standards of service.

You will all receive a copy of the new fees through the post but I have also attached a copy to this email. If you have any questions please contact Natalie the Operations Manager:

 

Natalie Chrystie

Operations Manager

Email: natalie@daycare.co.uk

Mobile: 07789268241

 

Nursery News

The building work will now be starting on Tuesday 28^th February.

The plan of action is:

·         A new storage cupboard will be built in the back hallway where the baby chairs are stored

·         Once this is done work will start on the cot room

·         The cot room will be redecorated, have new flooring and the old cupboard removed to create a larger space.

·         During this time the babies will be sleeping in their room.

·         Once the cot room is completed the babies will move into that room temporarily whilst work on the baby room starts

·         The baby room will have new cupboards, new flooring and be redecorated. Doors will also be put in between babies and Sunflowers

·         The top of the rooms will also be blocked off to create a quieter space.

·         Once the baby room has been refurbished the work on the Bluebells room will start.

·         In the bluebells room the internal walls will be removed to create a larger L shaped room.

·         There will be new flooring, new cupboards and the room will be redecorated

·         The baby garden will be out of action whilst the building work goes on. The babies will be using the front garden whilst the bigger children are inside.

 

We will do everything we can to minimise disruption to the children, if you are concerned about this we may be able to temporarily relocate some of the children to our Markenfield Road site. Please discuss this option with me.

 

The plan to change the Babies and Bluebells rooms is still going ahead see below for details:

 

With the rising demand for 2-3 year old places and the falling number of baby places we have decided that the Babies and Bluebells will be switching rooms.

 

What this will mean for the babies:

·         From February they will be in the current Bluebells room.

·         Charlotte and the team will continue to be with the babies.

·         They will still use their little garden

·         They will still use the cot room, and this will continue to be monitored in the same way as it is now

·         Long term plans are that the new room will get new flooring and new doors between the Sunflowers and Baby room.

 

 

What this will mean for the Bluebells:

·         From February they will be in the current baby room

·         Donna and the team will continue to be with the 2-3’s children

·         They will have more space

·         They will be able to have free access in and out of the front garden.

·         The building work will still be going ahead at some point and as soon as I know what is happening I will inform you all.

 

The big move will be happening on Saturday 1^st February so there will be no disruption to the children and when you arrive on Monday 3^rd you will be able to admire how great the rooms look.

 

For any questions about the building work or room moves please see me!

 

Policies of the week

We will be displaying a different policy every week in the hallway and on our blog:  http://castlenursery-southhill.blogspot.co.uk  (you may have to cut and paste this link).

If you would like to see this or any of our policies please ask Caroline.

Our Policy this week is:  Equality and Diversity Policy

 

This 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, visit:

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

 

Buttercups

Monday – Charlotte’s group will be singing finger rhymes and playing tickling games together

Tuesday – Julia’s group is reading stories to develop communication skills

Wednesday – Magda’s group are exploring paint using sponges

Thursday – Nilem’s group is getting physical as they play with the tunnel and the tent.

Friday – Becci will be supporting the children’s creative skills as they use cars in the paint.

Charlotte is off Friday, Julia is off Monday, Nilem is off Friday, Magda is off Tuesday and Becci is in all week

 

Bluebells

Monday – the Bluebells are going for a walk  in the afternoon to Guildford Castle

Tuesday – Leanne’s group is building their communication skills as they use the small world toys together

Wednesday – Sophie’s group will be reading stories and asking questions about those stories

Thursday – Rose  will be supporting the children’s creative skills as they make animal tracks using paint

Friday – Leanne’s group is getting their balance with the toddle boxes

Donna is off Friday, Sophie is off Monday, Leanne is off Thursday and Rose is in every day

 

Sunflowers

Book of the fortnight:

13^th Jan – 20^th Jan – How Many Sleeps by Amber Stewart

27^th Jan – 3^rd Feb – My Chinese New Year

10^th Feb – 17^th Feb – The Shape of my Heart by Mark Sperring

24^th – 3^rd Mar – Horsey by Simon Puttock

10^th – 17^th Mar –One Two That’s my Shoe by Alison Murray

Monday – Chloe’s group is practising our speaking skills as they tell each other stories

Tuesday – Chloe’s group will be making their own playdough

Wednesday – Chloe’s group are building large motor skills as they kick and throw balls.

