Emergency Closure Policy - Building

Emergency closure policy

 

Aim of Policy

 

To give clear guidelines if bad weather or building issues should cause a nursery to close.

 

Points to consider

 

In the event that bad weather or building issues (such as fire, flood or heating breakdown)  makes one of the Castle sites inoperable the staff and children will be relocated to one of the sister sites.

 

If the shortage of staff limits the number of places available the following priorities will take place:

1.      Children of Emergency Services and  Medical staff

2.      Children of teachers or school workers/ Children of bank workers/ Children of staff at utilities companies and Children of public transport workers

3.      All other working parents

4.      Children of non working parents

In the event of staff shortages, parents with current DBS forms may be asked to support the nursery team in order to maintain smooth operations.

 

The manager or person in charge will inform the parents of the children attending that day of the change by telephoning them.

 

Answer Phone messages will be updated and we will try and keep parents as informed and up to date as possible through emails, our blog and our website.

 

The operations manager will be informed immediately about the site change.

 

Ofsted will be kept informed at all times of changes in circumstances.

                                                0300 123 1231

 

Surrey Early Years will be kept informed at all times of changes in circumstances.

                                                01372 833833

 

Financial decisions will be made by the Director or the Finance Director.

 

 

Week commencing 13th October

Dear Parents

 

Forest school -Sunday 12^th October!!!!!!!!

The parent Forest School training session is this Sunday from 10-12.  For those of you who have signed up to take part in this, please meet us at St Martha’s car park, Halfpenny Lane, wearing suitable clothing for the weather.

Due to the nature of the session the children will not be able to attend.

 

Menus

The new autumn and winter menus have now started.  There are no planned changes to this week’s menu.

See attached document for the weekly menu.

 

Missing cardigan

We are missing a girl’s light grey cardigan, please can you check at home and if found return to Sunflowers.  Thank you!

 

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: Emergency closure policy – Building

 

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, please visit:

http://www.foundationyears.org.uk/ 

 

Buttercups

Monday – Nilem’s group are looking at ‘Peppa Pig’ books and talking about the pictures to extend vocabulary.

Tuesday – Julia’s group are taking turns at blowing bubbles in the garden.

Wednesday – Nilem’s group will be getting creative with paints and brushes.

Thursday – Charlotte’s group are exploring the ‘small world’ equipment.

Friday – Magda’s group will be practising putting on their shoes and coats.

Charlotte is off Monday and Friday, Julia is off Thursday, Nilem is off Friday and Magda is off Tuesday

 

Bluebells

Monday – Donna’s group will be exploring shapes and spaces as they make jigsaw puzzles.

Tuesday – Leanne’s are playing hiding and guessing games with blankets and objects.

Wednesday -  Chloe’s group will be practising their throwing and catching skills through playing with balls and hoops.

Thursday – Rose’s group will be exploring the mini motors and naming and counting the different vehicles.

Friday – Leanne’s group are practising following instructions as they play the game ‘Simon Says’.

Donna is off Friday, Leanne is off Wednesday, Chloe is off Thursday and Rose is in all week

 

Sunflowers

Books of the fortnight

6^th -13^th October – Mog on Fox Night by Judith Kerr

20-27^th October  - Lulu Loves Stories by Anna McQuinn

3-10^th November – The Sunflower Sword by Mark Sperring

17-24^th November – Victoria’s Day by Maria de Fatima Campos

 

The Sunflowers have one detailed weekly focused activity to ensure all the children have the opportunity to take part in it.

This will work alongside their weekly planned activity list which you can see in the room.

 

This week’s activity is: Creating nature pictures or crowns.

 

We will be collecting natural objects in the garden, talking about what we have found, describing textures, shapes and colours, grouping objects into different categories and sticking natural objects onto card to make a picture or crown.

 

Our Letter of the week is: W

 

Our activities are:

Looking out the windows – what can we see?

Setting up the whiteboards with letter ‘w’stencils

Threading – thinking of words that begin with ‘w’

Drawing waffles.

 

Jess is on holiday all week, Sophie is off Monday and Becci is attending a training course on ‘Understanding Boys’ on Tuesday.

