Newsletter March 2017

Dear Parents,

We would like to tell you about some exciting changes happening at Woodlands preschool. As an outstanding setting driven by a highly motivated team we continuously strive to reflect on our practice to meet the needs of the children. Over the last year we have re-evaluated how we plan the sessions & structure of the day. Although we found elements of forward planning beneficial we felt that the children would benefit more from ‘planning in the moment’ this can be described in the following way:

‘We do not plan ahead, rather we remain ‘in the moment’ with the children as they explore and learn. We observe carefully, and enhance the learning whenever we spot a ‘teachable moment’. Our observations, interactions and the outcomes are recorded afterwards.’ (The Nursery Year in Action – Anna Ephgrave).

Child-initiated learning in the early years allows children to thrive while making accelerated progress. Young children learn and develop best when they are in a stimulating environment that is carefully organised and equipped to meet their needs, interests and stages of development, and where each child’s progress is carefully observed, managed and enhanced by adults who engage and interact with them to support them in making outstanding learning. Please take a look at the ‘rational’ (attachment) to help explain the process of focus weeks, and how we plan in the moment.

For the children who are not currently in their focus week will continue to carry on with their own learning journeys (even though they are not recorded in the same way). Sometimes they journey on their own, sometimes with a friend or a group and sometimes by joining an activity with one of the focus children. Staff members are often free to support other individuals or groups. As with the individual children, staff will look out for activities or events that have captured the interest of a group. They will join the group to see if they can support, enhance or develop the activity in any way. They are observing and assessing. Sometimes the group is operating independently and with deep-level involvement and any attempt to join the activity might actually disrupt it. In this situation the adult may observe for a while, possibly taking particular note of some children and then move away. However, on many occasions the skilful staff member will spot a ‘teachable moment’. They then decide what to do – this is planning. They might provide an extra resource, an idea, some vocabulary, some information or they might model a skill or demonstrate how to use a piece of equipment – this is teaching.

With all this wonderful teaching, the children soon start to do things independently and when such moments are observed we refer to them as ‘Wow!’ moments, these will be recorded.

After your child has had their focus week, their key person will spend some time evaluating their focus time observations. From these they can see where they have developed their learning and understanding and how we can move the children on to making more progress. The key person will make suggestions as to how parents can continue their learning at home and then summarise their week, before emailing it home.

We will also begin to cut down morning circle time as we feel it is limiting the children’s need to begin their play as soon as they get into preschool. Due to this we will no longer be asking for specific ‘show and tell’ items. Instead we will be asking the children to show and tell anything they would like at the end of the session. This might be something they learnt, saw, made, played… From this we will be encouraging children to take turns, listen to one another, and recall their past experiences, use communication skills and much more. If your child has something they would like to show us such as a swimming certificate or a photograph then they are still welcome to bring these in.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask.

Dates to remember:

24th March - Red Nose Day – children & staff to wear red and make a £1 donation

29th & 30th March – Cake Sales at 12.00-12.10pm & 3.10pm

5th – 13th April – Easter Holidays

14th & 17th April – Bank Holidays

18th April – Training Day

1st May – Bank Holiday

3rd & 4th May – Sponsored Obstacle Course

29th May – Bank Holiday

30th May – 2nd June – Half Term

5th June – Training Day

7th June – Leavers Photos (more info to follow)

10th June – Family Fun Picnic

14th & 15th June – Parents Evenings

21st & 22nd June – Open Afternoon

27th June – Sports Day

29th June – Sports Day if 27th is cancelled due to bad weather

19th July – Leavers concert

24th July – Summer Holidays

Others news…

We would like to congratulate Chloe who will become a first time mummy in September! She will continue workingwith us up until the summer holidays before taking a maternity break.

Michelle has now begun her new job and we would like to wish her good luck, she will be amazing in her new role as an Early Years SEN Support.

We will be welcoming a new member of staff very soon who will be taking on Michelle’s key group after the Easter holidays, her name is Hayley & she has a varied background in Early Years. Hayley will complement & enhance our team with her experience & background.

We would also like to welcome Louise Knight as part of our banking staff, she will be working with us on an ad hoc basis.

Sara will be returning after her maternity leave officially after the Easter holidays however she will be beginning her contact days for the next few weeks on a Friday. We look forward to welcoming her back.

Bluebirds on Tuesdays will begin after Easter, all children who are leavers this year will have been offered a place on either a Tuesday or Wednesday. Please contact the office if you wish to purchase a book bag. These are priced at £4.50.

Fundraising…

We raised £49.63from our Valentine’s Day sale of all the lovely gifts our fundraising team put together.

We also raised £51 from our Happy School Bags collection today.

We have some exciting fundraising events coming up including a family fun picnic and a sponsored obstacle course. The money we are raising is going towards some new storage furniture indoors & some extra outdoor resources to enjoy over the summer.

With kind regards

The Woodlands Team

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