Pre-school February-March Newsletter 2016

Dear Parents/Carers, 

Welcome back to Pre-school, we hope you all had a relaxing half term break. 

I will like to use this medium to thank all parents and especially Mrs Sharpe for her continuous support in providing resources towards our weekly theme.

The last half terms parent key worker event was a success; thanks to parents who took time to attend.  Kindly let me know if you missed the event and would like to arrange an alternative date to see your child’s key person.

The feedback from the reading club has been encouraging and we would like to thank you all for your support. We have however noticed that a few children have not brought the preschool books back, kindly ensure the books are returned to accord other children of the same priviledge as your child.

The Pre-school value our children’s learning journey and the use of daily diaries helps to celebrate their experiences at the Pre-school.  We would like to see more parents get involved by adding information to the learning journal through the online daily diary. Information like family photographs, observations of significant events and so on can be uploaded in order to get to know the children better. Knowing about their skills and what they do outside of the Pre-school enables us to support their interest and tailor planning to meet their individual learning and development more effectively.

Starting from this edition of our newsletter, we will include information on how you can support your child at home in one of the Early Years Foundation Stages 7 areas of learning. This will enable you to see how  the fun activities  you do with your child at home supports their learning and development and has a long lasting effect on their learning as they progress through school.  The first of the 7 areas in this edition will be one of the prime areas of learning which is:

Personal, social and emotional development (PSED)

This involves helping children to develop a positive sense of themselves; and others to form positive relationships and develop respect for others; to develop social skills and learn how to manage their feelings; to understand appropriate behaviour in groups and to have confidence in their own abilities.  

With a nurturing environment, children are individually supported in developing confidence, autonomy and self-respect.  They are encouraged to work and concentrate independently and also to take part in the life of the group, sharing and co-operating with other children and adults.  Through activities, conversation and practical example and guidance, they learn acceptable ways to express their own feelings and to have respect for the feelings of others.   All children are given the opportunity, as appropriate, to take responsibility for themselves and also for the group, its members and its property. 

You can help your child by:

  • encouraging your child to dress/undress themselves
  • praising their efforts however small
  • encourage your child to look after their own toys and tidy up when they have finished playing (we have a preschool song for tidy up time which the children enjoy)
  • encourage your child to wait their turn when playing games
  • encourage your child to wash their hands after going to the toilet and before meals

Miss Creith has been unable to come back to work due to her health status however, joining our team of staff this month are Miss Mcevoy, Mrs Cooney and Miss Sharkey.  Volunteering opportunity is available at the Pre-school, please let me know if you can spare few hours.

Mother’s Day Event– We will like to celebrate all our mothers, carers and grandmothers on Thursday 3rd March 2016 at 11.30 am. All concerned should make their way to the big hall through the front door on the said day.   

 Sainsburys Vouchers – We are currently collecting vouchers so that we can claim for free sports equipment. Please can you support our Pre-school by collecting these vouchers. We would really like  

QUARANTINE PERIOD FOR SICKNESS 

We hereby wish to let you know that Health Authority advice has dictated that anyone suffering from sickness or diarrhoea should not return to pre -school for 48 hours to minimise the spread of infection. 

Our Health and Hygiene Policy has been amended to this effect, and we would appreciate your support in this matter.

It would be helpful if you dissuade children from bringing toys into the Pre-school. These toys often cause distraction and end up going missing leaving staff members searching endlessly for them. Could you also put children’s names on all coats, bags, water bottles and other clothing items for easy identification. Kindly ensure children wear suitable clothing, as a lot of our activities can be messy.

Please don’t forget to notify the Pre-school of any changes of circumstances, eg emergency telephone number, change of address so we can update our record.

We thank all the parents who have paid their child/ren’s fees in full and in part. Kindly arrange to make payment if you are yet to do so.

Our weekly themes for this half term are as follows:

Week 1- Pirates and Princesses

Week 2- Technology

Week 3- The World Flag

Week 4- Plants and Flowers

Week 5- Easter

Dates for diary

Thursday 3rd March- Mother’s Day Tea Morning at the Preschool- 11.30am (Please note that afternoon session will run normally on the day).

21st– 23rd March- End of Term Report/Learning Journal goes Home

24th, 29th, & 30th March- Learning Journals return to Pre-School

Term date

Last day of Spring Term- Thursday 31st March 2016

Bank Holiday- Friday 25th March

Bank Holiday- Monday 28th March

  • The Bank Holiday means the Preschool will be closed on Friday 25th and Monday 28th of March and reopen on Tuesday 29th. The last day of term will be Thursday 31st

Summer Term 2016

Start of Term- Tuesday 19th April 2016- Thursday 21st July 2016

Half Term – Monday 30th May- 3rd June 2016

Thank you.