Autumn Term Newsletter 2021

New EYFS

From this term, we will be following the new Early Years Foundation Stage framework. The EYFS framework sets the standards to make sure that children aged from birth to 5 learn and develop well and are kept healthy and safe.

These changes to the EYFS statutory framework have been made to:

• Improve outcomes
• Reduce workload such as unnecessary paperwork, so we can spend more time with the children in our care

There’s more room for professional judgement, we can make more judgements based on our knowledge and experience, instead of using the early learning goals or age bands in the framework to track children’s progress. However, the 7 areas of learning and development remain the same.

Home Observations

Many parents are aware that you can access your child’s development and submit home observations on your Parent portal app. Please can we encourage parents to do this as this helps your child’s keyworker to gain knowledge about experiences that they have outside nursery.

Focused monthly core books

Last term within the nursery we introduced ‘Core books’. A monthly focus on 1 book in particular. This enables us to plan learning opportunities and our provision around specific subject areas and allows us to focus on your child’s communication and language skills. If you would like a list of these books, please let staff know.

 Free-Entitlement       

www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

A reminder for parents of those children who are due to receive their free entitlement from January 2022.  You will need to do an eligibility check before 1st December 2021 if you think you will be eligible for 30 hours. If you are not sure whether you are entitled or not, please feel free to come and speak to Sarah or Becky. A form will be given out in the upcoming weeks to allow you to share this code with us.

Drop offs and Pick ups

We no longer need your drop off and pick up times like we did during lockdown periods. However, please be mindful of our opening hours and ensure that yourself or an authorised person is collecting your child before 5:30pm (or your pre-agreed end time). Late fees will apply as stated in your terms and conditions upon registration for any child who is continually being picked up later than agreed.

Q-Bell

Thank you to all Parents/Carers who have been using the ‘Q-Bell’ system to drop off and collect your child/children. However, we have been having some technical difficulties over the past few weeks so we apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused. Thank you very much for being patient with us and if it ever goes down or you struggle to get signal, please either ring nursery or come and ring the doorbell yourself in the entrance. We are currently looking at how we can begin to let parents back into the setting to collect your child from their rooms still using the ‘q-bell’ app. You will receive a mail merge once we have decided to re-introduce this.

Sponsored Pyjama/Onesie Day

Please let your child join us by wearing your comfy pyjamas at nursery on Wednesday 20th October 2021. All funds raised will go towards Crackerjacks for children with disabilities and specialist disabled equipment to give children a better quality of life.

All we ask for is a small donation towards this great cause on the day.a

Concept Photography

You will be happy to hear that Concept photography are coming in on Thursday 11th November 2021 to take photos of your child ready for Christmas time. If you have more than one child at nursery, you can request individual and sibling photographs.

Jacqueline the photographer will be taking this year’s photographs in the Portakabin. If you DO NOT wish for your child’s photograph to be taken, please let Sarah or Becky know ASAP.

Labelling Clothing

Please could we ask that you label ALL your children’s clothing. We are having lots of instances where coats, wellies, bags are going missing or going home with the wrong child.