 

Emergency Closure Policy - illness

Emergency Closure policy –illness  

 

Aim of policy

 

To give clear guidance if a flu pandemic or similar occurs at the nursery.

Points to consider

In the event of flu pandemic (or similar) the manager will keep the director updated of children’s health and staffing levels.

 

Castle Daycare and Preschool aims to achieve this by:

 

In case of limited staffing levels the three Castle Daycare & Preschool Nurseries will join together at the most suitable location and open on a limited basis.

 

If the shortage of staff limits the number of places available the following priorities will take place:

1.      Children of Emergency Services and  Medical staff

2.      Children of teachers or school workers/ Children of bank workers/ Children of staff at utilities companies and Children of public transport workers

3.      All other working parents

4.      Children of non working parents

In the event of staff shortages, parents with current DBS forms may be asked to support the nursery team in order to maintain smooth operations.

In case of closure or limited opening parents will be contacted by phone by the most senior person available. Nursery software systems can be accessed from private computers if needed.

The answer phone message will be changed and then regularly updated so parents can be kept informed.

Notices will be put out in nursery blogs, local papers, Local radio (e.g.: the Eagle) and on our website to inform parents.

In exceptional circumstances children of emergency services workers or other essential workers will be given childcare even if they do not usually attend the settings.

 

Ofsted will be kept informed at all times of changes in circumstances.

                                                0300 123 1231

 

Surrey Early Years will be kept informed at all times of changes in circumstances.

                                                01372 833833

 

Financial decisions will be made by the Director or the Finance Director.

 

Week commencing 6th October

Dear Parents

 

Staff news

After taking a year off to look after her ill daughter, Emma has decided not to return to us L

Holly is doing much better and is back to school which is great, however Emma still needs to be around to continue to support her.

We are very sad to see Emma go as she has been with us since 2008. Emma has asked me to send you her love and say goodbye. She will still be popping in from time to time.

We are currently recruiting for a new member of staff but until we find the right person we will be having staff cover from our sister nursery.

We will also be using our own bank staff. Julie is coming back to work with us as bank staff. Julie has worked both here and at our Markenfield Road nursery so some of you may recognise her.

I will keep you updated on our recruitment process.

 

Head lice

There has been one case of head lice in Buttercups.  Please can you check your child’s hair and treat if needed.

 

Forest school -Sunday 12^th October!!!!!!!!

We will be having a Parent Session in the forest to explain how Forest school works and what activities we will be doing.

Please sign up in the Sunflowers room. All parents are welcome so feel free to come along even if your child is a baby or Bluebell!

Due to the nature of the session the children will not be able to attend

All the staff had a great time taking part in the forest school training last weekend, check out the photos on our blog: http://castlenursery-southhill.blogspot.co.uk

 

Menus

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

See attached document for the weekly menu.

 

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: Emergency closure policy - Illness

 

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, please visit:

http://www.foundationyears.org.uk/ 

 

Buttercups

Monday – Magda’s group are developing their physical skills by using the trikes and push-along toys in the garden  

Tuesday – Nilem’s group will be building towers with the wooden blocks.

Wednesday – Julia’s group are exploring the ‘people of the world puppets’.

Thursday – Charlotte’s group are playing peek-a-boo games with different fabrics.

Friday – Magda’s group will be listening to the sounds different animals make through using the animal train. 

Charlotte is off Tuesday, Julia is off Thursday, Nilem is off Friday and Magda is off Monday

 

Bluebells

Monday – Donna’s group is developing their recognition of numbers by using the magnetic number boards.

Tuesday – Chloe’s group will be developing their co-ordination as they play bowling with the skittles and balls.

Wednesday -  Rose’s group are reading books together and talking about what might happen next in the story.

Thursday – Donna’s group will be playing naming parts of the body games during circle time.

Friday – Leanne’s group are collecting leaves and twigs and creating paintings with them.

Donna is off Friday, Leanne is off Wednesday, Chloe is off Wednesday and Rose is in all week

 

Sunflowers

Books of the fortnight

6^th -13^th October – Mog on Fox Night by Judith Kerr

20-27^th October  - Lulu Loves Stories by Anna McQuinn

3-10^th November – The Sunflower Sword by Mark Sperring

17-24^th November – Victoria’s Day by Maria de Fatima Campos

 

The Sunflowers have one detailed weekly focused activity to ensure all the children have the opportunity to take part in it.

