05/05/22
Parents Letter May 2022
Safeguarding
Please take the time to read the recent safeguarding information letter that was sent home, you can also view this via your child’s tapestry account.
Please ensure that children are presented appropriately, this includes, good personal hygiene for example; clean face and nose, brushed hair, clean and cut nails, good oral health. In addition to this they should be dressed appropriately for nursery and have everything that they are likely to need including spare clothes, outdoor footwear/indoor footwear, nappies/wipes, long term medication, coats, hats, suncream.
We also expect that children arrive safely to the setting, if they are arriving by car they should be securely strapped into an age appropriate car seat, also not leaving young children unaccompanied in the car whilst bringing others into nursery.
Children will participate in a range of activities during their nursery sessions therefore, we advise that children do not wear their best clothes.
They will also access the outdoor area in all weather conditions throughout the day therefore, we ask that you provide wellingtons, coats, hats for cooler weather, sun hats and sun cream for warmer weather with sun cream being applied prior to coming to nursery. We also advise providing spare clothes for children in case of them getting wet/muddy outdoors.
Please ensure that you label all of your child’s belongings clearly!
All staff are safeguard trained and we have four staff that have designated safeguard training, it is our duty of care to record and report any concerns that we may have.
We are also here to offer advice and support children and their families, please feel free to contact us at any time if you feel you may benefit from some extra support or would just like to discuss any worries or concerns you may have.
Storing pushchairs and ride on toys
Please ensure that any pushchairs or ride on toys that are left at nursery are stored in the pushchair shed. We are unable to store them on the playground as children use these areas throughout the day. Can we also recommend that children are securely fastened/strapped into pushchairs/ride on toy’s.
Lunch and snacks
We will provide snacks in the morning and again in the afternoon for children with a drink of milk, water is readily available for every child throughout the day. Children should be provided with a healthy packed lunch and a treat can be given at the end. Lunches may include, sandwiches/crackers/wraps/pasta, a choice of fruit, yoghurt, a small treat. Children will always be encouraged to eat their healthy options first. Please ensure that if your child requires their fruit to be peeled or sliced that this is done so prior to being put into their lunch box, grapes and blueberries, tomatoes and cocktail sausages should be sliced vertically to reduce choking hazards. Children will also need a spoon for yoghurts/jelly.
Coronavirus
As a setting we continue to request that you do not send your child to nursery should they display symptoms of Covid-19. Although there is no legal requirement for children to self-isolate if they have symptoms of Covid-19 or if they have tested positive to Covid-19, we would still encourage children to:
- Obtain a PCR test if they are experiencing one or more of the main symptoms of Covid and isolate pending the result.
- Should the result be positive we request that children isolate for 5 days, only returning to nursery after two consecutive lateral flow tests and no sooner than day 6 of isolation.
- If children continue to test positive they may return to the setting after 10 days of isolation, returning on day 11.
As a setting we remain committed to protecting all members of our setting including children, staff and parents and continue to remain cautious whilst learning to live with Covid.
Children will continue to be encouraged to follow good hygiene routines, washing hands regularly with hand washing stations still in place at the entrance of nursery for parents to continue to wash children’s hands prior to them entering the setting. We will also continue to carry out handovers at the door with parents/carers not entering the building, as we have found that children settle better and there has been less illness in general. We have also found that parent consultations via telephone have worked well with more parents able to make appointments, and so will continue to do parents consultations this way. However, should you want to come and have a look around the setting and speak with your child’s key person you are welcome to make an appointment to do so. In addition to this, we continue to request that children do not attend should they be unwell or unable to participate in all activities both indoors and outdoors.
We will look forward to gradually reintroducing stay and play sessions later in the year.
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Absence
Please ensure that you inform nursery if your child is going to be absent. This may be due to a holiday, a day trip or sickness. You can notify us via phone, text, whatsapp or email.
If your child has had sickness and/or diarrhea please ensure that they remain absent from the setting for 48 hours from their last bout of illness to ensure that this is not passed on to other children and staff.
If your child is absent due to holiday, illness or a day at home you will still be charged for this session.
Medication
We are only able to give prescribed medication to your child whilst they are at nursery, we cannot give over the counter medication, this includes medication such as cough syrup, calpol and nurofen.
