The Old School House Day Nursery Spring News

Welcome to this addition of spring news which is full of news (obviously) and stuff about Easter and the next term in which we have plenty to share. We are so happy that the days are getting longer and the children can enjoy their run around outside after tea after a busy day of activities. The nursery is now implementing the Early Years Foundation Stage and all is going well but more on that later. Over the coming months there is lots going on at the nursery and so please regularly check out our website, outdoor notice board and your child’s folders because we do ( contrary to belief) send out details of everything that is going on at the nursery and we don’t want anyone to miss out!

Sally x

Sow Grow and Eat

Our first plants are in the ground which are green beans and broad beans and Walter has also created a flower garden in which we would like to grow a butterfly garden. We would like to ask each child in the nursery room to bring in a suitable flower bulb or some seeds so they can plant their own flowers in this garden over the next few weeks. We will mark their planting and then the children will be able to care for their ‘plot’ and watch it grow. Please bring bulbs or seeds in an envelope clearly marked with your child’s name by 27^th March 2009.

Newbald Kids Club

After the success of our first two kids clubs at Newbald Primary School we are pleased to tell you that we will be running our third kids club during the Easter half term between April 6^th ~ 17^th ( excluding bank holidays). Our club is open to children aged 4 to 8 years of age. For further information or to get a copy of our Easter Kids’s Club Programme of Events please speak to Sally or email her at sally@nursery.karoo.co.uk

Show and Tell in the nursery room

Thank you for continuing to send items in for show and tell, we feel this is an important part of our nursery day to allow the children to speak about something that is special to them or about a place they have been. Not all children want to take part in show and tell and we value this and understand their time will come when they want to speak to the group. Our show and tell session is usually around 10 minutes and we would like to explain a little about this so that you can help us make ‘ show and tell’ a valuable part of your child’s day.

•         Show and Tell does not have to be done every day ~ there is no way we can get through everyone in the time space we have.

•         Show and tell items should be of interest and something your child wants to talk about. This should not be a toy. We cannot stress enough that bringing toys into the nursery causes problems throughout the day and they are best left at home.

•         All show and tell items are put back into the show and tell box and taken home at the end of the day.

Some children only want to ‘show items’ and that’s ok too but please no toys….

Thank you for working with us ~ The Nursery Room Team

Comic Relief

Wow and thank you for all your support for helping us raise funds for comic relief particularly under the current economic recession. It is a tough time for people to think about supporting charities but your generosity allowed us to raise over £200.00 which was really great. Katie and I baked some home made red nose cookies which seemed to go down well and I always think it is nice to get something in return for the money you give instead of just putting money in a bucket! Thanks to Nikki and the team for getting involved with making this a fun day for all at the nursery.

Easter Party

Easter Bunnies and chicks will be invited to our children’s Easter Party on Thursday April 9^th, 2009 and so if your child attends nursery on this day and wants to dress up that would be lovely. We are asking for some contribution to party food and so if you would like to bring something in on the day we would be most grateful. By working together we can make this party yet another really nice experience for your child to share with their friends. Please can you let staff know if you will be bringing in food for the party so that we can plan ahead.

Butterfly Children ~ Sandwiches either Jam or Cheese

Bumble Bee Children ~ Cocktail Sausages or Crisps

Ladybird Children ~ Buns

In the afternoon there will be our annual Easter Bonnet Parade and prizes for everyone who enters so get out your glue and get creating!!!! There is stiff competition but we do value the work that the children have had a part in making. Bonnets should be named and brought into the nursery on the day of the party.

Parents are invited to celebrate Easter at the nursery with the staff and children.

On Wednesday 8^th April the Baby Room are inviting the baby room children’s parents to come to the nursery for an Egg Hunt which will take place around the nursery grounds at 3.45 p.m. prompt. Look out for details of this in your child’s folder and if you are going to come along we would love to see you so please let us know.