Thursday – Jess’s group is playing with the alphabet soup game as they recognise familiar letters

Friday – Jess’s group will be using the emotion dolls to talk about our feelings.

Jess is off Tuesday, Chloe is off Thursday and Alison does 9.30-2.30 Monday To Thursday

Have a great weekend

Caroline and the South Hill team

week commencing 13th January 2014

Dear Parents

 

Happy New Year!

 

New Year New start

With the rising demand for 2-3 year old places and the falling number of baby places we have decided that the Babies and Bluebells will be switching rooms.

 

What this will mean for the babies:

·         From February they will be in the current Bluebells room.

·         Charlotte and the team will continue to be with the babies.

·         They will still use their little garden

·         They will still use the cot room, and this will continue to be monitored in the same way as it is now

·         Long term plans are that the new room will get new flooring and new doors between the Sunflowers and Baby room.

 

 

What this will mean for the Bluebells:

·         From February they will be in the current baby room

·         Donna and the team will continue to be with the 2-3’s children

·         They will have more space

·         They will be able to have free access in and out of the front garden.

·         The building work will still be going ahead at some point and as soon as I know what is happening I will inform you all.

 

The big move will be happening on Saturday 1^st February so there will be no disruption to the children and when you arrive on Monday 3^rd you will be able to admire how great the rooms look.

If you have any questions please ask me or the team.

 

 

2014, The year of Celebration

This year I will have been working at Castle for ten years, I know many of you wont believe me because I look so young! 2014 is full of long service awards:

Charlotte will be celebrating her 16 years long service award

Donna will be celebrating her 12 years long service award

Alison and Nilem will be celebrating their 7 years long service award

Emma will be celebrating her 6 years long service award

Jess, Chloe and Leanne are celebrating their 4 years long service awards

 

This 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, visit:

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

 

Buttercups

Monday –  Nilem’s group will be creating large drawings using a range of pencils, pens and crayons.

Tuesday –  Becci will be supporting the children’s space awareness as they build towers together.

Wednesday – Julia’s group are listening to stories and rhymes

Thursday-Charlotte’s group is playing with the puppets

Friday – Magda’s group is listening to music and developing our physical skills through dance.

Charlotte is off Monday, Julia is off Friday, Magda is off Tuesday, Nilem is off Friday and Becci is in all week.

 

Bluebells

Monday – Rose will be supporting the children to be creative as they make leaf printing pictures

Tuesday – Donna’s group is developing speaking and listening skills as they read books together.

Wednesday – Donna’s group are counting mini motors

Thursday – Leanne’s group are singing songs such as “Head Shoulders knees and Toes”

Friday – Sophie’s group are playing with the small world toys to develop language skills.

Donna is off Friday, Sophie is off Monday, Leanne is off Thursday and Rose is in all week.

 

Sunflowers

Book of the fortnight:

13^th Jan – 20^th Jan – How Many Sleeps by Amber Stewart

27^th Jan – 3^rd Feb – My Chinese New Year

10^th Feb – 17^th Feb – The Shape of my Heart by Mark Sperring

24^th – 3^rd Mar – Horsey by Simon Puttock

10^th – 17^th Mar –One Two That’s my Shoe by Alison Murray

Monday -  Jess’s group is creating art by rolling sticks in paint.

Tuesday – Chloe’s group will be developing number skills as they play dominos

Wednesday – Jess’s group are making pizza baguettes

Thursday – Jess’s group will be making junk models

Friday- Chloe’s group is building ICT skills as they complete simple programs on the computer.

Jess is off Tuesday, Chloe is off Wednesday and Alison works 9.30-2.30 Monday to Thursday.

 

Have a great weekend.

 

Caroline and the South Hill Team

Policy of the week

Equality and diversity policy

 

Aim of policy

 

Castle Daycare & Preschool equality & diversity policy recognises that all people have a right to their distinctive and diverse identities and that all people are different and must be treated as individuals. 

 

Points to consider

 

We provide a supportive, open environment where all children and employees have the opportunity to reach their full potential.  Castle Daycare & Preschool will manage the provision of and access to - high quality affordable childcare.  We will promote equality and diversity through our relationships with children, parents, families and carers.

 

Castle Daycare and Preschool aim to achieve this by:

 

• Following the Disability Act 2006, the Equality Act 2010 and the Early Years Foundation Stage 2012.

 

·               Ensuring all children can be included.

        

·               Providing children with activities and learning opportunities to acknowledge promote and respect diversity in local communities.