Tapestry
In line with the Birth to five curriculum, we are adjusting the way that we complete your child’s observations and assessments. Each week you will receive an activity plan of what your child will be participating in each week, photos of this can be viewed in the preschool window next to the main entrance. Your child’s key person will then add photos each week of your child participating in the activities they have particularly enjoyed. You will then receive a report each term of your child’s progress, this will be starting from the summer term and you will receive them via tapestry at the end of the summer term (July), the end of the winter term (December) and the end of the spring term (April). We will also have parent consultations in line with this.
Parent Consultations
We will be offering parent consultations via telephone week beginning 11th July for preschool and week beginning 18th July for babies and toddlers.
If you would like to book an appointment with your child’s keyperson, please let us know by 13th June to enable us to allocate time slots.
Each appointment will be 10 minutes, should you require a longer appointment this can be arranged for a different date.
If you would like to discuss anything with your child’s keyperson prior to this date please let us know.
Also if you would like to view the nursery this can be arranged too.
School leavers
If you have not yet told us which school your child will be attending from September please let us know as we will need to send your child’s transfer information over to their new school.
Please ensure that you have clicked on to accept your child’s school place to ensure that they have their place for September.
Graduation party
We will be having a graduation party for school leavers on Wednesday 13th July 4-5. Children will participate in party games and have a disco, they will each receive a certificate and have their photograph taken in a graduation gown. If you would like to purchase a graduation photograph this will be at a charge of £2 per photo. If you would like your child to attend the party this will be at a charge of £5.70. To book your child’s place or to order any photos please notify the office by 13th June.
Fees
New fees came into affect from 1st May 2022. Please can we remind everyone that fees are to be paid two weeks in advance. Failure to pay fees on time may result in a late payment charge and your child being unable to attend for their sessions. If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact us. For parents/carers whom are in receipt of universal credits, letters confirming payment will be provided at the beginning of the month confirming the previous months payment once received in full.
Any additional sessions booked during non-funded sessions must be paid for at the time of booking, for example if you are booking your child in for half term this will need to be paid prior to the child attending.
Change of hours
If you require change of hours for your child we require 4 weeks notice of this. If your child receives 15 hour funding, change of hours cannot be submitted mid term it will have to be at the start of a new term.
Late Collection
We understand that on occasion you may be late for collecting your child from nursery due to work, traffic, siblings etc. If you are going to be late collecting your child please ensure that you notify us via telephone or messaging the nursery mobile.
Late pick ups are charged at £1 per minute unless we have been made aware prior to the late pick up.
Rotas are set to cater for staff:child ratios and these are completed in line with children’s drop off/collection times, also staff have to collect their own children.
30 Hours Funding
30 hours funding is offered as 24 hours per week, across 3 full days for 47.5 weeks of the year. Please note that there are limited spaces allocated for 30 hour funding, children do not automatically receive this at our setting even if you have applied for it and been accepted. Unfortunately, we are currently at capacity for 30 hour funded spaces.
2 year funding (15 hours funding)
We have spaces for 2 year 15 hours funded children from September 2022, if you think your child may be eligible you can check this online through the link via the nursery website or via the Warwickshire county council website. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask.
Creative Flair
Preschool children participate in creative flair music and movement sessions on a Thursday morning, this is charged at a weekly rate of £2 per child and is to be paid in cash each week.
Nursery Photos
Concept photography were a great success, the children responded well to the photographer and the outcomes looked fantastic. If you have not yet returned your proofs please do so as we are required to return these to concept with all orders. Payment needs to be made online via the concept website, if you have not placed your order prior to the date given by us, you are still able to order however, this must be done direct with concept and you will need to cover the postage costs.
Dates to remember
30th May- 10th June No funding for 15 hour funded children
2nd June- Nursery Closed Bank Holiday
3rd June- Nursery Closed Bank Holiday
18th July-2nd September No funding for 15 hour funded children
15th August- Only 12 hours funding for 30 hour funded children
22nd-29th August- No funding for 30 hour funded children
5th September- Children return to nursery
Resources
We are looking for some resources to develop our new decking area in the garden, if you have any items that you would be willing to donate please let us know;
- Wooden bird house
- Plant pots
- Wicker baskets
- Weighing scales
- Wooden pallets
- Binoculars
- Large stones/pebbles
- Large wooden cable reel
- Pots/pans
- Garden ornaments
- Plants (real or artificial)
Preloved items
We have some great condition boys preloved items for sale, clothing items aged between 1-2.5 years and shoes infant size 4,5,6,7. We will send a letter out next week with images and prices for if anyone is interested in picking up a bargain.
Thank you for your continued support.
Many thanks
Sam and Clare