Week commencing 1st July

Sunflower Graduation

The Graduation is Thursday 11^th July from 3- 5pm!!!

We will be having a big party for all of your school leavers, including a presentation ceremony and party tea. All school leavers are invited, but if they are not in on this day they will need an adult to accompany them. Siblings are also welcome, but please let Caroline or Jess know if siblings are coming so we have enough tea!

 

Don’t forget we need a month’s notice for any children leaving. Also make sure you cancel your standing order and voucher payments in time!

 

We are getting quite busy looking ahead from September. If you would like to change/increase your child’s sessions please let me know asap so we can try and accommodate your needs.

 

Staff news

I am on holiday from 1^st July, I will be back on the 11^th and leave you in Charlotte and Jess’s capable hands!

 

Policies of the week

We will be displaying a different policy every week in the hallway and on our blog:  http://castlenursery-southhill.blogspot.co.uk  (you may have to cut and paste this link).

If you would like to see this or any of our policies please ask Caroline.

Our Policy this week is: Sleeping children procedure

 

This week’s activities

Each key person will be responsible for designing an activity based on their key children’s needs; however, all children who are in on that day will have the opportunity to access the activity too.

If the key person is on holiday or off, another staff member will be able to lead the activity in their place so that the children do not miss out.

For more information on the Early Years Foundation stage, the guidance we use to support our planning and practice, visit:

http://www.foundationyears.org.uk/

 

Buttercups

Monday – Nilem’s group will be naming objects they can see in books to build their vocabulary

Tuesday – Charlotte’s group are developing their understanding of the world as they find hidden objects.

Wednesday – Emma’s group is increasing fine motor skills as they play with heuristic toys

Thursday – Magda’s group are building a train track and playing with trains

Friday – Leanne’s group is playing hello and goodbye games with puppets and the emotion dolls

Charlotte is off Monday and Friday, Magda is off Monday, Nilem is off Wednesday and Emma is off Thursday

 

Bluebells

Monday – Josie’s group will be printing with paint

Tuesday – Sophie’s group are developing their understanding of how things work as they build a train track

Wednesday – Donna’s group is counting using toys

Thursday – Donna’s group are reading animal stories

Friday – Sophie’s’ group will be practising their independence skills when using the bathroom

Donna is off Friday, Josie is off Tuesday, Sophie is off Thursday and Rose is in all week

 

Sunflowers

Books of the fortnight are:

24^TH June – 1^st July – Weather

8^th – 15^th July – Who Am I? by Gervase Phinn and Tony Ross

22^nd- 29^th July Guess How much I Love You? By Sam Mc Bratney

5^th – 12^th August Super Worm by Julia Donaldson

19^th – 26^th August Going to School – Usbourne books

Monday – Chloe’s group are talking about holidays and different countries

Tuesday – Jess’s group will be learning letters as they play alphabet fishing

Wednesday – Jess’ group are practising turn taking as they complete large puzzles together.

Thursday – Alison is asking the children to look at length and size as they cut pieces of wool.

Friday – Chloe’s group is making (and hopefully) flying kites

Jess is off Tuesday, Chloe is off Wednesday and Alison does 9.30-2.30 Monday to Thursday

 

Have a great few weeks and I will see you all soon!

 

Caroline and the South Hill team

Sleeping children procedure

Sleeping children procedure

 

Aim of policy

 

To ensure all sleeping children are cared for to a high standard when sleeping.

 

Points to consider

 

All children who sleep at nursery must sleep in an appropriate bed or cot. It is inappropriate for children to sleep in rockers, bouncers, prams or any other equipment that is not for the purpose of sleeping.

 

Whilst a young child or baby is sleeping, there needs to be enough staff to ensure that sleep checks are thoroughly carried out in accordance with the supporting paperwork. 

 

Sleep checks must be at a minimum of 10 minute intervals and will include a temperature and breathing check with the minimum of disturbance to the child.

 

Clothing and covers must be checked and consideration given to the room temperature.

 

For older children, the frequency of sleep checks will be advised to you by your Nursery Manager, for example, the above intervals are not appropriate to a six year old on an overnight. However, sleep checks will still remain an integral part of your duties and need to be carried out and recorded in line with advice from your senior.

Week commencing 24th June

Dear Parents

 

Nursery news

Dennis our handy man is with us next week decorating the baby garden and hallway and finishing putting up our new blinds!

 

Invoices

If you currently receive your monthly invoices by post you can have them sent to you via email, just let me know. Extra session invoices will continue to be given out by hand.

Please can you make sure all standing orders are set for the beginning of the month. Fees are due on the 1^st of every month.

