We will be extending our Themes from the last two weeks of Winter/Christmas for the next two weeks as we are only open a couple of days each week.

We would like to remind you that we close at 3pm (hopefully) on Christmas eve and reopen at 8am on Thursday 2nd January.


We would all like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

We look forward to seeing you all in 2014.

Dear Parents and Carers

We would like to thank all the parents who donated to Children In Need we managed to raise £137.73.

Sadly Julie has decided to resume her prior career of working with the elderly.  This is not a reflection of the nursery however does come at a time when numerous staff have recently decided to follow different career paths other than Early Years.

Kim Elliott, a revered colleague who has worked at the setting for over 12 years in many capacities, including management cover when Leanne and I were both on maternity leave back in 2011, shall replace Julie. 

Abi will be speaking to the parents of Julie’s key children directly, however if you have any queries or would like to discuss the matter further, please do not hesitate to contact me.  I am available every Friday until January 13^th when I resume my full time position after my maternity leave, however can make myself available at other times during the week if needed.

Julie’s last day with us will be Friday December 6^th. 

Dates for your diary   

Caterpillars Christmas Party - Thursday 12th December 3-5pm
Ladybirds Christmas Party - Wednesday 11th December 3-5pm
Bumblebees Christmas Party - Tuesday 10th December 3-5pm
Butterflies Christmas Party - 19th December 3-5pm


Preschool Christmas Nativity - Friday 13th December 

All Funded only children End of term is Friday 20th December

Christmas Closure

We will be open on Christmas Eve but are kindly asking parents that if at all possible they can pick up their children by 3pm as it is the one day we can try reward the staff with a early home time for the great job they do all year round.
If you have any queries please see Leanne.

Snails & Caterpillars

This week the children will be enjoying activities surrounding their current interest of Christmas and Winter

Communication & Language: (CL) Stops and looks when hears own name.

Smiling with Christmas hats on for the camera.

Physical development: (PD)Hold pen or crayon using whole hand.

Decorate angel stencils with crayons.

Expressive arts and design: (EAD) Explores and experiments with a range of media through sensory exploration, using whole body.

Making Christmas decorations with pine comes and gloop.

Personal social and emotional (PSED) Interacts with others and explores new situations .

Exploring happy land in pretend snow, interacting with our peers.

Days off Jamie – Tuesday  Alisha – Wednesday

Ladybirds

Winter / Christmas shall be the focus of activities for the next week.  Please see below the range of activities the staffs have planned under each different area of learning:

Literacy: Repeats words or phrases from familiar stories.

Encourage the children to repeat some words from the story "wheres my teddy".

Physical development: (PD) Makes connections between their movement and the marks they make.

Decorating snowmen using materials of own choice.

Personal, Social & emotional development; (PSED) Interacts with others and explores new situations when supported by a familiar person.

Teddy bears picnic in the role play area with Key people and friends .

Understanding of the World:  (UOW) Anticipates repeated sounds, sights and actions eg. when an adult demonstrates an action toy several times.

Big musical piano, encourage the children to make sounds using their whole body .

Mathematics: (M) Attempt , some times successfully, to fit shapes into spaces on inset boards or jigsaw puzzles.

Exploring inset boards and floor puzzles.

Word of the week:  Goodbye

Book of the week:  Where's my teddy

Days off   Abi – Tuesday    Julie –   Monday

Abi Annual leave Wednesday

Bumblebees

Winter shall be the focus of activities for the next week.  Please see below the range of activities the staff have planned under each different area of learning

Personal, Social and Emotional Development: (PSED) Keeps play going by responding to what others are saying or doing.

group painting, talking about what they we are doing.

Communication & Language: (CL) Developing understanding of simple concepts (Big and Little)

Looking at Christmas trees that are different sizes.

Mathematics: (M) Recites number names in sequence.

Counting snowballs.

Physical development: (PD)Beginning to use three fingers to use writing tools.

Colour in snowmen.

