Thursday 18 December 2014

Week commencing 22nd December


Dear Parents

 

Nursery News

After reflecting on the ages and stages of the children in the rooms we have decided to change the age groups of the Buttercups (babies) and the Bluebells.

From 2015 the new age’s ranges will be:

Buttercups:  3months – 20 months

Bluebells: 20 months – 3 years. Children under 2 years will still be in a 1:3 ratio

Whilst this is something we are introducing to all new families we wanted to give all of our original parents the choice of whether they would like to move their child up earlier than planned. Over the next few weeks the Buttercups team will be talking to you about the changes and asking if you would like your child to move up at 20 months or at 24 months. If you have any questions please speak to myself or the Buttercup team

 

ILD’S

Don’t forget to add your holiday photos, videos and observations to your child’s ILD’s as we will be sharing these with the children when they return in January!

 

Christmas closure

The Nursery will be closed from 4pm on Christmas Eve and open as normal on Monday 5th January 2015.

 

Redecoration

Great news! Whilst we are closed over Christmas the Sunflower room and hallways will be redecorated.

We are very excited that this is happening and can’t wait to see it on Monday 5th.

 

Useful websites:

Here are the links for the Surrey Family Information Service, Free Early Education (the 15 hours funding) and Free Early Education for Two year olds.

 


 

Menus

This week Monday’s pudding will be cake, Tuesday lunch will be Tomato pasta with Fresh Salad, cheese and biscuits. On Christmas Eve the lunch will be Macaroni cheese with garlic bread and yogurts. There will be no tea as we close at 4pm.

If you would like to see a copy of our allergens menu at any time please ask!

 

Buttercups

Monday – Magda’s group are building relationships as they roll balls to their friends.

Tuesday – Leanne’s group is reading their favourite stories with each other.

Wednesday – Megan is helping the children learn about shapes as they use the shape puzzles

 

Bluebells

Monday – Donna’s group is talking about how they feel and what makes them feel a certain way.

Tuesday – Chloe’s group are making snowy play dough to explore!

Wednesday – Rose’s group will be looking at shapes and colours at circle time.

 

Sunflowers

Books of the fortnight

15th- 22nd December –The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore

 

The Sunflowers have one detailed weekly focused activity to ensure all the children have the opportunity to take part in it.

This will work alongside their weekly planned activity list which you can see in the room and on the ILD’S.

 

This week’s activity is: Creating Christmas Collage pictures

 

The learning intentions are:

To be able to talk about different materials

To be able to share ideas

To be able to use different materials to represent other things.

 

The Letter of the week is: G

 

Our activities are:

Looking at words beginning with G

Drawing pictures of our Grandparents

Pretending to be Giants

Talking about how we might feel GOOD, GREAT or Grumpy

No Smoking policy


No Smoking policy

 

Aim of policy

 

To highlight the nursery stance on Smoking.

 

Points to consider

 

Castle Daycare & Preschool accept that smoking and passive inhalation of smoke is harmful to health.  The Company also adopts the position that this is particularly so for children in the early stages of their physical development.  Accordingly we have a strict no smoking policy for all areas of the Nursery and external play areas including staff room and adult space. 

 

Procedures relating to the no smoking policy

 

By Law No one shall smoke in any part of the Nursery or the external play areas

 

·               If a member of staff is found smoking in any part of the Nursery or external play areas they will be subject to disciplinary action

 

·               If a parent or visitor to the Nursery is found smoking in any part of the Nursery or external play areas their attention will be drawn to the no smoking policy and they will be asked to extinguish the cigarette

 

Staff will be permitted to smoke:

 

·               During recognised breaks.

 

·               In a location away from the Nursery and external play areas and car park.

 

·               Provided that debris arising from smoking is disposed of appropriately.

 

·               Provided that they wear cover over their uniform, wash their hands (and freshen their breath if necessary), before returning to work with the children.

Friday 12 December 2014

Access to visitors policy


Access to visitors 

Aim of policy

To give clear guidelines with regard to any visitor to the nursery.

Points to consider

Answering the door.

The person who answers the door must always identify the caller and seek identification if not recognised before granting access.

Only staff members who have passed their probationary period will be allowed to answer the door.

