Merry Christmas Everyone!

All at Springfield would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy new year. See you in 2023 😀

Christmas Concert

🎄⭐️🎄⭐️🎄⭐️🎄⭐️🎄⭐️🎄⭐️🎄⭐️🎄⭐️

We just wanted to say a big well done to all of our children that took part in our Christmas Concert this afternoon. You were all fantastic and ’the Ladies’ are very proud of each and everyone of you. We hope all the Parents/Carers that came to watch enjoyed the show. 

A big thank you for all your generous donations too! Your support is greatly appreciated by all at Springfield 😀

What's Happening at Pre-school w/c 28.11.22

Hi Everyone, 

 

Our focus activity this week is all about Growth and Decay. We will have lots of different objects in our investigation tray, both fresh and old to explore what happens over time to them. Flowers, leaves, fruit and vegetables.

The children will have the opportunity to plant some herb seeds too! Learning how things grow and decay over time. 

 

Our Autumn topic continues and we still have lots of Autumn themed activities to take part in. 

 

Jon the Community Champion at Asda is visiting us on Tuesday. He will be helping the children to make playdough so that we can make some spiky hedgehogs. 

 

Our Christmas concert rehearsals will begin this week, there will be lots of singing and dancing along to our favorite Christmas songs.

Please let us know if your child CANNOT take part as soon as possible. 

 

Any questions please speak to 'The Ladies' or use Tapestry 🎅

 

What's Happening at Pre-school W/C 14.11.22

Hi Everyone,

We start our new topic this week which is 'Autumn Time'. During registration time we will be talking to the children about what happens during Autumn, what the weather is like, and what clothes we may need to wear. We will be singing some of out favourite Autumn songs too!

Our focus activity this week is Scissor Control. The children will get the opportunity to take part in activities that help us practice these skills. We will have the scissor scoops in the sand tray, and lots of activities set out on the creative table. We will be cutting up real leaves to create an autumn tree, and also be having ago at cutting along different shaped lines drawn on leafed shape paper. 

Autumn activities will also include leaf rubbings, leaf printing and we will be doing more environmental rubbings outdoors to see what other nature patterns we can find. Our movement activity this week will be sleepy bunnies with lots of Autumn animals added in so the children can experiment with moving in different ways. 

If you're out and about and see any Autumn objects such as, leaves, sticks, pine cones, conkers etc. Then please bring them into preschool over the next couple of weeks. This will help us to do all the lovely Autumn activities we have planned. 

Thank you

'The Ladies'

W/C 7.11.22 What's Happening at Pre-School.

Hi Everyone, 

 

Our topic 'People who help us' continues this week.  We will be talking all about the different Emergency Service occupations. What each one does to help us and what number we need to call if we need help.  The children will get an opportunity to take part in a variety of different creative activities that support our topic. We will be making police cars and painting a giant fire engine. We will be putting out our own fires in the messy play tray by washing orange shaving foam off buildings using water spray bottles. Also, we will be using paint brushes and water pots to wash away chalked flames drawn on the tough spot. The children will have access to dressing up outfits and props to support their role play too!

 

Our focus activity this week will be all about the children's understanding. Can they follow instructions, do they understand positional language, do they know what different objects are used for and do they understand different types of questions e.g., who? what? where? how?

 

Any questions please speak to 'The Ladies' or use Tapestry 🙂

What's Happening at Pre-School W/C 31.10.22

Hi Everyone, 

 

We look forward to welcoming all the children back after half term, and are excited for our Halloween fun week. We have lots of fun activities planned for the children, messy play, creative, a Halloween sensory den, face painting, tattoos, decorating a biscuit and much, much more. Please remember to pay your £2 to help us carry out all these wonderful activities for your children to take part in. There is lots of fun to be had! Don't forget its fancy dress week too, 'The Ladies' look forward to seeing all your amazing outfits 👻

 

Jon the community Champion from Asda is joining us on Tuesday morning and is going to help the children to carve some spooky pumpkins, he may also be bringing along some yummy treats for the children too!

 

Our topic is all about 'People that help us'. This week we will be talking all about fire safety, what we need to do in the event of a fire, and who we need to call. We will be practicing our fire drill each day with the children. We will be talking all about bonfire night and making our very own firework pictures. 

 

A busy week ahead but lots of fun too!

 

Any questions please speak to the 'The Ladies' or use Tapestry 🎃

Newsletter - 27th October 2022

Hello,

We hope everyone has had a lovely October break and we welcome everyone back for a busy half term.