Understanding of the World: (UTW) Recognises and describes special times or events for friends and family.

Talking about Christmas at circle time.

Word of the week: Snow
Book of the week: Snowman

Days off    Jenni – Thursday      Jani – Monday       

Butterflies       
                

This week’s sound and letter of the week is ‘W’ and the story of the week is ‘Jack Frost’.  

 Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED) -  Can play in group extending and elaborating play ideas.                                                              

Continue with a shop in the role play clothes shop.

Communication & Language: (CL) –  Shows understanding of propositions such as "under" "on top" "behind" by carrying out an action or selecting correct picture.

Using a big block, putting toys on top, behind ect.

Mathematics: (M) – Sometimes matches numeral and quantity correctly.

Number work sheets.

Physical development: (PD) – Dress with help, eg. put arms into open fronted coat or shirt when held up, pulls up own trousers and pulls up zipper once it is fastened from top to bottom

work in a group - show us how you can put shirt, trousers and Jacket on.

Understanding of the World: (UTW) – Can talk about some of the things they have observed.

Talk about the different animals where they live and build houses for them.

Expressive Arts and Design: (EAAD) – Exploring and using media and materials.

Making money for our shop using corks, cutting with knives and decorating.

FOCUS OF THE WEEK: Physical Development

Days off   Stani – Friday    Klara – Tuesday

Welcome back to our weekly blog!

Dear Parents and Carers

Within the description of the planned activities for the week (below in black) we are also beginning to include the area of learning within the national curriculum (Early Years Foundation Stage) and the learning outcome we are helping the children to strive towards. (In red)

Dates for your diary   

Friday 22^nd November – Stay and Play 2:30-4pm

Friday 6^th December – Health Visitor 10-11am

Tuesday 10^th December – Bumblebees Christmas party 3-5pm

Wednesday 11^th December – Ladybirds Christmas Party 3-5pm

Thursday 12^th December – Snails/Caterpillars Christmas Party 3-5pm

Thursday 19^th December – Butterflies Christmas Party 3-5pm

Christmas Closure

We will be open Christmas Eve but aim to close at 3pm, we do ask you kindly if at all possible the children could be picked up by 3pm as it is the one day of the year we try to get the staff home early.

Snails & Caterpillars

This week the children will be enjoying activities surrounding their current interest of winter.

Communication & Language: (CL) Listens to and enjoys rhythmic patterns in rhymes and stories.

Exploring books about weather.

Literacy: Interested in books and rhymes and may have favourites

Singing songs about weather

Physical development: (PD) Explores objects with mouth, often picking up an object and holding to their mouth.

Ice cube play

Understanding the world: (UTW) Looks around the room or garden with interest, usually scans environment for novel interesting object and events.

To explore the garden, and weather outside. Is it raining, sunny or windy?

Expressive arts and design: (EAD) Babies explore media and materials as part of their exploration of the world and around them.

Wellie boot painting

Days off Jamie – Friday Alisha – Thursday

Ladybirds

Winter shall be the focus of activities for the next week.  Please see below the range of activities the staffs have planned under each different area of learning:

Communication & Language: (CL) Moves whole body to sound and enjoys music or a regular beat.

Exploring musical instruments.

Physical development: (PD) Holds pen or crayon using whole hand (palmer grasp) and makes random marks with different strokes.

Group collage using crayons.

Personal, Social & emotional development; (PSED) Explores new toys and environments, but checks in regularly with familiar adults when needed.

Ice cube play.

Understanding of the World:  (UOW) Closely observes what animals, people and vehicles do.

Arctic animals in ice and jungle animals on a grass mat for the children to explore.

Mathematics: (M) Knows that things exist even when out of sight.

Burying treasure in the sand.

Expressive Arts & Design (EAD) Begins to move to music, listens to and joins in rhymes or songs.

Dancing to music.

Days off   Abi – Monday       Julie –  Wednesday

Bumblebees

Winter shall be the focus of activities for the week.  Please see below the range of activities the staffs have planned under each different area of learning.