We will not allow access to anyone who is not known, a member of the management team will be informed if there is any doubt and we will carry out telephone checks if they are calling on behalf of a company or organisation.

We ask that parents also take care when entering and leaving the nursery and we therefore request that parents don’t hold the door open for others, even if they think they are another parent.  If you are concerned that someone has entered the nursery in this way, please inform the nursery manager immediately.

Authorised collection
 
We are very careful when allowing people into the nursery as the children’s safety is of paramount importance to us. 

We ask parents to inform us of everyone who is allowed to collect their child. We use a password system to ensure the children’s security.

They should be people who are familiar to your child and be over 18 years of age. We may store their details and photographs on our computer system.

We will not normally allow any unauthorised person to take your child.

 
There may however be very exceptional circumstances (e.g. serious delay due to bad weather, transport difficulties etc) when we will allow your child to leave with someone who is not on the list - ONLY if you have contacted us by telephone prior to collection and provided us with a name, description and password. 

 
They will be asked print their name and sign the child out on the register. If we are in any doubt that the person is different from the one you have authorised, we will refuse to let them take your child until we have spoken to you again.

 
We ask that you share these procedures with all those on your list, or anyone you ask to collect in an emergency, so that they understand we will question them, check their I.D. and retain their details.

Other visitors
Whenever possible, we will try to arrange visits by appointment.  Any visitors - such as sales people, college assessors, prospective parents, inspectors, gardener, handyman etc, must complete the visitor's book on arrival and will not be left unsupervised in the children’s areas.

Week commencing 15th December


Dear Parents

 

Thank you to everyone who came along to the Christmas parties and the nativity plays.

These were a great success! Look out for the photos on the Ild’s.

 

Christmas closure

The Nursery will be closed from 4pm on Christmas Eve and open as normal on Monday 5th January 2015.

Funded children sessions end from today (Friday 12th) and term time only sessions end on Thursday 18th.

 

Redecoration

Great news! Whilst we are closed over Christmas the Sunflower room and hallways will be redecorated.

We are very excited that this is happening and can’t wait to see it on Monday 5th.

 

Useful websites:

Here are the links for the Surrey Family Information Service, Free Early Education (the 15 hours funding) and Free Early Education for Two year olds.

 


 

Menus

Wednesday is our Christmas Lunch!

See attached document for the weekly menu. If you would like to see a copy of our allergens menu at any time please ask!

 

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:  Access to visitors

 

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, please visit:


 

This week’s planned activities are also are now on the ILD’S

 

Buttercups

Monday -  Leanne’s group are in the garden practising their walking and running skills

Tuesday – Nilem’s group are singing the song “Old McDonald” using the song sack

Wednesday – Magda’s group will be exploring the heuristic toys

Thursday – Charlotte’s group is filling and emptying containers with wooden bricks to develop a sense of space.

Friday – Megan is supporting the children’s self-awareness as they look in the mirrors and name features on their faces.

Charlotte is off Monday, Leanne is off Friday, Magda is off Tuesday, Megan is off Tuesday and Nilem is off Friday.

 

Bluebells

Monday – Rose’s group is developing their speaking skills as they talk about their weekends at circle time.

Tuesday – Donna’s group will be exploring the family cubes as they learn about people and communities.

Wednesday – Donna’s group is using the mini motors to count up to 5

Thursday – Rose’s group will be getting creative as they make Christmas Crafts

Friday – Chloe’s group are building independence and self-confidence as they self-select activities.

Donna is off Thursday and Friday, Chloe is off Wednesday and Rose is in all week

 

Sunflowers

Books of the fortnight

15th- 22nd December –The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore

 

The Sunflowers have one detailed weekly focused activity to ensure all the children have the opportunity to take part in it.

This will work alongside their weekly planned activity list which you can see in the room and on the ILD’S.

 

This week’s activity is: Cooking Christmas Puddings

 

The learning intentions for this activity are:

To develop listening skills as they read instructions

Understand the process of following instructions in the correct order

Developing vocabulary as they discuss what is happening

Developing turn taking and sharing skills

 

The Letter of the week is: F

 

The activities this week are:

 

Using the magnetic letter F

Using fire engine and frog colouring sheets on the mark making table

Bowling with the alphabet bottles

Using the F stencils on the easel

Finger painting

 

Jess is off Friday, Sophie is off Monday and Becci is in all week.

