Parent News

Dear Parents and Carer,

We still have spaces on our parent forest school session this Sunday 10am – 12pm.  Please advise Lee, Jamie or Michelle if you would like to attend.

If you have no yet booked your termly meetings, please do so by seeing your child’s keyworker to book a time and day that is convenient with you.

Our annual trip, this year, is to Bocketts Farm on Friday June 12^th. We strongly rely on parental participation as the ratio’s are 2 children to one staff member.  Letters shall be distributed shortly with more information.

Our Summer BBQ shall be held on Saturday June 20^th, 2pm – 5pm. There shall be face painting, hook a duck, bouncy castle, name the teddy and a whole range of fun activities.  Everyone is welcome.

 

 

Policies

Please find attached our settling in policy.

Snails

The focus in the snails this week is physical development. The children will be encouraged to explore water play outside, using their feet and explore the texture of the stickle bricks. 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 mirror play out in the garden, to explore facial expressions and features. Activities this week will include gluing and sticking, cornflour play, filling and emptying containers, identify their own body parts, when prompted, (eg) Where is your nose?  The children will also get to take part in heuristic play and dancing to music.

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 – Thursday

Alisha – Monday

 

Ladybirds

The current interest in the Ladybirds this week is water play and Spring animals. The children will have the opportunity to explore the sealife animals in the water tray, paint using the wheels of the toy cars to create spring pictures and explore the ball run, using water.  The story of the week is ‘Baa – Moo’.

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 – Monday        

Naomi – Friday

 

 

 

Bumblebees

This week the children will continue to focus on mark making, with the introduction of transport and stories. Activities this week include painting using stickle bricks, playdough and cutters, making rocket straws and talking about our favourite books. The children will also be practising their self help skills by serving their own lunch and tea and practice putting their own shoes on. Outdoor activities this week include exploring letters, reading the book of the week and painting pictures of our families. The story of the week is ‘Big Blue Train’ and the colour of the week is blue.

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 – Friday

Jenni – Training Monday, day off Tuesday

 

 

Butterflies     

This week the butterflies are continuing to focus on spring and growing. The activities include discussing the names of baby animals, looking at plant life cycles and discussing the name of parts of a plant and creating sunflower pictures. The children will also be mixing colours, mark making using water and brushes outside and making fruit kebabs.  The children will be focusing on the letter of the week, which is, ‘E’ and the number of the week, which is number 3.

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, training Thursday                                 

Tara – Tuesday

Jade – Monday

 

 

Settling in policy

 

Aim of policy

 

At Castle Daycare and Preschool we want every child to thrive with us. Part of making this happen is having a high quality settling in procedure that supports the child and their family as they join us.

 

Points to consider

 

Through this policy and the appointment of professional staff, we aim to make parents/carers feel comfortable in the nursery and that the staff team are friendly, approachable and attentive to their needs and the needs of their children.

 

The key person has great responsibility in helping a family settle into the setting and has the lead role in working with the family to support the settling process.

If either the key person or the family feel that the child is not settling as expected, they need to discuss this with the manager so that an action plan can be put into place to further support the child and family. This may include changing key person if thought best.

 

Castle Daycare and Preschool aim to do this by:

·         From the point of booking, the family become members of the nursery and should be informed of any major events, social activities and general news regarding the nursery, even if they have not yet started.

·         Once a booking is confirmed the manager will contact the parent/carer 4-6 weeks prior to the start date to organise settling in visits for the child. 

·         We recommend an induction period of three settling in sessions, of one hour long, should take place prior to the start date.

·         We will hold an opportunity to welcome the family, address any issues or anxieties and take detailed information about the child.  The staff should be informed in advance of the settling visit to allow for the appropriate preparation and organisation.

·         The settling in sessions should be led by the child’s key person.

·         During the settling in sessions the key person will go through the registration form, terms and conditions and the “All about me pack” with the parents.

·         The key person will give the parents information about the nursery such as; activities, policies, events and newsletters.

·         The key person will answer any questions or concerns the parents have and will refer them to the manager if needed.

·         The key person will ensure that they know the child’s routine, care plans and needs during these sessions so that the child can be supported and cared for as best as possible from their first session with us.