Newsletter - 4th November 2020

 Important Dates for your Diary

Wednesday 11th November - Inset Day (Pre-school is closed)

w/c 23rd November - Non-Uniform Week - ‘Treat Cups’

Wednesday 16th December - Christmas Party

Friday 18th December - Last day of term

Monday 4th January - Inset Day

Tuesday 5th January - Pre-school re-opens

Friday 12th February - Last Day of Term

Session Fees

All invoices for November have been issued and should have been paid by 3rd November, if you have yet to pay please ensure you do so immediately.  Late payment of fees will automatically incur a penalty fee of £15 and continuous failure to pay fees could result in the removal of your child’s place from pre-school.  Please speak to Jayne or Julie regarding any payment issues so that this can be avoided – many thanks.

Session Requirements

We will be emailing all parents shortly regarding session requirements for after Christmas; it is imperative that parents respond promptly so that we can accommodate requests for changes and increases to sessions. Some children will become eligible for their government funded hours (their ‘free’ place) for the first time and the appropriate funding forms will be issued prior to the end of this term. All parents are advised to visit www.childcarechoices.gov.uk to find out what they may be entitled to and how to access it. Any questions please speak to Jayne or Julie.

Halloween Week & Smarties

A big thank you to everyone who supported our Halloween Fun Week and our Smarties fundraiser. You managed to raise a wonderful £270 - fantastic!

Help

Do you have any left-over rolls of wallpaper and don't know what to do with them? Then please bring them into pre-school as they are a great creative resource.

Primary School Applications

If your child was born between 1st September 2016 and 31st August 2017 it is now time to start applying for their infant or primary school place as they will be starting their Reception Year in September 2021!

 

Both Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire County Councils operate an online application process and applications can be made from 9th November 2020 up until midnight of 15th January 2021.

If you live in Derbyshire – 

https://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/education/schools/school-places/apply-for-a-school-place.aspx

If you live in Nottinghamshire –

http://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/education/school-admissions/apply-for-a-school-place

Christmas Party

We will be holding a Christmas Party on Wednesday 16th December between 3.15pm and 4.30pm - please keep an eye out for a separate email about this!

Christmas Fundraising

Ordinarily at this time of year we would be busy planning one of our biggest fundraisers of the year, our Christmas Fair. This has always been such a fun event with lots of great stalls, crafts, treats and of course Santa but unfortunately, we cannot hold it this year 🙁 

But that is not going to stop us having some fun and raising as much money as we can. One thing we would like to do though is ask everyone to take part in our 'non-uniform' week starting 23rd November and for dressing in their favourite outfits all we ask in return is that you send in 'Treat Cup'. We will send home a plastic tumbler and ask that you return it full of treats; you can put in sweets, hair bobbles, pens, crayons, rulers, slides, stickers, bouncy balls – anything that fits in as long as it is NEW (no second-hand goods please). Then cover it with cling film and secure with an elastic band or sellotape before returning to pre-school the week of the 23rd November. We will then have a treat cup tombola/stall set-up during December.

We will be in touch again very soon with more details about other fun activities as well as a Christmas raffle. 🎅 If you know of anyone willing to donate a prize for our raffle please get in touch.

Contacting Pre-School

You are able to contact pre-school between 8.45am and 3.15pm, Monday to Friday on 07960 983423. If you need to contact us outside of these hours then please use our email springfieldpreschool@hotmail.co.uk and we will respond as appropriate. Or alternatively please use Tapestry to communicate with your child’s key-person and keep us up to date with any pertinent news or developments; this can be especially useful if parents have any developmental concerns, are starting potty training or have had a new medical condition diagnosed. By knowing this sort of information we can work with parents to ensure the best possible experience and outcomes for your child.

Please note that all staff work a variety of hours and may not always be available immediately. Staff should not be contacted via social media platforms as parents and staff are not to be linked via social media, unless there is a family or prior connection. Please note that Jayne does not work Monday or Thursday.

General Reminders......

Name Labels - Please ensure that all of your child’s possessions are clearly labelled with their full name.  All bags, including lunch bags, should be labelled on the outside as we have a number of children that have the same style bag and the lack of a name can cause confusion for both child and staff alike!  If items are found unlabelled we will write names on with a black marker pen.

Uniform – All children must wear a red top or jumper whilst at pre-school.  Tops with the pre-school logo are available at reasonable prices, please see Jayne or Julie should you require any items.

Red Book Bags - All children must have a red book bag that should be brought to pre-school each time they attend.

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. 

Absence – Absence due to holiday should be notified in writing/email in advance. Absence due to illness should be notified by text by 9.15am (morning sessions) or 12.15pm (afternoon sessions).  

All absences must be confirmed in writing.

Children’s Bags - Your child must bring a small bag/back-pack with at least two sets 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. 

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 – pre-school operating policies & procedures are 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