newsletter summer 2015
NEWSLETTER SUMMER 2015 Welcome Back! We hope you all had a lovely Easter break!
OFSTED INSPECTION We received an inspection from Ofsted on 3rd February and the outcome was that our provision is Good. This is excellent news for our preschool and is a reflection of the hard work that the staff and committee have put in to make improvements since the last inspection. We hope you’re all as pleased as we are! The report is available to read at preschool or on the Ofsted website. As identified by the inspector, we are working to improve our large group activities and the deployment of staff during session to support children’s learning. UNIFORM
DATES TO REMEMBER
We are pleased to inform you that we will soon be offering embroidered uniform again through the Tesco Uniform Embroidery Service.
Thursday 7th May – Polling Day (no Preschool).
We have some stock of old uniform with and without the old logo. To clear the stock, we are offering the uniform at the following prices: T-‐shirts (2-‐3yr or 3-‐4yr) £1.75
Thursday 14th May – Annual General Meeting. Thursday 18th June – Sports Day. Friday 10th July – Frinton. Thursday 16th July – Leavers’ Lunch.
Sweatshirts (3-‐4yr or 5-‐6yr) £5.75
Friday 17th July – Teddy Bear’s Picnic.
SCHOOL STARTERS SEPTEMBER 2015
LUNCH REMINDER We work closely with the local primary schools to assist our children with the Please remember that transition to “Big School.” This includes visits from the schools to our we have a policy of no preschool, providing uniform for children to try on and liaising with your fish and no seafood, as chosen school about your child. we have a staff member Our afternoon sessions will help your child get ready for school. Activities to who is allergic, and a no be covered include: nut policy, including kiwis, which can cause • Carrying lunch trays and cups. the same type of allergic • Changing into PE kit and back into uniform. reaction as nuts. Thank • Sitting cross-‐legged in shoes on a rug. you for your • Using the library. cooperation. • Show and Tell. Please speak with Elaine or Vicki if you wish to book sessions. SECURITY Please note that the door into the village hall is locked during preschool hours as part of our security and safeguarding policy. If you plan to pick your child up early, please let us know and use the doorbell.
SUNCREAM AND HATS As the weather improves please don’t forget to apply suncream before your child attends preschool. Please also ensure they have a hat with them and suitable clothing. For children attending a full-‐day session please give your permission so that we can re-‐apply suncream in the afternoon.
FUNDRAISING
COMMUNICATION WITH PRESCHOOL
Thank you to all the parents, carers, friends and family who attended our Easter egg-‐stravaganza, which raised £149.11 for our preschool.
We have recently requested your email address so that we can send you a copy of our Ofsted inspection report. We have also asked if you’d like to receive communication regarding news and events at the preschool. If you haven’t done so already, please let us know your email so we can add you to the list.
Thank you to those parents, carers and staff who participated in our Red Nose Day sweepstakes, which raised £41. Summer Smith was the winner.
YOUNG WRITERS’ MY FIRST POEM COMPETITION We are very pleased that all of the children’s work recently entered in the My First Poem competition will be published in a special anthology by Young Writers. This is a great achievement that you and your children can be proud of. The parents and carers will be sent a letter to their home address if provided. A copy of the book your children’s work appears in, My First Poem-‐ The South West, will be kept at the Brtish Library and further libraries across the UK. A complimentary copy of the book will be sent to our preschool, which is scheduled for publication on 31st July 2015 AGM & COMMITTEE MEETING The AGM and our next committee meeting is Thursday 14th May at 7pm. All parents and carers are welcome to attend. As a charity run preschool we rely on volunteers to operate. There are many ways that you can help: Join the committee. A great way to make new friends and develop new skills. We meet one evening a week from 7.30pm (usally last Thursday of the month). There is a photo of our current committee members on the notice board in the foyer. • Volunteer your time. We always need help at our fundraising events to bake cakes and serve refreshments. We also always need help to maintain the garden and equipment. • Donate resources. Our fundraising activities help us to upgrade our learning resources but there are many items we would welcome, for example new carpets, bookcases, road safety equipment, IT, musical instruments, large soft play blocks and science equipment. • Promote our preschool. Recruiting new children to our preschool helps to keep us going! You can help by recommending us to your family and friends. Alternatively writing a review on websites such as Netmums or Facebook can help to direct new parents to us. •
Tolleshunt Knights Village Hall Top Road, Tolleshunt Knights, Maldon. Essex. CM9 8ET. Tel: 01621 816771 / 07580 566785 [email protected] www.tkplaygroup.org.uk