 

·               Providing positive images and role models which illustrate non-stereotypical roles, racial, cultural and religious diversity and disability in a way that has real meaning to the children and their families.

 

·               Encouraging an understanding of spiritual development by reflecting all faiths and encouraging the tolerance of all faiths including the promotion and celebration of religious festivals and their meaning.  Each individual Castle Daycare & Preschool will aim to enjoy and celebrate religious events personal/relevant to the community they serve.

 

·               Having in place policy and/or procedures to deal with inappropriate practices and attitudes, action to be taken should discrimination occur.

 

·               Inviting parents in the reviewing of our policies.

 

·               Ensuring all our publicity will demonstrate an understanding of equality and diversity.

 

·               Using language which is easily understood.

 

·               Wherever there is a widely shared specific need or where individuals have common needs, Castle Daycare & Preschool will address these through a specific strategy.

 

·               Recognising the need to monitor and review our policies and welcome challenges from, and the involvement of, our employees and customers in this process.

 

·               Actively consulting with different individuals and communities to ensure that the services which are provided are responsive and reflect the diversity of needs.

 

·               Valuing the diversity of all communities, and making our services, facilities and resources accessible and useful to every individual.

 

·               Recognising that our ability to meet these diverse needs is improved by having a diverse workforce which generally reflects local populations and which has the skill and understanding to achieve our service objectives.

 

·               Committing to valuing diversity in our workforce and to developing and training our employees to improve their ability to meet our goals; within an overall framework of equality.

 

 

Castle Daycare & Preschool:

 

·               Believe that our employees have an important part to play in making this happen.

 

·               Require every employee to recognise and discharge their own responsibility.

 

·               Undertake to listen to our customers and to involve them in the development of services which recognise and value their diversity.

 

 

To ensure that we meet this policy at all times each nursery has dedicated Equality Officers who support all members of staff by:

 

•  Ensuring their team, room and garden area are promoting equal opportunities in their practice and environment.
• Ensuring cultures and festivals are equally celebrated and promoted.
• Ensuring the team has a good understanding of cultures and festivals and therefore can promote them correctly.
• Attending training on equal opportunities, promoting inclusion, and cascade this back to the rest of the team.
• Working together with the other Equality Officers and manager to create:

o   A nursery that ensures every child is given the same opportunities regardless of their abilities.

o   A nursery that positively promotes equality through the genders and cultures.

o   A nursery that gives every child an open and accepting knowledge of the world around them. 

 

week commencing 16th December

Dear Parents

 

Thank you to everyone who came to the nativity shows, they were a great success and the costumes were brilliant!

Photos of the nativity, Christmas parties and pantomime will be going up on our digital photo frame in the hallway.

 

Christmas closures

The nursery will be closing at 3pm on Tuesday 24^th and reopening with normal opening hours on 2^nd January.

For those term time children, the term ends Friday 20^th December and starts again on 6^th January.

 

Direct Debits

The direct debits are now up and running and going well!

All regular voucher payments will be deducted from the amount taken, so voucher users are still able to make the most of the ease of paying.

It is also helpful for the children receiving Free Entitlement funding, as it means you won’t have to change your standing order each month as your fees change, the direct debit would do that for you.

If you have any questions about direct debits please let me know.

 

This 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, visit:

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

 

Buttercups

Monday – Charlotte’s group will be  investigating the wooden shape sorters

Tuesday –Julia’s group are getting moving as they dance and play musical instruments

Wednesday – Magda’s group will be looking at books with flaps, buttons and zips

Thursday- Nilem’s group is singing “Head, shoulders” as they explore body parts

Friday – Becci’s group are hiding objects under blankets and seeing what they can find

Charlotte is off Friday, Julia is off Monday, Nilem is off Friday, Magda is off Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and Becci is in all week

 

Bluebells

Monday – Leanne’s group are using different sized balls as they develop physical skills

Tuesday – Donna’s group is exploring sounds with the musical instruments

Wednesday – Donna’s group will be imaginatively playing with the small world toys and blocks

Thursday – Leanne’s group are listening to stories in groups

Friday- Sophie’s group will be using objects to explore big and little

Donna is off Friday, Sophie is off Monday, Leanne is off Wednesday and Rose is in all week.