Important Dates 

October 31st 2022 - Return to school

Halloween Week - seperate email already sent

November 7th 2022 - INSET DAY - SCHOOL CLOSED

December 13th 2022 - Christmas Concert  3.15 - 4pm (more details to follow)

December 22nd 2022 - Christmas Party  2pm - 3.15pm ish (more details to follow)

December 22nd 2022 - Last day of term

January 9th 2023 - Return to school

January 25th 2023 - INSET DAY SCHOOL CLOSED

February 17th 2023 - School breaks up

February 27th 2023 - Return to school

March 31st 2023 - School breaks up for Easter

April 17th 2023 - Return to school

Asda Green Tokens

We are pleased to announce that we have been awarded the top prize from the voting at Asda, which is a huge £500. We can't thank everyone enough for going to the trouble of voting. This money will be used wisely. A huge thank you to Jon at Asda for nominating our school in the first place. Many thanks for your continued support.

Bring Parents to School

Thursday 24th November 2022   9.15am - 10.30am

Friday 3rd February 2023   9.15am - 10.30am

Session Availability & Claiming Funding & Invoices - If parents wish to change or amend any of their child's sessions then please get in touch via email and we will try to accommodate your requests.

If your child turns three before 31st December, you will be eligiable to 15 hours of funding. Please let Julie know of your session requirements asap.

In order to claim the childcare funding on your behalf parents are required to complete an FE1 Funding Form. If this applies to you a paper form will be sent home and should be completed and returned as soon as possible.

Parents are reminded that www.childcarechoices.gov.uk is an invaluable site and may help parents with their childcare costs or simply confirm which funding they may be eligible to.

A reminder that invoices are issued monthly via email and should be paid in full by the 3rd of each month. I cannot stress enough how important it is, to our school that the fees are paid promptly. Money that comes in goes out as quickly and we wish not to cause any distress to any party. Failure to pay promptly may result in your child's place at pre-school being withdrawn.

Any problems or questions please speak to Julie  as soon as possible, thank you.

Early Drop Off - 8.45am - If you would like to take advantage of being able to drop your child off a little earlier at pre-school at 8.45am then the cost is £3.00 per day. If you are interested, please email us to confirm availability.

Uniform - Anyone requiring uniform please email your requirements to Julie, we do have some in stock ready. Polo shirts are £5.50, sweat shirts are £6.50 (available in ages 2/3, 3/4 & 5/6). Book bags are available at £3.50.

Letting us know.... - It is always really important to let us know what's happening in your child's life; changes to their routine, potty training updates, needing to take medicine while at pre-school, changes to the adults dropping off or collecting, upcoming events/appointments etc. The best way to get that information to us is by email. We do not always have the time or manpower (or memory power) to take in this information at 'dropping-off' time and we do not want to do you a disservice by not giving you the attention that you deserve. So please email ANY information that you wish to let us know

'Suggestions Box' - It is important to us that we take into account the views of all our parents and whilst we do not have a 'physical' suggestion box we would encourage you to drop us an email with any ideas, suggestions or simply anything you think we need to know about.

Tapestry - Our online learning journal, Tapestry, is a fabulous way for parents to be connected with their child's time at pre-school. Not only can you find out about what we get up to while at pre-school but you can also create your own 'observations' to let us know what you have been doing out of pre-school. It is through this two-way communication that we can learn more about your child and make sure that they achieve the best possible outcomes during their time with us. Please take the time to update your child's 'About Me' page.

Absences - Please remember that all planned absences (holidays, appointments) must be notified to pre-school in advance and must be in writing (email is the best way). If your child is ill, please let us know by 9.00am by text or email. We ask that parents read both our 'Absence' and 'Poorly Children' policies. Where we have not been notified about an absence, we will attempt to contact parents to establish the reason to ensure the safety and well-being of the child. Please note that if contact has not been made within three working days, children’s services will be contacted for advice and a possible referral.

Privacy Notice - Our Privacy Notice has been updated and we request that parents should read the following https://docs.google.com/document/d/1v6Z6DlLvSTofrGn5R1GyQWCDU9hTJ0YFeV6Sn2IMofM/edit?usp=sharing

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  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. (Available for £3.50)

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. 

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 on the outside. Please remember baby wipes too, if your child needs them.