Thursday 4 December 2014

Week Commencing 8th December


Dear Parents

 

Staff news

Sadly Magda has decided to become a Nanny so will be leaving us on Christmas Eve.

We work very hard to keep our staff with staff health benefits schemes, fun events and providing training. However sometimes people feel it is their time to move on.

We are currently recruiting for a new person and I will keep you updated on how this is going.

As always if any of you want to talk to me about staffing or anything else please let me know.

 

Party

It’s our Christmas party this Friday 5th from 3.30-5pm. If your child is not in on this day they are very welcome to come along with an adult.

Siblings are also welcome, but please can you bring in a gift for them as Father Christmas has only packed presents for the nursery children.

 

Nativity

It’s the nativity play next Monday 8th at 4pm, Tuesday 9th at 9.30 and 4pm.

In the afternoons we will be doing tea early so you may need to give your child a light supper when they get home.

It is going to be very busy as usual so you will only be allowed to come to the performance you have signed up for. Also you may wish to leave coat/ bags at home as it will be cosy in there!

 

Illness

We have a few bugs going around. We are still having children with high temperatures. We have also had two staff and two children with a sickness bug.

 

Useful websites:

Here are the links for the Surrey Family Information Service, Free Early Education (the 15 hours funding) and Free Early Education for Two year olds.

 


 

Menus

Monday and Tuesday teas have been changed to rolls and sandwiches and tea will be served earlier on these days.
If you would like to see a copy of our allergens menu at any time please ask!

 

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, please visit:


 

This week’s planned activities are also are now on the ILD’S

 

Buttercups

Monday – Leanne’s group are telling stories using the small world people

Tuesday – Megan is supporting the children’s number skills as they sing number rhymes and songs.

Wednesday – Nilem’s group is building self-awareness as they sing ‘Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes’.

Thursday – Magda’s group will be increasing gross motor and balancing skills as they jump in hoops.

Friday – Charlotte’s group are investigating the electronic toys

Charlotte is off Wednesday, Leanne is off Thursday, Magda is off Tuesday, Nilem is off Friday and Megan is in all week.

 

Bluebells

Monday – Chloe’s group will be using the shape sorter puzzles to build knowledge about shapes

Tuesday – Donna’s group is playing alongside each other with cars in the sand.

Wednesday – Donna’s group are choosing their own rhymes and songs to sing.

Thursday – Rose’s group is talking about their favourite toys

Friday – Chloe’s group are making patterns on the white boards.

Donna is off Friday, Chloe is off Thursday and Rose and Maria are in all week.

 

Sunflowers

Books of the fortnight

1st – 8th December – A Bad Start for Father Christmas by Sarah Hayes

15th- 22nd December –The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore

 

The Sunflowers have one detailed weekly focused activity to ensure all the children have the opportunity to take part in it.

This will work alongside their weekly planned activity list which you can see in the room and on the ILD’S.

 

This week’s activity is: Developing fine motor skills through craft activities

 

The learning intentions are:

Developing fine motor skills

Building pincer grips and pencil control

Mastering using scissors

 

The letter of the week is: E

 

The activities are:

Using the E stencils

Stomping like Elephants and flapping like Eagles

Posting letters in Envelopes

Finding objects that begin with E

 

Jess is off Friday, Sophie is off Thursday and Becci is on holiday Wednesday to Friday.

Supervision policy


Supervision policy

 

Aim of policy

 

The purpose of this policy is to outline the responsibilities of the team in regards to supervision of children and to keep children and team safe.

 

Points to consider

 

At all times:

 

·                     There will always be at least two staff members on duty whilst children are in attendance.

 

·                     When children are outside there will always be at least one staff member present who will remain outside at all times. If they need to go inside for any reason, they will need to request to swap with a team member to ensure there are no breaks in supervision.

 

·                     In areas where children are inside there will always be at least one staff member present.

 

·                     Students who are not employed by Castle are not permitted to be left alone at any time with a child or children.

 

·                     Students not employed by Castle cannot be included in any adult/child ratios.