www.facebook.com/Tolleshunt-‐ Knights-‐Preschool
TOLLESHUNT KNIGHTS PRESCHOOL
Tolleshunt Knights Village Hall Top Road Tolleshunt Knights Maldon CM9 8ET Tel no: 01621 816771 Mob: 07580 566785
Dear Parents/Carers We’d like to remind parents and carers of the importance of excluding your child from preschool when unwell. Our guidelines are in place to protect all of your children as well as our staff, who may not be able to work if they become unwell. This could result in a lack of available staff, which could in turn result in preschool being cancelled. If you’re unsure about any of the following, please ask a member of staff who will be happy to discuss with you. Fever If your child has a consistent fever and is unwell at playgroup, we will contact you to collect him/her and have it checked by a doctor. Sickness and Diarrhoea We ask for your child to be kept off for 48 hours from the last episode of sickness/diarrhoea. This is in line with the advice given by the health authority. Please remember that this bug spreads rapidly through playgroup and can be especially nasty in the younger children. Please consider this when your child is sick. Minor Coughs and Colds There are no requirements for your child to be kept home unless you feel that he/she is too unwell to attend. Infections We ask that your child is kept at home for 24-‐48 hours after starting antibiotics, so that the medication can start taking effect. If your child is particularly unwell, it is at your own discretion if you wish to keep him/her home longer. Conjunctivitis We do ask that you keep your child at home for the first 24 hours of eye drops being administered, and ideally until eyes have stopped producing discharge, as conjunctivitis is highly contagious. Chicken Pox From the onset of chicken pox, you are required to keep your child off playgroup for AT LEAST 7 DAYS, or until ALL of the spots have scabbed over. Hand, Foot, and Mouth Your child must be kept off only while feeling unwell. He/she may return as soon as he/she is feeling better. Impetigo Your child must be kept off until lesions are crusted and healed or 48 hours after starting antibiotics. This is a highly contagious disease. German Measles (Rubella) / Measles Your child must be kept off for four days from the onset of the rash. Scarlet Fever Your child must be kept off until 24 hours after starting antibiotics. Please note: If your child appears to be unwell upon arrival at preschool, it is the discretion of the Supervisor whether or not your child will be allowed to attend that day.
OFSTED INSPECTION We received an inspection from Ofsted on 3rd February and the outcome was that our provision is Good. This is excellent news for our preschool and is a reflection of the hard work that the staff and committee have put in to make improvements since the last inspection. We hope you’re all as pleased as we are! The report is available to read at preschool or on the Ofsted website. As identified by the inspector, we are working to improve our large group activities and the deployment of staff during session to support children’s learning. UNIFORM
DATES TO REMEMBER
We are pleased to inform you that we will soon be offering embroidered uniform again through the Tesco Uniform Embroidery Service.
Thursday 7th May – Polling Day (no Preschool).
We have some stock of old uniform with and without the old logo. To clear the stock, we are offering the uniform at the following prices: T-‐shirts (2-‐3yr or 3-‐4yr) £1.75
Thursday 14th May – Annual General Meeting. Thursday 18th June – Sports Day. Friday 10th July – Frinton. Thursday 16th July – Leavers’ Lunch.
Sweatshirts (3-‐4yr or 5-‐6yr) £5.75
Friday 17th July – Teddy Bear’s Picnic.
SCHOOL STARTERS SEPTEMBER 2015
LUNCH REMINDER We work closely with the local primary schools to assist our children with the Please remember that transition to “Big School.” This includes visits from the schools to our we have a policy of no preschool, providing uniform for children to try on and liaising with your fish and no seafood, as chosen school about your child. we have a staff member Our afternoon sessions will help your child get ready for school. Activities to who is allergic, and a no be covered include: nut policy, including kiwis, which can cause • Carrying lunch trays and cups. the same type of allergic • Changing into PE kit and back into uniform. reaction as nuts. Thank • Sitting cross-‐legged in shoes on a rug. you for your • Using the library. cooperation. • Show and Tell. Please speak with Elaine or Vicki if you wish to book sessions. SECURITY Please note that the door into the village hall is locked during preschool hours as part of our security and safeguarding policy. If you plan to pick your child up early, please let us know and use the doorbell.
SUNCREAM AND HATS As the weather improves please don’t forget to apply suncream before your child attends preschool. Please also ensure they have a hat with them and suitable clothing. For children attending a full-‐day session please give your permission so that we can re-‐apply suncream in the afternoon.