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 For information regarding Ofsted and their role within Early Years please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/information-for-parents-about-ofsteds-role-in-regulating-childcare you can also contact them on 0300 123 1231 or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk  

How to Contact Pre-School

Our phone number is 07960 983423 (Monday to Friday, 8.45am to 3.00pm) or email us at springfieldpreschool@hotmail.co.uk 

You can also check our website www.springfieldpreschool.co.uk and Facebook page for up-to-date information. You can also find us on Instagram.

Suppport Springfield while you shop!

Did you know that you can support pre-school whenever you shop with Amazon. Simply sign up to Amazon smile using the link below to start generating income for pre-school at no extra cost to you...win win!

Please feel free to share far & wide! Your support as always is extremely appreciated.

smile.amazon.co.uk

Newsletter - 28th February 2022

We hope you all had a lovely week off.

Important Dates

w/c 28^th February - World Book Day week

Thursday 24^th March - Inset Afternoon (pre-school will be closed from 12.15pm - 3.15pm)

w/c 4^th April - Easter Fun Week

Friday 8th April - End of Term

Monday 25th April - Start of Term

Monday 2nd May - Bank Holiday Monday - pre-school is closed

Friday 27th May - End of Term

Monday 7th June - Start of Term

Monday 20th June - Pre-school is closed in lieu of Queens Platinum Jubilee bank holiday

Friday 22nd July - End of Term

Staff Update
After 20 years of involvement with pre-school Jayne has decided to step down from her role as manager and will be retiring at the end of the academic year in July. Over the next few weeks and months we will be making some changes as Jayne steps back and Julie takes on the mantel of Early Years Manager, so please bear with us as we adjust and move forward. To help with this transition Nikki (Albie's mum) will be joining the team.

Drop-Off & Collection

If the gates are open when you arrive to drop-off or collect your child please feel free to enter the premises and wait by the front door. Children remain under their parents/carers supervision while waiting and children should not wander down either side of the building.

Please remember to let us know if someone else will be collecting your child as we will only release your child to a known adult.

World Book Day Week

World Book Day is on Thursday 3^rd March and to celebrate we are inviting all children to wear their best 'story character' outfit. Outfits can be worn all week and all we ask in return is a donation of £1 per child.

Inset Afternoon - Thursday 24^th March - 12.15pm - 3.15pm

Please note that pre-school will be closed for an Inset afternoon on Thursday 24^th March from 12.15pm - 3.15pm. There will be no lunch club on this day.

Session Fees

Please be advised that with effect from 1^st April 2022 our fees will be increasing to £5.00 per hour (making a 3 hour session £15.00).

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.

Help Needed

We are in need of some supplies to help support this term's topic of 'new life'. We will be turning our home corner into Springfield Garden Centre and we are in need of supplies! We would love some artificial flowers, plant pots, gardening magazines, small spades, brown paper bags, gardening gloves, empty seed packets and anything else you can think of that is gardening related! Thank you in advance.

Easter Raffle

Due to the staff's generoisty we have an amazing Easter themed hamper for our upcoming raffle but we are looking for more donations to the raffle. If you can help, or know someone who would like to make a donation then please speak to Julie, or drop us an email.

Session Requirements - Summer Term

Please keep an eye out for an email concerning session requirements for our Summer term (25^th April - 22^nd July). A prompt response to this will be greatly appreciated as it assists with our forward planning - thank you.

If you're child is turning three before 1^st April they will become entitled to 15 hours of government funding (called Universal funding). Some children will be entitled to a further 15 hours of funding, or what is commonly referred to as 30 Hours Funding. If you are eligible and wish to claim the 30 hours funding you must apply online and receive your code before 31^st March 2022, please visit www.childcarechoices.gov.uk for more information on how to apply.

A reminder for those already claiming the 30 hours funding that your code must be re-confirmed every three months. You should receive notification when this is required and pre-school will also send a text reminder as your re-confirmation date approaches.

Easter Fun Week - w/c 4^th April

We have lots of fun activities planned for the last week of this term and more information will be coming in a separate email. But there will be crafts, competitions, chocolate and a raffle!

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/appointments 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 on the outside. 

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 For information regarding Ofsted and their role within Early Years please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/information-for-parents-about-ofsteds-role-in-regulating-childcare you can also contact them on 0300 123 1231 or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk  

How to Contact Pre-School

Our phone number is 07960 983423 (Monday to Friday, 8.45am to 3.00pm) or email us at springfieldpreschool@hotmail.co.uk 

You can also check our website www.springfieldpreschool.co.uk and Facebook page for up-to-date information. You can also find us on Twitter and Instagram.