Focus of the week: Literacy

Sound of the week: W

Personal, Social and Emotional Development: (PSED) Seeks out others to share experiences.

Passing the ball game calling out our friends names.

Communication & Language: (CL) Shows interest in play with sounds, songs and rhymes.

Singing Christmas rhymes.

Mathematics: (M) Recites some number names by sequence.

Counting snowmen 1-10

Physical development: (PD) Imitates drawing simple shapes such as circles and lines.

Children to trace around triangles and circles to make a Christmas tree.

Understanding of the World: (UTW) notices detailed features of objects in their environment.

Ice cube play

Days off    Jenni – Thursday      Jani – Monday

Butterflies                       

This week’s sound and letter of the week is ‘W.  Sometimes you will notice that the letter/story of the week may be repeated, the reason for this is to further enhance the children’s understanding of the letter and it’s sound or when the children and continuing to show interest in a particular story.

Focus of the week – Communication and Language

 Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED) – Begins to accept the needs of others, takes turns and shares resources sometimes with support from others.

Taking turns with board games.

Communication & Language (CL) – Is able to follow directions.

Give a child a few simple directions and see if they can remember and follow them correctly.

Mathematics (M) – Shows awareness of similarities of shapes in the environment.

Shape hunt in the garden, which shapes are similar.

Physical development (PD) – Mounts stairs, steps or climbing using alternative feet.

Making steps with the big blocks and walk up and down

Days off   Stani – Friday    Klara - Monday

Your weekly blog

Dear Parents and Carers

We are endeavouring to ensure the return of your weekly blog and therefore may I first welcome you to the first for 2014 and apologise for the missing blog for the last two weeks.

For the coming year we have planned some exciting events, a copy of which is displayed in the foyer and which is also attached to this blog.  Also, each week there shall be a copy of our safeguarding policy along with a copy of an additional policy for your perusal.  If you have any questions or opinions regarding these, please do not hesitate to ask.

Dates for your diary    

Please see the attached calendar dates, the list of which is not exhaustive.  Throughout the year your child’s room may hold events which will be displayed on their room door.

Policies

Please see the attached safeguarding policy and transition policy. 

Snails & Caterpillars

This week the children will be enjoying activities surrounding their current interest of colours

Communication & Language: (CL) “have a strong exploratory impulse”

Extending on water play, adding blue sequins to the water to encourage investigation.

Maths: “Notices changes in numbers of objects/images or sounds in groups of up to three”

Building with yellow sponges

Physical development: (PD) “Explores objects with mouth, often picking up an object and holding it to the mouth.”

Heuristic play, exploring different coloured materials.

Understanding the world: (UTW) “Explores objects by linking together different approaches such as shaking, hitting, looking, feeling, toothing, mouthing, pulling”

Investigation circles:  One colour for each day (eg) yellow blocks or  blue gloves.

Expressive arts and design: (EAD) notices and is interested in the effects of making movements which leave marks.

Creating rainbow pictures using different coloured paint.

Days off Jamie – Monday          Alisha – Tuesday

Ladybirds

Current Interest: Winter

Communication & Language: (CL) Understands simple sentences (e.g: throw the ball)

Colour sorting with connecting bunnies.

Literacy: Reading; Interested in books and rhymes & may have favourites

Encourage parents to bring in their favourite books.

Physical development: (PD) Moving & handling; Beginning to balance blocks to build a small tower.

Building towers using large blocks

Days off   Abi – Monday       

Bumblebees

This week the children’s current interests are; Trains, babies and mark making.   Planned activities within the bumblebees surround each child’s current interest in conjunction with supporting and extending their development.  To find out what activities are planned for your child for this week, please see your child’s keyworker who will be happy to take you through the planning.

Sadly we have to say goodbye to Nikki, who has been given the opportunity to go travelling to New Zealand.  We wish her all the best for her travels.  Nikki’s last day with us will be on Friday February 14^th.

