Welcome to Term 2!
I love this term! First come the amazing autumn colours. The children love to explore the leaves, pinecones and conkers. They use them to make pictures, prints and collages. After Autumn comes the excitement of Christmas! We will be planning lots of lovely experiences for the children and will even be inviting you to join us. Please see “Dates for Your Diary” for details.
I also want to thank you all for your patience and understanding during this tricky time since we have been one of the schools that experienced the impact of the cyber attack. I am aware that most of you have now seen the news about this event. I want to reassure you that at the moment there is not clear information about what data has been breached and where from. We will let you know more information as soon as we have it
Mandy, Head teacher
Governors
We have managed to secure two new parent governors. Thank you so much to our volunteers.
They are both parents of children in raindrops room, which I hope means they will be able to support us for a couple of years. The role of the parent governor is hugely important as they represent an experience of being a parent at our school which helps us to ensure everything we do is with parents and children in mind.
Free School Meals
The Government launched anew initiative this year which means that Nursery Schools now need to provide lunches for any child that is identified as a Pupil premium child. This includes families that receive benefits or universal . We have sent out letters to families offering them this opportunity. If you feel you qualify but haven’t received a letter, please came and see Lian or Charmaine in the office.
We launched our lunches this week! It will take some children a bit of getting used to as they are used to expecting to see their lunch box! We are making great progress and children are doing really well at trying foods that may be new to them. However, if you are concerned your child is struggling with this change, please see their key worker. We are able to have some flexibility n the food that we provide as we are preparing our own cold lunches. We do, however, have to remain in line with the Governments “Food and Nutrition Guidelines”.
We are also encouraging families that provide their own packed lunches to also be mindful of this guidance and take up the challenge to provide just one sweet treat a day in your child’s lunch box!
Christmas Raffle
We are looking for donations of unused toiletries, biscuits, chocolate or small toys on excellent condition to make up some hampers to raffle this year. Anything we raise goes towards a gift for each room from Santa. Thank you so much!
Self-Help Skills
This term is the ideal opportunity to teach your child the “coat trick”. Lay the coat on the floor in front of them with their feet at the hood end. Encourage your child to put their arms in the sleeves and then flip their coat over their heads…..as if by magic the coat sleeves slide on their arms, and they find themselves wearing it! A brilliant trick to make them feel proud and develop their independence. They may need a little help with the zip, but if you can show them how it’s done…they’ll manage that too with a little practice!
Family link Worker
Many of you already know our fabulous Lucy. She works with both families and children to support them in any way that is needed. She is often at the gate in the mornings so please come and say hi.
This year she is planning to run the Nurture programme, set up a Parent/carer feedback group, work with children using sand therapy as well as offer a listening ear at any time. If you are not sure where to find here, please ask at the office.
Dates for Your Dairy
Tuesday 24th and Thursday 27th November: Parent Engagement event: Spider making workshop.
Tuesday 8th and Thursday 10th Dec: Christmas Jumper Day
Monday 14th and Friday 18th: Christmas Parties: Star/sun
Tuesday 15th and Thursday 18th Dec : Christmas Singing for all and parties in Rainbows/Raindrops
Wednesday 16th December: Sun and Star Sensory Singing
Friday 18th December: End of term: at 11.45am (half day)
Monday 4th Jan: Back to school
Wednesday 13th January: INSET day
Term 2 Curriculum
This term our curriculum focus is “Learn a Nursery Rhyme”. The children are all learning to remember and say “Incy Wincy Spider.” They will be exploring this Nursery Rhyme in lots of different ways and learning new words from the rhyme e.g. “water spout”. The children will also be exploring all areas of the curriculum through this focus.
They will be joining in with rhymes and actions, using one handed tools to make and create things, making their large marks with pens, pencils and paints. They will be using their senses to explore natural materials, understanding taste, smell, touch and describing what they see. They will be continuing to explore groups of things, able to recognise groups of three without even counting! We call this “Subitising”.
On Tuesday 24th and Thursday 27th November at 2.15pm we would like to invite parents to join us for a spider making workshop. We will provide all the resources that you need to make a spider to take home with your child. You can then use the spider to help your child to retell the nursery rhyme or to play with the spider and act out “climbing up the water spout!” We would love to see you there!
Last Day of Term
We will be closing at 11.45am on the last day of term: Friday 18th December. We will be holding a “stay and Play” for the children who are moving rooms in January as well as those coming to us for the first time. This is a great way for these children and parents to prepare for January changes and meet their new adults.
The Importance of Play!
This year we will be looking closely at the importance of play for children’s learning and development. We all know how much children love to play but we are enjoying finding out just how absolutely crucial it is for children to grow up healthy, happy and learning! Play is the most crucial tool needed for brain growth! The part of the brain responsible for play, is actually in our primitive brain. This is the part of the brain responsible for our most basic needs, for example food and sleep! The fact that Play is in this part of the brain emphasises just how crucial it is to us!
Physical play is crucial to bone growth as well as loads of well being chemicals such as oxytocin. This means its crucial to our health as well as out ability to learn. Getting outside to run, jump and climb will ensure your child is developing just as they should. We are also learning that playing with you has the most benefit of all! So put down those screens and get outside and enjoy playing together! Have fun!
Website
When you have a moment, check out our website!
We add photos from the classrooms as regularly as possible so you can see what the children have been learning each term.
If you know of any families that may be looking for a Nursery space. Please direct them to our website. Thank you.