This will work alongside their weekly planned activity list which you can see in the room.

 

This week’s activity is: Shape recognition

 

We will be looking at pictures of different shapes and identifying what they are, drawing shapes, cutting them out and arranging them into a picture, talking about different shapes in the environment. 

 

Our Letter of the week is: V

 

Our activities are:

Making vehicle sounds

Drawing vans

Talking about violins

Setting up the whiteboard with letter v stencils

Talking about words that begin with v.

 

Jess is off Thursday and Friday, Sophie is off Monday and Becci is in all week.  

 

 

Caroline is on holiday this week so if you need anything please speak to Charlotte or Jess.

Fire safety policy

Fire safety policy

 

Aim of policy

 

This policy is designed to eliminate/reduce the risks to the health and safety of children, staff and users of the Nursery from fire and related hazards. 

 

Points to consider

 

Castle Day care & Preschool can only ensure the health and safety of everyone using the Nursery with the co-operation of staff following/putting the procedures in place during evacuation in a fire emergency or training exercise.

 

The nominated fire warden is: Charlotte

 

Castle Daycare and Preschool aim to achieve this by:

 

Having a procedure to ensure robust systems

 

In order to ensure robust systems exist to respond to an event of fire:

 

The Nursery Manager will:

 

·               Undertake a fire alarm/ bell test at least once a term.

 

·               Test emergency lighting every six months.

 

·               Keep a record of the tests to include date and time, faults/ issuers occurring if appropriate.

 

·               Develop a local setting fire evacuation procedure to include exits to be used, assembly area etc.

 

·               Carry out a Nursery evacuation procedure (fire drill) every quarter as a minimum.

 

·               Keep records of the fire drills to include time of drill, evacuation time and comments.

 

·               Ensure all staff members are aware of and understand the local setting evacuation procedure.

 

·               Ensure that all staff members have undertaken basic fire safety training during their initial induction and senior staff will undertake additional training annually.

 

All Nursery staff will:

 

·                                 Ensure that fire exits are not blocked.

 

·                                 Ensure routes of access and egress remain clear

 

·                                 Undertake regular fire safety training.

week commencing 29th September

Dear Parents

 

Forest school -Sunday 12^th October

We will be having a Parent Session in the forest to explain how Forest school works and what activities we will be doing.

Please sign up in the Sunflowers room. All parents are welcome so feel free to come along even if your child is a baby or bluebell!

All the staff had a great time taking part in the forest school training last weekend, check out the photos:

 

 

Photographer -Thursday 2^nd October from 1- 5ish

The nursery photographer will come in to take photos of the children. She can do family photos and siblings so if you want to bring the whole family you are more than welcome. They make great Christmas presents!

The open session will run from 3.45-5pm for children and families who aren’t in on Thursday, it will be a first come first served basis.

 

Menus

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

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, please visit:

http://www.foundationyears.org.uk/ 

 

Buttercups

Monday – Nilem’s group are looking at their own reflections as they develop a sense of self

Tuesday- Julia’s group is exploring gloop using kitchen utensils

Wednesday – Julia’s group is reading animal books using different tones and voices!

Thursday – Charlotte’s group will be building hand eye coordination as they knock objects together

Friday – Magda’s group is playing naming games to build relationships with others.

Charlotte is off Monday, Magda is off Tuesday, Julia is off Thursday and Nilem is on holiday all week

 

Bluebells

Monday – Rose’s group are using the emotion dolls to talk about how we feel.

Tuesday – Leanne’s group will be listening and dancing to music, to develop listening skills

Wednesday – Donna’s group are reading books together as they build their vocabulary.

Thursday – Rose’s group are working together to create towers

Friday – Chloe’s group will be playing the game “Shape Ahoy” to help develop shape recognition

Donna is off Friday, Leanne is off Wednesday, Chloe is off Thursday and Rose is in all week

 

Sunflowers

The Sunflowers have one detailed weekly focused activity to ensure all the children have the opportunity to take part in it.

This will work alongside their weekly planned activity list which you can see in the room.