Days off    Jenni – Thursday      Jani – Monday

Butterflies                       

This week the children’s current interests are; restaurants, Role play and winter weather.   Planned activities within the Butterflies surround each child’s current interest in conjunction with supporting and extending their development.  To find out what activities are planned for your child for this week, please see your child’s keyworker who will be happy to take you through the planning.

Days off   Stani – Friday    Klara – Tuesday

Transition policy

Aim of policy

Moving rooms or going to school can be an exciting and stimulating time; however change can cause some anxieties and upset. At Castle Nursery we want to ensure every child’s transition is as smooth as possible.

Points to consider

The parents may be as anxious as the children regarding transitions but through our strong work with parents we aim to alleviate any worries and support the whole family. See the Parents as Partners policy.

Castle Daycare and Preschool aim to do this by:

·         6-8 weeks before the child is due to move rooms the parents will be sent a letter discussing the expected date of the move. This will be discussed by the child’s current key person with the parents.

·         The parents will be given the opportunity to visit the child’s next room at a convenient time. They will be introduced to their child’s next key person who will show them around the room, discussing routines and activities. They will also answer any other questions the parents have.

·         The child will start having visits into the next room prior to them moving up.

·         For the first few visits they will be accompanied by their key person, this key person will support the child and introduce the new key person and other staff.

·         Both key people will work together to ensure the child is confident and happy in the new room.

·         The parents will be kept informed of how the visits are progressing by both key people.

·         The child’s visits will be gradually increased so they can experience meals and rest times in their new rooms.

·         If the child is not settling as well as we would like, the current key person may spend longer helping the child to settle in or the settling in period may be extended.

·         Pegs, drawer names and other details will be already displayed before the child starts visits in order to help them feel a sense of belonging.

Child Protection Policy

Aim of policy

To protect the welfare of every child in our care.

We aim to comply with the local child protection procedures approved by the Surrey Safeguarding Children board and make sure that all adults working with, and looking after children are able to put these procedures into practice.

Points to consider

This policy covers the following points:

·         Child Protection/ Safeguarding

·         Current safeguarding training

·         Suitable people

·         Whistle Blowing

·         Social Networking

·         Common Assessment Framework (CAF)

Use of mobile phone is covered in the separate Mobile phone and using images policy.

The following policies should be used alongside the Child protection policy to form a full safeguarding procedure,

·         The Mobile phone and using images policy

·         Anti bullying policy

·         Lost/missing child policy

·         Late/non collection of child

·         Arrival and departure procedure

·         Non attendance policy

·         Intoxicated persons policy

·         Multi agency working and information sharing policy

·         Confidentiality policy

If we have a concern about a child we will share these concerns with parents/carers. However, if sharing these concerns puts the child at risk of significant or further harm we will seek advice from the duty manager at Surrey County Councils Contact Centre first.

Event Dates 2014

Please note that this list is not exhaustive.  For further event dates please watch out for notices on the door of your child’s room and read the weekly blog, available on our website at: www.castledaycare.co.uk

Event	Date	Comments
Sports Day in aid of sports relief	Friday March 21st	Pls see posters in your child’s room for details nearer the time
Mothers Day Breakfast	Friday March 28th	Mummies are invited in for breakfast with their children (8am – 9am).  *
Parents Evening	Thursday April 10th	An appointment system will be in place for parents to see their child’s keyperson.
Easter egg hunt & bonnet parade	Thursday April 17th	Parents will be asked to make a bonnet for their child, at home to bring in on the day.  A prize shall be given for first place in each age group. *
Summer BBQ	Saturday July 12th	All staff to attend TOIL will be given
Parents Evening	Thursday  October 23rd	An appointment system will be in place for parents to see their child’s keyperson.
Bonfire night celebrations	Wednesday Nov 5th 6pm – 7pm	Firepits, sparklers (glowsticks for the younger children) and hot food. A chance to catch up with each other!! *
Christmas party 0-18 mths	Tbc	Party games, tea and a visit from a certain person carrying gifts!!*
Christmas party  18 – 24 mths	Tbc	Party games, tea and a visit from a certain person carrying gifts!! *
Christmas party  2-3’s	Tbc	Party games, tea and a visit from a certain person carrying gifts!! *
Christmas party 3-5’s	Tbc	Party games, tea and a visit from a certain person carrying gifts!! *

*All children are welcome, however for those children who do not attend we ask that they are accompanied by an adult and that parents let the office know that they will be attending to enable us to cater for numbers.  Many thanks.