 

·                     Castle will adhere to the staff child ratio guidelines as set by Ofsted, detailed below:

 

NATIONAL STANDARDS ADULT/CHILD RATIOS

 

Children under 2
1:3
Children aged 2 Years
1:4
Children aged 3-5 Years
1.8
Children aged 4 -5
1:13 with EYP or QTS

EYP/EYT = Early Years Professional status/ Early Years Teacher Status

QTS = Qualified Teacher Status

All adults working with children including; students, cover team members and volunteers must all be police checked with the Disclosure and Baring Service.

No one without a clear enhanced DBS obtained may be left alone with children for any period of time.

Thursday 27 November 2014

Week commencing 1st December


Dear Parents

 

Christmas Events

The Christmas party is next Friday (5th) from 3.30-5pm

All the children are welcome, if it’s not their normal day in with us they will need to be accompanied by an adult. If you child is in on this day you are also very welcome to come in!

We will be playing party games, having a party tea and meeting Father Christmas.

 

The nativity plays are the following week so make sure you have signed up. It will be very busy so please can you leave coats etc. in the cars where possible.

You will be able to take photographs but we ask you not to share photos of the other children. If you would rather your child not have their photo taken, it will mean they will not be able to take part in the play.

 

The Nursery will be closing at 4pm on Christmas Eve and re-opening as normal on Monday 5th January

 

Staff news

Sadly Sophie has decided to move back home to be closer to her family. Her last day with us will be Christmas Eve. I am sure you will join us in wishing her all the best and she has promised to pop in when she comes back to Guildford.

Hopefully most of you have met Shula and Maria our new staff members, the staff will continue to introduce them to you over the next few weeks.

Both ladies have level 3 qualifications and are settling in very well.

 

Winter clothing

As it has now got colder and wetter please can you make sure your child has the right clothing to go outside. We do go outside everyday so please can you make sure your child has a winter coat, hat and gloves.

We do have some spare wellies but if you are able to bring some in that would be great!

 

Useful websites:

Here are the links for the Surrey Family Information Service, Free Early Education (the 15 hours funding) and Free Early Education for Two year olds.

 


 

Menus

Next Friday is going to be a party tea.

 


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, please visit:


 

This week’s planned activities are also are now on the ILD’S

 

Buttercups

Monday –  Nilem’s group is exploring the toddle boxes and they build their large physical skills

Tuesday – Leanne’s group are learning about shapes as they explore shape puzzles

Wednesday – Magda’s group is exploring the toy trains and copying the sounds they make.

Thursday – Charlotte’s group will be looking at different faces and talking about being happy or sad

Friday – Megan’s group is getting creative as they finger paint

Charlotte is off Monday and Friday, Leanne is off Thursday, Magda is off Tuesday, Nilem is off Friday and Megan is in all week.

 

Bluebells

Monday – Donna’s group are learning about being healthy as they wash their hands before meals

Tuesday – Donna’s group is getting imaginative as they use the dressing up clothes

Wednesday – Rose’s group has been inspired by the Great British Bake Off and will be cooking some yummy treats.

Thursday – Rose’s group are using the mini motors to practice counting

Friday – Chloe’s group is exploring light and dark as they use torches in the dark cot room

Donna is off Friday, Chloe is off Wednesday and Rose and Maria are in all week

 

Sunflowers

Books of the fortnight

1st – 8th December – A Bad Start for Father Christmas by Sarah Hayes

15th- 22nd December –The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore

 

The Sunflowers have one detailed weekly focused activity to ensure all the children have the opportunity to take part in it.

This will work alongside their weekly planned activity list which you can see in the room and on the ILD’S.

This week’s activity is: Expressing their creativity by making Seasonal Crafts

The learning intentions are:

To be able to self-select their own designs

To develop creative skills

To be able to discuss the different types of materials they have chosen

To be able to use tools such as paint brushes with skill

 

The letter of the week is:  D

This week’s activities are:

·         Looking at words beginning with D

·         Practising writing the letter D

·         Drawing pictures of dinosaurs

·         Playing games with Dice

·         Singing Five Little Ducks

 

Jess is off Friday, Sophie is off Monday and Becci is in all week
 
Caroline and the South Hill team x