SPRINGFIELD PRE-SCHOOL NEWSLETTER – April 2023
Important Dates for your Diary
Monday 17th April - Start of new Term
w/c 1st May - Coronation celebration week.
Tuesday 9th May - Bring your Parent to School Day
(all those children that attend a Tuesday)
w/c 15th May - Sponsored Bounce
Friday 26th May - Last day of term
Coronation Celebration Week
All children will be invited to take part in a decorate a crown competition. Three prizes up for grabs! We will also be selling sweet cups and cakes at the end of the session. At snack time the children will get to enjoy some treats and they will take part in some coronation themed activities throughout the week too!
Sponsored Bounce
Our annual sponsored bounce will commence w/c 15th May. Sponsor forms will be sent out w/c 1st May, so please keep a lookout for them in your child’s book bag.
Book/Toy stall
Our book stall/toy stall needs replenishing, if you have any unwanted books/toys, donations will be very much appreciated. So far we have raised £26.00 which is amazing, so thank you! You will continue to have the opportunity to buy or swap books; both children’s and adult’s/ and any unwanted toys etc. These books/toys will be displayed on a trolley outside of pre-school with a donation box. We are hoping to have this as an on-going opportunity for you to recycle your old book/toys or pick up a new book/toy that takes your fancy!
Dogs- Although we are all dog lovers here at pre-school and we love meeting the children’s furry friends that we hear so much about, please be mindful that other parents/children can be fearful. Therefore we ask that you wait on one side of the gate with your dog and your child will be sent out to you. Thank You.
Session Fees
We would like to remind you all of the importance of paying your invoices on time. All income we receive is to cover our expenses and we simply cannot afford to continue to receive late payments. As per our fees policy, if payment is not received on time then late fees will be applied. This is not something we wish to enforce but we cannot continue to have fees paid late as regularly as is happening recently. If you have any questions/issues with this then please speak to Nikki who can assist you.
Tapestry
All the staff work hard each week, using Tapestry to record your child's assessments and their next steps. It really is lovely when Parents access this and comment on what they see, thank you. Your input informs your child's progress too and sometimes is invaluable.
Session availability
We do still have availability on some of our sessions, if you require any extra sessions for your child then please contact us for more information. A reminder for those children who are entitled to 30 hour funding, you are able to increase sessions at any point as required, depending on session availability.
Reminders......
Opening Hours – Please ensure that children are dropped off and collected promptly for all sessions;
Morning Session 9.15am – 12.15pm Afternoon Session 12.15pm – 3.15pm
Late arrivals can be upsetting for other children, especially those new to pre-school and still in the early stages of settling in; likewise late collection can also cause unnecessary upset. Please let us know if you are running late so that we can let your child know what is happening. Unadvised late collection of a child will incur a charge of £15.00.
Early Drop Off- Early drop off is available 8:45 am - 9:15 am at an extra charge of £3.00 per day. Please ask for more detail.
End of Session Collection - If your child is to be collected by another person please remember to let a member of staff know as we are unable to release your child without prior notification.
Clothing – It is imperative that children are sent to school in appropriate clothing. Children should be sent, prepared for the weather with appropriate outdoor clothing as we always try to get outside – whatever the weather!! Footwear should enable children to climb and move with confidence; ill-fitting shoes can spoil their fun when pursuing outdoor activities as well as cause unnecessary accidents. Indoor clothes should enable a child to be as independent as possible, especially when using the toilet when time may be short!! So please avoid using tricky belts or dungarees that could hinder a child’s attempts to get to the toilet on time. Thank you.
Absence – Absence due to holiday should be notified in writing in advance. Absence due to illness should be notified by text by 9.15am. All absences must be confirmed in writing.
Children’s Bags - Your child must bring a small bag/back-pack with a set of spare clothes (including socks!) in case of toileting accidents or messy/wet play; please ensure that the bag is of a size that your child can carry themselves and is clearly labelled. Back-packs should be placed below your child’s peg on the coat rack.
Safeguarding
We would like to remind parents that mobile phones should not be used on the premises at drop-off and pick-up; this includes the taking of photographs. This is particularly important for those parents who attend our ‘bring your parents to pre-school’ days.
Uniform – We ask that all children please wear a red T-shirt/jumper. Tops with the pre-school logo are available at reasonable prices, please see Katie or Nikki should you require any items.
Changes - Please remember to let us know of any changes relevant to your child and their circumstances. We need to know if your contact details have changed, of any allergies or medical conditions and any other circumstances which may affect your child during their time with us.
Policies & Procedures - All pre-school operating policies and procedures are available for parents to read at anytime and are located near the children’s drawers. Key policies are also available on our website www.springfieldpreschool.co.uk
Useful Websites – www.foundationyears.org.uk has been developed specifically for parents of children aged 0 – 5 and provides lots of useful information and advice. For information relating to funding, child benefit and more please visit www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
As always thank you for your continued support.
Many thanks,
‘The Ladies’
