Castle Nursery Markenfield

Friday, 7^th August 2015

 

Dear Parents and Carers,

 

We would like to remind parents that they please 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.

 

 

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 10^th and Tuesday 11^th August the units in our Caterpillars and Ladybirds room are being removed, minimal disruption will take place during this time.

 

On Monday 17^th August we will be having our flooring done in our baby room; therefore the children who will be attending on this day will be down in our Caterpillars room (12-18’s). If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact or see Michelle.

 

The flooring will also be made good in our Ladybirds and Caterpillars room; however, again there will be minimal disruption whilst this work is being carried out.

 

Thank you for your cooperation in advance for the next two weeks.

 

 

Tuesday 1^st September is harvest festival week; activities will be available throughout the week, supporting the children’s learning around the harvest. We will be collecting donations that can either be taken to your child’s room or to Michelle in the office. The donations will be going to St Johns Church, Stoke Road to be distributed out where needed. Any contributions will be greatly received.

 

 

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, although the parking is restricted. 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!

If you are attending our summer anniversary party please may you inform Michelle by Friday 21^st August. Thank you

 

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 children’s activity policy.

 

 

Snails

 

The focus in the snails this week is settling in new children, physical development and ICT toys. The children will be able to experience a range of activities, including lots of cuddles and key worker play, cornflour play, crawling or walking to move around the room and the outdoors, water play with animals, playdough exploring senses and creating pictures by using crayons. Garden activities this week include, exploring the sensory bottles on the wibbly wobbly bridge, wooden shape puzzles, singing songs and reading stories. 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 transport. Activities this week include sponge painting, car painting, using car sponges and cars to create marks, to play ball games with their key person, balancing pebbles, body painting, cornflour with cars, sand play with animals, bubble play, sensory bags, heuristic play, mark making with pens and 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 – Jamie

 

Alisha – Friday

 

 

 

Ladybirds

 

The current interest in the Ladybirds this week is teddy bears picnic. The children will have the opportunity to take part in acting out the story of the week (going on a bear hunt), sponge painting, having a teddy bears picnic in the role play, finger painting, decorating teddy masks, bubble play, dancing, and ring games such as hokey cokey. Garden activities this week include teddy bear teddy bear circle game, water play with bubbles, big blocks, hoops and balls and pushchairs and dollies. 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 – Thursday

Hannah – Annual leave Monday and Tuesday

 

Bumblebees

This week the children will be continuing to focus on summer activities. Activities this week include building blocks by looking at different sizes, talking about our golden rules, exploring the letter factory and recognising familiar letters, counting games with happyland characters, painting using cars, naming different wildlife animals, emotion flash cards talking about being happy and sad and what makes us feel this way, talking about past experiences such as holidays. Garden activities this week include having a tea party in the garden using role play food and equipment, playing with the tents and tunnels, hide and seek games, ring games, running games and water painting. The story of the week is ‘doing the animal bop’. 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- Wednesday

 

 

 

 

 

Butterflies     

 

 

 

This week the butterflies will focus on weather. The activities include making a weather chart, creating umbrella’s using different craft materials, making weather mobiles and windmill crafts, talking through the weather flash cards, playing eye spy, learning our sounds and letters, the letter of the week this week is ‘Rr’ and the number of the week is ‘8’. Turn taking with puzzles, working as a group to complete the puzzle and also using the weather monkey to discuss what the weather is like outside and what appropriate clothing the monkey will need to wear for that day. Garden activities this week include parachute games, and testing out our handmade windmills. 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 – Thursday

 

Tara- Tuesday

 

Lee – Half term

 

 

 

Leanne is day off Monday

 

 

 

Michelle is day off Friday

 

 

Children’s Activity Policy

 

Aim of the Policy

Castle Daycare & Preschool inform parents/carers of the different types of activities that their child participates in and the purpose of the activities.

 

Points to Consider

At Castle Daycare & Preschool we provide a flexible routine with a structured free play approach. This provides the children with opportunities for adult focused and child-initiated activities both indoors and outdoors. The children have access to resources so they can use their initiative and make choices. The flexible routine and environment allows children the opportunity to have energetic play and quiet times when they can rest and relax.

 

Using the key person policy we plan for and meet the individual needs of the each child. We use the Early Years Foundation Stage’s seven areas of learning and development to shape our planning. All areas of learning and development are important and inter-connected. The three prime areas are particularly crucial for igniting children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, for building their capacity to learn, form relationships and thrive.

The three prime areas are:

•          Communication and language

•          Physical development

•          Personal, social and emotional development

 

We also support children in four specific areas through which the three prime areas are strengthened and applied.

The four specific areas are:

•          Literacy

•          Mathematics

•          Understanding the world

•          Expressive arts and design

We provide the parents with daily information about their child’s day including activities and outcomes. Parents are provided with a verbal handover at the end of session/day as well as either a daily sheet or information on the daily news board. The children’s long and medium term planning is displayed on the parent’s information board. A copy of the child’s individual short term planning is given to the parents for their information and input to ensure future provision is planned for by both the key person and parents/carers.