Dear Parents and Carers Thank you to those parents who have returned their direct debit permissions to our head office. Sadly the take up has been minimal. If you require another form or have any questions, please do not hesitate to see Leanne. As the weather is changing please can all children have appropriate clothing such as coats, wellies, hats and gloves. Dates for your diary On Tuesday October 22nd (9am – 11.30am) we have our photographer here to take portrait pictures of the children. Again, these make lovely personal Christmas gifts. Once more, if you would like to bring your child in to have their photograph taken, please could you make an appointment with Leanne as this can be a very busy event for us. Thank you. Also on Tuesday 5th November we shall hold our annual Bon Fire evening. For those of you who have not previously joined us for this event we would like to invite all children and parents to nursery from 6-7pm where we will be offering jackets with chilli and hotdogs for dinner and sparklers and glow sticks in the garden for the children. We then all head up to stoke park for the real show!! Snails & Caterpillars The children will be enjoying activities centred around sensory development. Communication & Language: (CL) Has a strong exploratory impulse Ice play, exploring and using words such as Cold Slimy and Wet Physical development: (PD) Picks up small objects between thumb and finger. Play dough using cutters and rolling pins. Personal, Social & emotional development; (PSED) Enjoys finding own nose, eyes, tummy. Mirror play, finding parts of the body. Days off Jamie – Monday Alisha – Friday Ladybirds Autumn will be the focus of activities for the next week. Please see below the range of activities the staff have planned under each different area of learning: Communication & Language: (CL) Use pictures, books, real objects and signs alongside your words. What’s in the tray, placing a mixture of different natural objects such as leaves, twigs and conkers in a tray investigating using magnifying glasses and talking about the objects. Literacy: Provide cd’s of rhymes, songs, stories and spoken words Reading we are going on a bear hunt Understanding of the World: (UOW) Provide a collection of sets of items for children to explore how objects can be combined together. Exploring conkers, leaves, twigs and acorns. Mathematics: Notices simple shapes and patterns in pictures Looking at leaves and conkers and drawing them, asking the children which is heavier and which leaf is longest ect. Days off Abi – Monday Julie – Annual leave all week Bumblebees For the next 8 weeks practitioners shall concentrate on each child’ s individual learning to help them develop onto their ‘next steps’. A copy of this planning is displayed on the notice board outside the Bumblebees room and further information can be obtained from your child’s keyperson. Days off Jenni – Thursday Jani – Tuesday Butterflies This week’s sound and letter of the week is ‘B’ and the story of the week is ‘The three little pigs’, Goldilocks and Jack and the beanstalk. Sometimes you will notice that the letter/story of the week may be repeated, the reason for this is to further enhance the children’s understanding of the letter and it’s sound or when the children and continuing to show interest in a particular story. Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED) – Self confidence and self awareness Show confidence in asking adults for help. New children to build relationships with carers. Mathematics: Numbers Say the number that is one more than a given number. Different objects –how many do you have? How many would you have if I give you one more? Physical development: Moving and Handling Moves freely and the pleasure and confidence in a range of ways such as: rolling walking running jumping. Circuit training in the garden Understanding of the World: People and communities Remember and talk about significant events in their own experience. Talk about your last Halloween Days off Stani – Friday Klara – Tuesday The preschool would like to remind parents to take home all coats cardigans and jumpers and we have a large amount of unclaimed clothes in our peg area. If not claimed these will be donated to charity in half term. Thank you Klara, Lee and Stani