 

This week’s activities

Each key person will be responsible for designing an activity based on their key children’s needs; however, all children who are in on that day will have the opportunity to access the activity too.

If the key person is on holiday or off, another staff member will be able to lead the activity in their place so that the children do not miss out.

For more information on the Early Years Foundation stage, the guidance we use to support our planning and practice, visit:

http://www.foundationyears.org.uk/

 

Buttercups

Monday – Nilem’s group are gluing and sticking to create masterpieces.

Tuesday – Emma’s group will be looking at different areas of the garden using their senses.

Wednesday – Magda’s group is singing Nursery Rhymes!

Thursday – Charlotte’s group are exploring shape sorters and peg boards to develop an awareness of space.

Friday – Leanne’s group are making marks with paint

Charlotte is off Tuesday, Magda is off Monday, Emma is off Thursday, Nilem is off Tuesday and Leanne is in all week

 

Bluebells

Monday – Sophie’s group are dancing to music with streamers and ribbons!

Tuesday - Sophie’s group is looking at books and answering simple questions about the story.

Wednesday - Donna’s group will be developing their language skills as they play with the small world toys.

Thursday – Donna’s group are building physical skills as they use bats and balls.

Friday – Josie’s group will be singing favourite songs.

Donna is off Friday, Sophie is off Thursday, Josie is off all week and Rose is in every day

 

Sunflowers

Books of the fortnight are:

24^TH June – 1^st July – Weather

8^th – 15^th July – Who Am I? by Gervase Phinn and Tony Ross

22^nd- 29^th July Guess How much I Love You? By Sam Mc Bratney

5^th – 12^th August Super Worm by Julia Donaldson

19^th – 26^th August Going to School – Usbourne books

Monday – Chloe’s group will be talking about their feelings using the emotion dolls

Tuesday – Jess’s group are creating sand castles using wet sand and tools

Wednesday – Alison will be developing the children’s language as they follow instructions they give each other to find hidden toys.

Thursday – Jess’s group will be getting creative as they make their own pictures with different materials

Friday – Chloe’s group will be building their animal knowledge as they look at where animals live.

Jess is off Monday, Chloe is off Wednesday and Alison does 9.30-2.30 Monday to Thursday

 

Have a great weekend!

 

Caroline and the South Hill team

Emergency closure policy

Emergency Closure policy

 

Aim of policy

 

To give clear guidance if a flu pandemic or similar occurs at the nursery.

Points to consider

In the event of flu pandemic (or similar) the manager will keep the director updated of children’s health and staffing levels.

 

Castle Daycare and Preschool aims to achieve this by:

 

In case of limited staffing levels the three Castle Daycare & Preschool Nurseries will join together at the most suitable location and open on a limited basis.

 

If the shortage of staff limits the number of places available the following priorities will take place:

1.      Children of Emergency Services and  Medical staff

2.      Children of teachers or school workers/ Children of bank workers/ Children of staff at utilities companies and Children of public transport workers

3.      All other working parents

4.      Children of non working parents

In the event of staff shortages, parents with current CRB’s may be asked to support the nursery team in order to maintain smooth operations.

In case of closure or limited opening parents will be contacted by phone by the most senior person available. Nursery software systems can be accessed from private computers if needed.

The answer phone message will be changed and then regularly updated so parents can be kept informed.

Notices will be put out in nursery blogs, local papers, Local radio (e.g.: the Eagle) and on our website to inform parents.

In exceptional circumstances children of emergency services workers or other essential workers will be given childcare even if they do not usually attend the settings.

 

Ofsted will be kept informed at all times of changes in circumstances.

                                                0300 123 1231

 

Surrey Early Years will be kept informed at all times of changes in circumstances.

                                                01372 833833

 

Financial decisions will be made by the Director or the Finance Director.

week commencing 17th June

Dear Parents

 

Father’s day

Thank you to all the Daddies that have joined us this week, it has been great to have you!

We still have the Father’s day tea party on Friday so if you want to come along it starts at 4pm.

 

Illness

We have a nasty tummy bug going around that seems to be effecting staff more than children.  L

 

Staff and Nursery news

Some of the staff are completing the second part of their first aid training this weekend.

Dennis our handy man is around at the moment, fitting new blinds, tidying up the hallway and if the weather is nice next week he will be painting the back garden.

 

Policies of the week

We will be displaying a different policy every week in the hallway and on our blog:  http://castlenursery-southhill.blogspot.co.uk  (you may have to cut and paste this link).

If you would like to see this or any of our policies please ask Caroline.

Our Policy this week is: Accidents and incidents

 

This week’s activities

Each key person will be responsible for designing an activity based on their key children’s needs; however, all children who are in on that day will have the opportunity to access the activity too.

