Dear Parents and Carers,

We are seeing an increasing number of parents taking their children into the rooms before 8am, this is now becoming an issue as staff are finding themselves out of ratio before 8am when we officially open. We ask that parents do not take their children into the rooms until 8am or 7:45am if an early start has been booked (this requires 24 hours’ notice) We thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation on this matter.

 

Please can parents also be vigilant when entering and parking in the car park as we have had a complaint from a neighbour regarding parents blocking the spaces and also parents parking in the spaces that are for residents only.  Thank you

 

If possible could children please be sun creamed before arriving at nursery and we shall re-apply throughout the day, please can you inform us if your child has had sun cream applied.

 

On Monday 17^th August we will be having our flooring done in our baby room; we will keep you updated with any changes within the room for this day.

 

Tuesday 1^st September is harvest festival week; activities will be available throughout the week, supporting the children’s learning around the harvest. I will inform parents whether there will be a food collection and to where this will be going if parents and children would like to donate.

 

 

On Saturday 5^th September we are holding a party for our 20^th Anniversary from 10am until 1pm. We would love to see you there, Shalford Village Hall. If you know any of our ‘old’ families, please see if they would like to come along as it would be lovely to see everyone!

 

Friday 11^th September is Grandparents day, please invite all grandparents to come into nursery and have a taster session of what the nursery provides for your children. Lots of fun games and activities will be happening on Friday afternoon between 2pm and 4pm. Please can you inform a member of staff if you would like your child’s grandparents to attend. Children who do not normally attend on this Friday are still welcome to come and have lots of fun!

 

Policies

 

Please find attached our food and drink policy.

 

 

Snails

 

The focus in the snails this week is the garden, mirror play and balls. The children will be able to experience a range of activities, including exploring treasure baskets, exploring different ICT toys, using paint to decorate a bucket and spade, playing with heuristic toy bags, taking part in Custards music class, playing with the ball run, looking through stories, and mirror play. Garden activities this week include, sand and water painting, crawling and playing with balls, exploring the sensory blocks and walking with the walkers in the garden. 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 – Monday

 

 

Caterpillars

 

This week the Caterpillars team will focus on builder’s tray/paddling pool with sea animals in water to explore the water and the animals. Activities this week include water play with animals, listening to stories about sea animals, playing with playdough, heuristic play, chalk play, painting, gluing and sticking, cornflour play, exploring the tents and tunnels. 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

Stacy – Monday

 

 

 

Ladybirds

 

The current interest in the Ladybirds this week is sea life animals. The children will have the opportunity to take part in matching coloured blocks, sea life water play, roller painting, what’s in the box?, exploring with magnifying glasses, creating a rock pool with sea life animals, bubbles and dancing activities, painting with balls, colouring pictures of sea life animals, balancing on the balancing beam. Garden activities this week include bubbles, happy land houses and cars, puzzles and shapes, and water painting on the fence. 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

 

 

Bumblebees

 

This week the children will be continuing to focus on summer activities. Activities this week include playing with the number flash cards, connecting together animal life cycle puzzles, happy land characters looking at similarities and differences, counting the bean bags, building towers with small blocks, mark making with fingers in the sand pit, playing with the ducks in the water tray, exploring smelly playdough, dressing and feeding babies, water play pouring from jug to jug, painting with brushes, exploring the letter factory and cornflour play. Garden activities this week include bats and balls, sand and water, running games, water painting, role play (having a tea party), climbing on the climbing frames, chalk drawing and parachute games. This week on Tuesday and Friday the children will take part in making marshmallow and chocolate skewers. The story of the week is ‘Charlie’s favourite book’; we have chosen this book again this week as the children thoroughly enjoyed it. 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.

