Nursery Newsletter Term 1 2017
Welcome to the Nursery!
We thoroughly enjoyed meeting you all on the home visits and welcome you to the nursery base. We are a friendly team and operate an “open-door” policy so please do feel free to raise any concerns, however small they might seem and we will do our very best to allay them for you.
This term we will mainly be concerned with settling the children into the Nursery, forming positive relationships and learning routines together with our themes of ‘Ourselves’ and ‘Harvest’.
Interactive Learning Diaries (ILD)
As a way of recording your child’s learning journey during their time at Nursery, we use a system called ILD. This is a secure system that enables us to record observations and assessments. You will shortly receive a letter containing details about how to register on the Parent Portal from which you will then be able to log in and see what your child gets up to at Nursery! You will also be able to upload your own photos and comments should you wish to do so.
Wow Wall
For those of you who don’t already know, we have a “Wow Wall” at Nursery where we can display photographs/parental comments about your child’s achievements/experiences/news. It’s lovely for us to be able to celebrate these with them too, from learning to ride a bike to dressing themselves to staying all night in their own bed (!), no achievement is too small so please feel free to send in any contributions for this wall and we will share them with the rest of Nursery.
Pigeon Holes
Each child at Nursery has their own named pigeon hole and a named painting folder in a box below the pigeon hole. We use these to store letters home and pictures along with other bits and bobs and would kindly request that you check and empty these on a regular basis.
Snacks
Each child in the Foundation Stage is entitled to a free piece of fruit and a cup of milk. Fresh water will of course be available and we also offer no-added-sugar squash as an occasional treat. Staff will sit and eat with the children at the snack table to demonstrate positive role models.
Books to share
We offer a service where the children may take home a book to share with you. The books will be available for you to change them whenever you wish. We will start this when the children are attending all of their sessions.
Helping in the Nursery and cooking
Thank you to all of you who have offered to help in the Nursery or to cook. We will be starting this next term, as we prefer the children to settle in first. Please collect a DBS form from Mrs. Peet in main reception as soon as possible as unfortunately you will not be able to help in school until clearance is received.
Parents have asked about the group sizes that they will be supervising when cooking. You will have a maximum of 4 children cooking at any one time, so as to provide a quality experience.
Harvest – Wednesday 11th October 2017
Whilst we do not join in with the main school for the Harvest Festival if your child would like to bring a harvest box we will take it up with them. Details of this will be sent to you nearer the time.
Clothing.
At Nursery we provide many messy activities and access the outdoor area in all weathers and so please could we ask you to send your child dressed in appropriate clothing. Please remember to name school sweatshirts and t-shirts and we would encourage you to leave a spare bag of clothes on your child’s peg in case of accidents. If you wish to do so, you are also welcome to leave a named pair of wellies on their peg.
We would kindly request that you discourage your child from bringing toys to school, as they can get lost or broken. However, whilst they continue to settle in, we are happy for them to bring in much loved teddies/blankets as a form of extra comfort although we cannot guarantee they won’t end up in the water tray! If they are asked to bring in an item that is topic related, a notice will be displayed on the main nursery doors, and the item will be shared and displayed safely.
We look forward to developing excellent relationships with you and your children over the year ahead.
Sallie Foster Paula Sinnott and Bridget Melville.
Teacher in charge of Nursery Early years assistant/lunch club supervisor
The Cave Tadpole Room
Pigeon holes