FUNDRAISING
COMMUNICATION WITH PRESCHOOL
Thank you to all the parents, carers, friends and family who attended our Easter egg-‐stravaganza, which raised £149.11 for our preschool.
We have recently requested your email address so that we can send you a copy of our Ofsted inspection report. We have also asked if you’d like to receive communication regarding news and events at the preschool. If you haven’t done so already, please let us know your email so we can add you to the list.
Thank you to those parents, carers and staff who participated in our Red Nose Day sweepstakes, which raised £41. Summer Smith was the winner.
YOUNG WRITERS’ MY FIRST POEM COMPETITION We are very pleased that all of the children’s work recently entered in the My First Poem competition will be published in a special anthology by Young Writers. This is a great achievement that you and your children can be proud of. The parents and carers will be sent a letter to their home address if provided. A copy of the book your children’s work appears in, My First Poem-‐ The South West, will be kept at the Brtish Library and further libraries across the UK. A complimentary copy of the book will be sent to our preschool, which is scheduled for publication on 31st July 2015 AGM & COMMITTEE MEETING The AGM and our next committee meeting is Thursday 14th May at 7pm. All parents and carers are welcome to attend. As a charity run preschool we rely on volunteers to operate. There are many ways that you can help: Join the committee. A great way to make new friends and develop new skills. We meet one evening a week from 7.30pm (usally last Thursday of the month). There is a photo of our current committee members on the notice board in the foyer. • Volunteer your time. We always need help at our fundraising events to bake cakes and serve refreshments. We also always need help to maintain the garden and equipment. • Donate resources. Our fundraising activities help us to upgrade our learning resources but there are many items we would welcome, for example new carpets, bookcases, road safety equipment, IT, musical instruments, large soft play blocks and science equipment. • Promote our preschool. Recruiting new children to our preschool helps to keep us going! You can help by recommending us to your family and friends. Alternatively writing a review on websites such as Netmums or Facebook can help to direct new parents to us. •
Tolleshunt Knights Village Hall Top Road, Tolleshunt Knights, Maldon. Essex. CM9 8ET. Tel: 01621 816771 / 07580 566785 [email protected] www.tkplaygroup.org.uk
www.facebook.com/Tolleshunt-‐ Knights-‐Preschool
TOLLESHUNT KNIGHTS PRESCHOOL
Tolleshunt Knights Village Hall Top Road Tolleshunt Knights Maldon CM9 8ET Tel no: 01621 816771 Mob: 07580 566785
Dear Parents/Carers We’d like to remind parents and carers of the importance of excluding your child from preschool when unwell. Our guidelines are in place to protect all of your children as well as our staff, who may not be able to work if they become unwell. This could result in a lack of available staff, which could in turn result in preschool being cancelled. If you’re unsure about any of the following, please ask a member of staff who will be happy to discuss with you. Fever If your child has a consistent fever and is unwell at playgroup, we will contact you to collect him/her and have it checked by a doctor. Sickness and Diarrhoea We ask for your child to be kept off for 48 hours from the last episode of sickness/diarrhoea. This is in line with the advice given by the health authority. Please remember that this bug spreads rapidly through playgroup and can be especially nasty in the younger children. Please consider this when your child is sick. Minor Coughs and Colds There are no requirements for your child to be kept home unless you feel that he/she is too unwell to attend. Infections We ask that your child is kept at home for 24-‐48 hours after starting antibiotics, so that the medication can start taking effect. If your child is particularly unwell, it is at your own discretion if you wish to keep him/her home longer. Conjunctivitis We do ask that you keep your child at home for the first 24 hours of eye drops being administered, and ideally until eyes have stopped producing discharge, as conjunctivitis is highly contagious. Chicken Pox From the onset of chicken pox, you are required to keep your child off playgroup for AT LEAST 7 DAYS, or until ALL of the spots have scabbed over. Hand, Foot, and Mouth Your child must be kept off only while feeling unwell. He/she may return as soon as he/she is feeling better. Impetigo Your child must be kept off until lesions are crusted and healed or 48 hours after starting antibiotics. This is a highly contagious disease. German Measles (Rubella) / Measles Your child must be kept off for four days from the onset of the rash. Scarlet Fever Your child must be kept off until 24 hours after starting antibiotics. Please note: If your child appears to be unwell upon arrival at preschool, it is the discretion of the Supervisor whether or not your child will be allowed to attend that day.