 

This weeks’ activity is: to make a puppet of their choice and talk about why they have chosen to make their puppet.

 

The learning intentions are:

To describe what they have chosen to make and share ideas verbally

To develop confidence in their own ideas

To develop language skills, vocabulary and interactive skills

 

The letter of the week is: U

 

We will be talking about when we need to use Umbrellas

Stencilling the letter U

Drawing and decorating Unicorns

 

Jess is off Friday, Sophie is off Monday and on training on Thursday and Becci is in all week

 

I am on holiday from the 3^rd October until 13^th. When I come back I will be sorting out the parent passwords for the ILD’s!

week commencing 22nd September

Dear Parents

 

Illness

We have now had four confirmed cases of Hand, Foot and Mouth, three cases of Impetigo and one case of Chicken Pox.

If your child gets Chicken Pox or Hand, Foot and Mouth they can return to nursery once the spots/blisters have scabbed over and they meet our well child policy (below)

If your child gets Impetigo they will need to be off nursery for 48 hours after they have started antibiotics.

I know it can be hard to arrange for your child to be away from nursery and we don’t do it to make your lives difficult!

We ask children to stay away from nursery so we can minimise the spread to other children and we hate making those phone calls, but we have to do what we think is right.

 

Well child policy

 

Aim of policy

 

To give practitioners and parents guidance on how we judge a child to be well enough to attend nursery.

 

Points to consider

 

The health and wellbeing of the children in our care is of the utmost importance to us. However as every child is different we use the definition of a well child along with information from the Health Protection Agency to decide if a child is well enough to attend nursery.

 

 

Castle Daycare and Preschool aim to achieve this by:

 

 

The definition of a well child:

 

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

 

Photo cubes

Bluebells and Babies are still waiting for some family photos, so if you haven’t emailed yours in yet can we have them please?

 

Spare Clothes

If you have any nursery clothes please can you return them as we have run out!

Please can you bring in some spare clothes for your child.

 

Forest school -Sunday 12^th October

We will be having a Parent Session in the forest to explain how Forest school works and what activities we will be doing.

Please sign up in the Sunflowers room. All parents are welcome so feel free to come along even if your child is a baby or bluebell!

More details to follow!

 

Photographer -Thursday 2^nd October from 1- 5ish

The nursery photographer will come in to take photos of the children. She can do family photos and siblings so if you want to bring the whole family you are more than welcome.

More details to follow!

 

Menus

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

 

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, please visit:

http://www.foundationyears.org.uk/ 

 

Buttercups

Monday – Nilem’s group are exploring animals in the cornflour gloop

Tuesday – Nilem’s group is signing action rhymes as they build listening skills

Wednesday – Julia’s group will be reading stories with puppets

Thursday – Charlotte’s group are working together to build a den.

Friday – Magda’s group is talking about Rosh Hashanah and printing with apples.

Charlotte is off Monday, Julia is off Thursday, Nilem is off Friday and Magda is off Tuesday

 

Bluebells

Monday – Donna’s group is taking turns as they choose their own songs to sing.

Tuesday – Donna’s group will be building language skills as they look after dollies

Wednesday -  Chloe’s group is creating pictures with paint.

Thursday – Rose’s group are using different sized paint brushes to make patterns

Friday – Leanne’s group is developing number recognition as they play with the compare bears.

Donna is off Friday, Leanne is off Wednesday, Chloe is off Thursday, Rose is in all week

 

Sunflowers

15^th – 22^nd September – Always and  Forever by Debi Gliari and Alan Durant

The Sunflowers have one detailed weekly focused activity to ensure all the children have the opportunity to take part in it.

This will work alongside their weekly planned activity list which you can see in the room.

 

This week’s activity is:

Completing our “I can” activity sheets

 

We will be looking at our letter recognition, our writing skills and our counting and number recognition skills.

The children will also be drawing pictures of themselves.

 

Our Letter of the week is: T

 

Our activities are:

Reading the book “The Tiger Who Came to Tea”

Drawing pictures of tigers

Writing the number two

Stencilling the letter t

Tree printing using paper and crayons

Playing with toy turtles in the water tray.

 

Jess is off Friday, Sophie is off Monday and Becci is on holiday all week