HEATHLANDS NEWSLETTER JUNE-JULY 2015

Welcome to all to the second half of theSummer Term 2015 –We particularly welcome new children who have recently started or about to start thishalf term – Nihal, Eloise, Daley andGeorge

Preschool Sessions
We are running at almost full both morning and also in the afternoon. Julie must have all the admission requests for next September confirmed by existing families by the end of Friday 5 June as we have many families who are awaiting confirmation of their September sessions.

Invoices

Julie has now sent out all invoices for the Summer Term 2015 – please note all invoices must be paid in full by 30 June. Invoices not settled in full by this date will incur a £20 addition as stated in our ‘Terms and Conditions’. If you are experiencing any difficulty in paying your invoice please speak to Julie or Irene asap.

Visitors

This half term we will welcome some musicians from Broke Hall School as well as Mini Mamba.

Mum’s Week

Thank you to all the Mums who came in during the week and shared their time and talents. The children loved having their mums in and showing them what they get up to at preschool.

Dad’s Week

Please send in a small gift AND £3 (in a named envelope) to buy a gift (keyring, socks, smellies, car shampoo, screwdriver, frisbee????etcetcfor Daddy. The idea here is that Daddy won’t get back the gift you sent in but another donated gift that your child chooses for him. All gifts should be in by Friday 12 June so that they can be chosen, wrapped and brought home for Daddy by Friday 19 June.

Dads also please sign up to come in during wc 20 June and join in with cooking, den-building, painting, ball skills or simply sharing time. Please book up on the rota on the table on the veranda.

Sun cream and hats

Thank you to all parents who sent in sun-cream. We are still missing some though! On a sunny day please help us by applying suncream to your child before their preschool session. For children staying all day we will reapply at lunch.

On very hot days we offer the children very dilute squash as we think it is super important that children do not become dehydrated- if you prefer your child to be offered only water please let us know.

Staff News
The Staff continue to enhance their skills and knowledge.Irene is due to attend a course regarding new guidance on ‘Safeguarding’ called ‘Signs of Safety’. Hannah is continuing with her Leadership course.

Thank you
Thank you to Jenny Robinson (Milo) for donating a set of drums, to Liz Atkins(Rosie) for some dressing-up clothes and a very popular luggage trolley, and to Louise Supple (Maiya) for sending in some buckets/spades, Jade Glencastle (Avaiya)for a grow-bag,SangeetaChaughan (Kavi) for some calculators.

New resources
We are always reviewing our resources and finding new activities for the children to explore – we have some new games- ‘Monkey Madness’, and ‘Fishin’Fun’, a fabulous new sunshade for the garden, a water wall – designed by Nurdine and Tammy, a teepee for asecret den with your friends, new books including ‘Norman’ by Sue Hendra, ‘A Quiet Day in the Jungle’ by Andrew Weal and alphabet books ‘Bugs A to Z’ and ‘C for Construction’.

Two new Guinea-pigs

Our previous guinea-pigs were getting on in ‘guinea-pig years’ so were retired back home to join their sister in Irene’s back garden. Irene’s daughter donated 2 new guinea-pigs(a Mummy and daughter!) which after a poll carried out by Isabelle were named ‘Peppa-pig’ and ‘Kitty-kat’!

Tapestry
We have noticed a few parents are not reading their Tapestry and Karen will be asking these families if they have a problem with getting access etc. If you prefer to read your child’s observations at preschool then we are happy to book you in for a slot on our computer.

As some of the children are leaving at the end of this term we can offer you a service of burning your child’s Tapestry Learning Journey onto a disc. The cost of this is £5 – please send in the form attached to this newsletter.

Graduation Afternoon

All children who will be going on to Reception Class in September are invited to our Graduation Ceremony on Friday 10 July. We will be making our own ‘mortar boards’, practicing our singing and handshake! An invitation has been sent out. Please be at preschool by 2.45 ready to be walked over to Broke Hall School for the ceremony. Children graduating can of course stay on after 12.15 and the staff can change them into their ‘Graduation best’ if you wish. Note preschool will be closed from 12.15pm on this date for children who are not graduating.

Easton Farm Park

We are all going to Easton Farm Park for a jolly day out on Thursday 16 July. Coaches have been booked and Julie is making final lists. Please arrive to get on the coach at 9.30am as we need to go through the itinerary for the day and also those all important Risk Assessments.Staff will be at preschool if you wish to drop them off at Rhymes for Breakfast Club. Note prechool will be closed on this day and you will not be invoiced.

Parent Meetings
We shall be holding our regular ‘Parents’ Weeks’ wc 29 June and wc 6 July. Please book up your slot with your Key- Person on the table on the veranda.

Fund Raising

The Wooden Crafts morning organised by ‘fund-raisers extraordinaire’ Hannah and Emma raised a super total of £345 which will be spent on sensory equipment for our new ‘Sensory Corner’.

They are now organising another fund-raiser for us – a ‘Colour Fun Run/Walk’ for the children; I am sure it will be tremendous fun!– it is on Saturday 13 June at 11am. For your entry fee of £2 you will get a pre-ordered T-shirt and all children will get a ‘medal’. It is important to get sponsored so that we can have fun as well as make money. We also have a raffle too.We must thank Hannah’s partner, Keith Tumilty at ‘Top Flite Electrical’ for sponsoring this event for us.

On Wed 10 June we are again collecting clothes/shoes to send off for ‘Bags to Schools’ collection in order to raise cash for Heathlands. Please bring in your unwanted clothes(no curtains, bedding or towels please) by 3.15pm on this day.

The committee are busy organising our ‘Annual Summer Fair’ big fund-raising event on Saturday 11 July between 10am and 12 noon. More details will be with you soon but we need lots of support not only ‘on the day’ by bringing your family and friends but also raffle prizes, cakes, soft toys, ‘lucky dip’ prizes etc

End-of-Year Questionnaire

In order to reflect on our practice we would like all families to return the questionnaire attached to this newsletter by 30 June. We have changed the format this year to make it far simpler and quicker for everyone to complete. It is important to us to improve our practice and thereby raise outcomes for our children.

End of Heathlands Community Preschool Tapestry Learning Journey

Child’s Name………………………………………….

I enclose £5 in order to purchase a CD of my child’s Learning Journey. I understand that videos will not ‘burn’ onto this CD.

Please return latest Friday 10 July.

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Dates for your Diary

Date / Event
Mon 1 June / Preschool opens
Tues 2 June 10am / Mini Mamba
Fri 5 June 2.45pm / Shared Group Time
Wed 10 June / Bags to School Collection
Saturday 13 June 11am / Colour Run
Thurs 11 June 2.45pm / Shared Group Time
Friday 12 June / Last Day £3/Dad’s Gift
Wed 17 June 2.45pm / Shared Group Time
Wc 22 June / Dad’s Week
Wc 29 June / Parent Meetings
Wc 6 July / Parent Meetings
Fri 10 July / Graduation Afternoon
PRESCHOOL CLOSED FROM 12.15pm to
non-graduands
Saturday 11 July
10am-12noon / SUMMER FAIR
Thursday 16 July 9.30-3pm / Trip Easton Farm Park PRESCHOOL CLOSED
Wed 22 July / Preschool closes for Summer hols
Thurs 3 Sept / Preschool opens for Autumn Term