Parent News

Dear Parents and Carers

 

Wednesday 5^th Nov we are having a bonfire night at the nursery between 6pm and 7pm, there will be a little bonfire and sparklers for the children and parents to enjoy. We will be serving Hotdogs and Jacket Potato with Chilli Con Carne.  Please may you inform a member of staff within your child’s room if you would like to attend.

 

Please can parents also see their child’s key worker to book in a review around your child’s development. These meetings will be placed during the working day, preferably before you pick your child up in the evening or afternoon.  

Policies

Please find attached our emergency closure – illness procedure.

Snails

The focus in the snails this week is exploring messy play, garden and shapes. The children will have the opportunity to explore cornflour play with cars, playing and exploring with musical instruments in the garden, building towers using the stacking cups, exploring the shape sorters, recognising themselves during mirror play and reading the story of the week ‘animal abc’. Throughout this week the children will also take part in autumn activities.

Planned activities within the Snails 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.

Amy – Day off Monday.             

 

Caterpillars

This week the Caterpillars team will focus on using a range of activities and lots of exploration to create a bonfire display. The children will have the opportunity to explore different activities such as, gluing and sticking, leaf print painting, cornflour play, using chalk on black paper, pop up toys, and shape sorters. The caterpillars will also be focusing on carrying out Halloween activities and to help settle the new children. The book of the week this week is ‘five little ducks’ and other musical action books.

Planned activities within the Caterpillars 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       

Jamie – Annual leave all week.

Alisha – Day off Monday.

 

Ladybirds

The current interest in the Ladybirds is sounds and music. Activities this week include music and movement, moving their bodies to sounds they enjoy, gluing and sticking autumn leaves, play dough with different cutters, painting using different types of vehicles, cornflour play with spoons and water play with jugs and containers, encouraging the children to tip and pour between the different sized items. The story of the week is

Planned activities within the ladybirds 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   

Abi – Day off Thursday

 

Bumblebees

This week the children will be exploring Halloween, autumn, Diwali and cooking. This week the children will be making bread. The children will be encouraged to develop their mathematical skills by naming and recognising different shapes using flash cards. The children will also be encouraged to recognise colours whilst painting. To help the children develop their understanding of the world, the children shall take part in a car wash activity whereby the children will be encouraged to wash the bikes in the garden. The children will also take part in a car park activity whereby the blocks create an enclosed space for the cars to park, a drawing activity where the children will be encouraged to draw their friends and talk about their picture, reading about Diwali and using the headphones in the CD player to listen to music from around the world. Activities to support creative development include stamp painting, painting with leaves, cornflour play making pumpkin and spider shapes, creating pictures using sand and glue, making and playing with play dough and cutters, for the children to mix the colours together and talk about what colour has been made and making Diwali candles. Literacy development shall be supported, this week by reading stories ‘The Gruffalo’. Throughout the week bumblebees will also be focusing on self-help skills, encouraging the children to put on their own coats and welly boots.

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 which is now displayed on the large notice board outside the Bumblebees room.

Days off      

Jani – Wednesday and Annual leave Thursday and Friday.    

Jenni – Wednesday (in the office majority of the week)

Alba – Monday

Jade – Training Tuesday

Hannah – Training Tuesday

 

Butterflies                       

This week the butterflies will be focusing on Diwali by making paper lanterns, using chalk to create designs on paper, hand painting using these to design different patterns, spray painting stars and to decorate flowers to be hung around the room. The children will also complete an assault course in the garden. The children will have the opportunity to play number bingo and to talk about our home life. The children will be focusing on the letter of the week, which is, ‘C’ and ‘K’ and the number of the week, which is number 7.

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                   

Lee – Thursday Afternoon and Training Wednesday                    

Tara – Thursday

 

Michelle is day off Monday and Tuesday, Training Thursday morning and all day Friday

 

 

Emergency Closure policy – illness  

 

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 DBS forms 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.