On Thursday 6^th April the Nursery are inviting the nursery room children’s parents to take part in their Egg Hunt which will involve an Easter Quiz and a chance to see our Easter Bonnet Parade. We will be providing Hot Cross Buns! Please let us know if you can come as we would love to see you.

The above are all subject to Weather Permitting.

Baby Room News

Look out for the parents post on the large notice board in the baby room ~ we don’t want you to miss anything. If you have any suggestions for activity idea’s or things you would like us to do at the nursery with your children pop it on a post card and we will display it on our parents post. Your suggestions may then be used in future planning for your child. Other things we would like to know about are celebrations or special events in your child’s life.

We also have a lovely picture gallery in the baby room so look please take a look if you have the time and if you have any pictures that you would like to add to our picture gallery please bring them in and we will display them. All of the children love to see the pictures and so we do like to regularly update,

Nikki would like to ask all caterpillar parents to bring in a photo of family members that she can display for the children to look at. We think this will be nice for our babies to see family member’s faces during their nursery day and helps our little people with settling in. Thank you parents who previously brought in pictures. Once your child moves to the butterfly’s your pictures will be returned.

Nursery Room News

Indoor shoes ~Now the weather is getting brighter and dryer we no longer require you to bring your child’s wellies ( unless it is raining). We ask that children come to nursery in suitable soft shoes such as doodles, crocs or plimsolls that they can wear inside and out.

Wish Fish

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all parents for adding bits to our wish fish and we look forward to receiving all of your idea’s for activities you would like to see us do at the nursery. The wish fish is a collection of suggestions from parents and the children of things they say they would like to do or any special things that are happening in their lives that we can celebrate. Anything we hear will be added, anything you here can also be added so pop your suggestions in your child’s folder!

Children’s Folders

Please remember to bring your child’s folder to nursery each time they attend so that information and art work doesn’t get lost in the system and goes home at the end of each day.

Reading Books

Please take care of nursery reading books that are taken home. If you do damage any books that are at home please can you inform a staff member when it is returned. We have a number of reading books still not returned so please can you check drawers and cupboards at home and then bring them back to the nursery. If books are lost or damaged -they do need to be replaced and this is costly so extra care is appreciated

Tiny Tunes

Irene Clark our music teacher is now coming to the nursery on a Monday as of April. Irene comes to the setting for 1 hour on the first Monday of every month to deliver a really lovely music time for the children. Music plays an important part at our nursery and during this time children get the opportunity to play instruments and learn new songs.

Security Updates

You will have noticed our smart new entry phones on both of entrances. These phones are to give us extra piece of mind at the nursery and allow all visitors to be seen and if necessary approached without going to the main entrances.

EYFS

The EYFS came into effect in 2008 and has been designed to provide learning, development and care for children aged 0-5yrs.  This has replaced the Birth to Three Matters and the Foundation Stage for 3-5yr olds. Our aim at the nursery is to provided free flow play activities where learning takes place during play which moves away from more formal learning which we worked against with the foundation stage. Children are being given much more choice into what we do by observing the children we are able to plan activities around their individual needs and interests which moves away from the topic based activities. The EYFS is in it’s early stages and we have yet to make judgment on how this is working but we do feel the children are getting so much more out of their nursery day at a level which is appropriate for them. Planned activities and Key person time is still carried out and our planning is available for you to view each day every day so if you would like to take a look please feel free to do so. It will show you all of the wonderful things your child has been doing with during the nursery day.

Nursery Cook

It is with great sadness that I am informing you that our beloved cook Jenny will be retiring after her 70^th Birthday on June 4^th. Jenny has been such a special part of all of our nursery children’s lives and has proved to be an excellent cook providing lovely meals each day. We will be very sorry to see her go and will be having a special lunch on the 5^th June ( which she will not have to prepare!) With this in mind we are now looking for someone to take on the role as nursery cook. If you know of anyone who is experienced in this area and currently looking for work please let them know and ask them to give me a call on 01430 828154 to discuss further. We don’t necessarily need the next Jamie Oliver but we do want someone who can churn out only the best home cooking including our very own cowboy pie!