If the key person is on holiday or off, another staff member will be able to lead the activity in their place so that the children do not miss out.

For more information on the Early Years Foundation stage, the guidance we use to support our planning and practice, visit:

http://www.foundationyears.org.uk/

 

Buttercups

Monday – Charlotte’s group are using stamps and rollers to create pictures.

Tuesday – Nilem’s group will be practising counting and turn taking as they play skittles.

Wednesday – Emma’s group will be singing and dancing as they sing action songs.

Thursday – Magda’s group are exploring a mixture of cornflour, bubble bath and pasta!

Friday – Leanne’s group are rolling balls to each other.

Charlotte is off all week, Emma is off Thursday, Nilem is off Wednesday, Magda is off Monday and Leanne is in all week

 

Bluebells

Monday – Donna’s group are looking at themselves in the mirror, a popular activity for this age group!

Tuesday – Sophie’s group will be sorting objects by type

Wednesday – Donna’s group is playing imaginatively with the small world toys

Thursday – Josie’s group will be reading stories to increase their vocabulary

Friday – Josie’s group will be reading number books and encouraging the children to count the pictures.

Donna is off Friday, Sophie is off Thursday, Josie is off Tuesday and Rose is in all week.

 

Sunflowers

The topic for May and June is “Europe”. If you have anything at home that links to this topic please can we have it for our interest table? Please make sure any items brought in are labelled. Books of the fortnight are:

10^th – 17^th June – Home by Kate Petty

Monday – Alison is supporting the children’s emotional development using puppets.

Tuesday- Chloe’s group will be weighing objects using the scales

Wednesday – Jess’s group are making a dinosaur world out of plants, logs and jelly!

Thursday – Jess’s group is practising taking turns in a conversation as they play with the blocks.

Friday- Chloe’s group will be acting out the Three Little Pigs story.

Jess is off Monday, Chloe is off Tuesday and Alison does 9.30-2.30 Monday to Thursday  

 

Have a great weekend

Caroline and the South Hill Team

Procedure for accidents and incidents

 

Aim of policy

 

Castle Daycare & Preschool have in place a rigorous procedure to deal with accidents and incidents.

 

Points to consider

 

At all times staff dealing with accidents must wear the appropriate protective clothing – disposable gloves and aprons wherever it is required or reasonably practical.

 

Castle Daycare and Preschool aim to achieve this by:

 

Minor accidents/incidents

 

·         Staff member present assesses the injury.

·         The injury is treated by qualified first aider.

·         The child is resettled and observed.

·         The accident/incident is recorded on the accident form.

·         The Manager should be informed at the earliest opportunity.

·         At the end of the child’s session the parent/carer is advised of the accident/incident and what action was taken.  The parent must sign the form to verify they have been advised and that they are happy.

·         If the parent/carer is not happy to sign the form the Manager must be alerted immediately.

 

Major accidents/incidents

 

·         Never move the child - unless their life is in imminent danger by not moving them.

·         Call an ambulance.

·         Appropriate treatment should be administered by a trained first aider

·         The parent/carer must be contacted.

·         If the ambulance crew take the child to hospital a senior member of staff will accompany the child to hospital and the parent/carers should be kept informed.

·         The accident form or serious incident form must be completed with the parent/carers signature.

 

In the case of a major accident the details must be reported to the Health and Safety representative, Ofsted and RIDDOR (if applicable)

 

ALL accidents and incidents must be monitored.  A risk assessment may need to be completed and/or reviewed in the event of an accident or incident.

 

Attention should be given to the following:

 

·         Was normal practice being followed?

·         Were there any unusual circumstances/conditions?

·         Were safety rules/advice being followed?

·         Has a similar incident occurred previously?

·         What conclusions can be made from this?

·         How can the incident be prevented from re-occurring

 

Accident forms should be checked every month by the manager to assess if any patterns are occurring, or if any action is needed to be taken to ensure accidents do not occur again. The manager will use this information to take appropriate steps to manage risks.

Week commencing 10th June

Dear Parents

 

Father’s week – Next week!!!

From 10^th – 14^th we are asking all Daddies to come into the Nursery, we still have spaces available so it’s not too late!

The Father’s day tea party is 4pm -5pm on Friday 14^th  and we hope to see all the Daddies there!

 

Sunshine!

Please can you make sure your child has sun cream and a sunhat that we can keep at Nursery. We have no idea how long the sun will last but we plan to make the most of it!

 

Staff News

A big congratulations to Josie for becoming a fully qualified Early Years Practitioner!