Days off      

 

Jenni – Monday

Emma – half term

Jani- Friday

 

 

Butterflies     

 

This week the butterflies will focus on Transport. The activities include junk modelling cars, washing vehicles in the garden, role play – pretending to be on an aeroplane, role play – bus driver, construction play with big blocks, comparing two groups – cars and trains, simple rhyming games, singing familiar songs, painting pictures of transport, exploring sensory bags, talking about significant events, and playdough and tools. Garden activities this week include bikes and hoops, balancing games, sand and water play. The children will be focusing on the letter of the week, which is, ‘P’ and the number of the week, which is number 6. 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 – All week not here                           

Jade – Monday

Tara- Tuesday

Lee – Half term

 

Leanne is day off Friday

 

Michelle is annual leave all week.

 

Food and Drink Policy

 

Aim of Policy

 

1.      Personal hygiene

2.      Purchasing and storage of food and bottle feeds

3.      Training

4.      Food cleaning programme

5.      Pest control

6.      Exclusion

 

At all times staff working in the kitchen MUST wear the appropriate clothing.

We will adopt a policy that ensures standards of table manners and behaviour is adopted and consistent.  All meal times should be social occasions, happy and relaxed for children and staff alike.

 

Points to Consider

§  Individual dietary requirements will be respected and met.

§  Water will be available to drink at all times.

§  Staff will set a good example of good table manners.

§  Cultural differences in eating habits will be respected.

§  Children will be encouraged to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ and to sit appropriately, remaining at the table.

§  Children will be encouraged to wait for their friends at their table to be served before they start to eat their meals.

§  Children will not be called to the table unless the meal is ready to be served and for the children to start to eat. It is inappropriate for children to wait at tables to eat for more than two minutes.

§  Children will be encouraged to chat, but no shouting.

§  Children who are distressed during meal times will be comforted appropriately.

§  Staff will set a good example by sitting with and eating the same food as the children were able.

§  Children not on special diets will be encouraged to try a small portion/piece of everything.

§  Children who are slow eaters will be given time and not rushed.

§  Portion sizes and quantities should reflect the size and age of individual children.

§  Children will be encouraged, where reasonably possible; to wait until everybody has finished before starting their dessert.

§  Menus will be displayed for parents to see.

§  Staff should ensure that children’s hands are clean prior to eating.

§  Staff serving food to the children must have their hair tied back and  

     ensure their hands are clean  

§  Use wipe clean tablecloth to cover table.  This should be wiped down after each meal with an appropriate disinfectant spray.

§  Older children should be encouraged to participate in setting the table.

§  The children should wash their hands and face; any soiled clothing must be changed so the children are clean and comfortable.

§  Tabletops must be cleaned with an appropriate disinfectant spray.

§  All foodstuffs must be cleaned / removed from tables, chairs and floor area.

§   Cutlery, crockery, drinks and left over food must be returned to the kitchen immediately after the meal has ended.

§  The floor area should be brushed and mopped clean

 

Where any child in our care has special dietary requirements, the following procedure will be followed, regardless of whether the generally prepared meals are suitable or not:-

1.      During the settling period, parents will have the opportunity to discuss their dietary requirements with their child’s key person

2.      All meals for children with special dietary requirements must be plated on a clearly labelled colour appropriate plate, separate from all other meals and easily distinguishable.

3.      All staff in the room are responsible for ensuring that these meals are delivered to the correct child and making other room staff aware that the child has been served.

4.      Parents must be made aware that they have a responsibility to inform the nursery of any changes to special dietary requirements

5.      Staff members are responsible for keeping dietary information up-to-date and accurate.  New diet sheets must be issued whenever a child starts or leaves the room or has changes to their dietary requirement.

6.      Bottled feeds (breast milk or formula) are to be provided by the parents ready made up and labelled with the child’s name.

      Any bottles not required immediately must be placed in the refrigerator

      and stored at a temperature between 0 deg C & 5 deg C for up to 24

      hours. When required, feeds can be reheated to the temperature

      required by an individual child, using a bottle warmer only.

 Feeds must not be reheated more than once and must be discarded one    

 hour after removal from the refrigerator.

Should employees have concerns about food safety within their Nursery, they should inform the Manager to enable them to investigate and rectify the situation if necessary.

All staff preparing food must have relevant and current Food hygiene Qualifications.