 

Sunflowers

Books of the fortnight are:

16^th – 23^rd December – Spotty Dotty Got Chickenpox  By Miriam Moss and Joanna Mockler

Monday – Jess’s group are getting creative as they do junk modelling

Tuesday – Chloe’s group will be practising writing skills as they write letters to Santa

Wednesday – Chloe’s group are  cooking Christmas puddings

Thursday – Chloe’s group are developing large physical skills as they throw and catch balls.

Friday – Jess’s group will be reading stories and suggesting what happens next.

Jess is off all week, Chloe is off Thursday and Alison is in Monday to Thursday 9.30-2.30

 

Have a great weekend from

Caroline and the South Hill Team

week commencing 9th December

Dear Parents

 

Christmas party!

Don’t forget the Christmas party is tomorrow from 3.30-5pm!

Hope to see you all there.

 

Christmas nativity, next Thursday!

The Nativity play is Thursday 12^th December. The morning performance is at 9.30. The afternoon performance is at 4.15. We will not be allowing parents in before 9.15 or 4pm as we are using the stage area as a dressing room!

Forms asking for permission for other parents to video and photograph the children are going around. However we ask that you do not put photos of other people’s children onto the internet on sites such as facebook.

Because we want all our parents to get the chance to see the performance, it is going to be very busy at both performances. If possible please can you leave any coats and bags at home or in the car as we are not going to have any spare room!

The seating will be first come first served, with seating on the floor, on chairs and standing room too. You will certainly get to know the other parents as you will all be very close on the day!!!!!!! Also you will only be allowed to see the show you have booked as both performances are now full.

If any of you are having trouble with costumes just let us know. The babies are stars or angels, the Bluebells are the village people and preschool have different roles – ask Jess if you have forgotten! Please can you bring in your child’s costume the next time they are in so we can have dress rehearsals!

If your child is not in on a Thursday they only need to attend the show you are seeing.

 

Bring your singing voices and Christmas cheer!

 

Christmas closing

We will be open as normal on Monday 23^rd December and we will be open Christmas Eve but aim to close at 3pm, we do ask you kindly if at all possible the children could be picked up by 3pm as it is the one day of the year we try to get the staff home early.

We will be open as normal on Thursday 2^nd January and term starts on 6^th January for all of our term time only children.

 

Illness

We still have some bugs going around, lots of children have coughs and colds and are generally feeling under the weather. With coughs and colds we use our well child policy to determine if children are well enough to come into Nursery:

The definition of a well child:

 

• A child who is not dependent on Calpol or similar.
• A child who does not require a greater ratio.
• A child with normal bowel movements.
• A child who participates in activities as they normally would.

We may have to call you to collect your child is they are not well enough to be at nursery. We don’t do this lightly as we understand that it is a busy time of year, however the well being of the children in our care is paramount.

 

Buttercups

Monday – Nilem’s group will be playing with the small world toys as they build vocabulary

Tuesday – Becci will be reading books with the children in small groups.

Wednesday – Julia’s group are investigating ICT toys to find out what happens next

Thursday- Charlotte’s group is getting moving as they roll balls to each other

Friday – Magda’s group is having a tea party as they play alongside each other

Charlotte is off Wednesday, Julia is off Friday, Nilem is off Friday, Magda is off Tuesday and Becci is in all week

 

Bluebells

Monday – Leanne’s group will be using the magnifying glasses in the garden

Tuesday- Sophie’s group are using the shape matching cards to identify shapes and colours

Wednesday – Donna’s group is counting mini motors and sorting them into groups

Thursday – Donna’s group will be using the large hoops to make big movements outside

Friday- Leanne’s group are having a tea party with the dolls

Donna is off Friday, Leanne is off Wednesday, Sophie is off Monday and Tuesday and Rose is in all week

 

Sunflowers

Books of the fortnight are:

2^nd -9^th December – One, Two, That’s My Shoe by Alison Murray

16^th – 23^rd December – Spotty Dotty Got Chickenpox  By Miriam Moss and Joanna Mockler

Monday – Chloe’s group will be getting festive as they make Christmas Crafts and talk about celebrating Christmas

Tuesday – Chloe’s group is developing their speaking and listening skills as they work with each other in small groups

Wednesday – Jess’s group are creating calendars, and choosing different materials to decorate them

Thursday – Jess’s group will be developing fine motor skills as they create magnetic frame

Friday – Chloe’s group are exploring shapes in the environment. We are also going to see the Pantomime in the afternoon!

Jess is off Tuesday, Chloe is off Monday and Alison does 9.30-2.30 Monday to Thursday