 

Policies of the week

We will be displaying a different policy every week in the hallway and on our blog:  http://castlenursery-southhill.blogspot.co.uk  (you may have to cut and paste this link).

If you would like to see this or any of our policies please ask Caroline.

Our Policy this week is: Medication

 

This week’s activities

Each key person will be responsible for designing an activity based on their key children’s needs; however, all children who are in on that day will have the opportunity to access the activity too.

If the key person is on holiday or off, another staff member will be able to lead the activity in their place so that the children do not miss out.

For more information on the Early Years Foundation stage, the guidance we use to support our planning and practice, visit:

http://www.foundationyears.org.uk/

 

Buttercups

Monday – Emma’s group are making marks with brushes and water

Tuesday – Nilem’s group will be reading animal stories and naming the animals.

Wednesday – Magda’s group is dressing the dolls

Thursday – Charlotte’s group will be developing their fine motor skills as they use their pincer grip

Friday – Leanne’s group are building (and knocking down) towers

Charlotte is off Friday, Emma is off Thursday, Nilem is off Thursday, Magda is off Tuesday and Leanne is in all week

 

Bluebells

Monday – Josie’s group are finding objects set in jelly!

Tuesday – Sophie’s group will be looking at shapes and size – small/large

Wednesday – Donna’s group is developing gross physical skills as they practice throwing.

Thursday – Donna’s group are playing with the small world toys (cars/trains/doll house)

Friday – Sophie’s group will be drawing their own pictures.

Donna is off Monday and Friday, Sophie is off Thursday, Josie is off Tuesday and Rose is in all week

 

Sunflowers

The topic for May and June is “Europe”. If you have anything at home that links to this topic please can we have it for our interest table? Please make sure any items brought in are labelled. Books of the fortnight are:

10^th – 17^th June – Home by Kate Petty

Monday – Chloe’s group are saying rhyming words

Tuesday – Alison is supporting the children’s imaginative play as they act out stories together.

Wednesday – Jess’s group are floating and sinking objects as they explore weight and water.

Thursday – Chloe’s group are exploring and experimenting with ice

Friday – Jess’s group are using shapes to make pictures.                                          

Jess is off Monday, Chloe is off Wednesday and Alison does 9.30-2.30 Monday to Thursday

Caroline and the South Hill Team

Medication Policy

Procedure for the administration of medicine

 

 

Aim of policy

 

At Castle Daycare & Preschool, we put the safety, comfort and welfare of the children first, therefore we would expect a child suffering from a short term illness to be cared for at home until they are fully recovered.  However, we accept there are occasions when Nursery staff will be required to administer medication. This policy gives guidance to how we do this.

 

Points to consider

 

The definition of the term ‘medication’ in this context is taken to mean any medicinal preparations specifically prescribed for the treatment of non-contagious conditions.

 

Only the Manager or a senior worker (deputy or senior practitioner) is authorised to administer medicines.  Details of all medicines administered must be recorded on the medication authorisation form. 

 

Castle Daycare and Preschool aim to achieve this by:

 

·         A manager or senior staff member will administer only prescribed medication or over the counter medication on written instruction from a parent. 

 

·         Children should not attend the nursery if suffering from a communicable disease or one that requires special treatment during the day, change of dressings etc unless staff have received the necessary training. 

 

·         Long term illnesses or conditions requiring specialist training and support (such as diabetes) will be assessed as described in our special needs policy and individual health care plan will be completed and agreed with the parent/carer.

 

·         Medication will be stored away from the children in a secure place. At this nursery medication is stored: in the kitchen

 

 

 

 

 

·         Medication must be in correct containers, clearly labelled to indicate:

·         Child’s name

·         Date of prescription

·         Use by date

·         Dosage

·         Any other relevant information

 

·         The parent/guardian must enter medication details on the medicine authorisation form, including:

·         Date of instruction

·         Name of child

·         Type of medication and dosage

·         Method of administering dose

·         Time of dose and duration of treatment

 

This instruction should be signed by the parent and counter-signed by the Manager or senior worker.

 

Two members of staff must be present to administer medication – one of whom shall be the Manager or senior worker.

 

The medication label, the authorisation form and the child’s identity must be carefully checked prior to administering the medication.

 

Do not administer further medication if the child spits out, vomits or spills part of the dose.  This should be recorded on the administration form (comments).

 

Replace the medication in the designated area for medication.

 

Record times of doses on the child’s daily record sheet and medicine authorisation form and alter accordingly if the previous dose is administered earlier or later than stated – (record the reason for this)

 

For long term medication, such as inhalers and epi-pens, individual protocols should be made, documenting in more detail information about when and how the medication should be administered.

 

The parent must sign the administration record at the end of the child’s day/ session.