Autumn Term Newsletter 2023

School Admissions 

www.oldham.gov.uk/admissions

For our pre-school children who are due to go to Primary school in September 2024. The time has now come to begin to visit potential schools around your local area.

You will need to complete an application using the online application system available on the Oldham Council website.

The online system opens on 1 September 2023 and will close at 5pm on 15 January 2024.

They recommend that a minimum of three preferences are made for any application.

Free-Entitlement

www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

• A reminder for parents of those children who are due to receive their free entitlement from January 2024. You will need to do an eligibility check before 22nd December 2023 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 next couple of weeks to allow you to share this code with us.

Additional Services Charges

(3 & 4 year old funded children only)

An additional service charge was introduced in January 2023 to children aged 3- & 4-year-olds accessing funded hours. This is to ensure that the standard of childcare provided is maintained and continually improved, and so that we can continue to attract staff of a high quality to work for us. We try and keep these costs to a minimum however, inflationary forces outside our control are impacting heavily on the cost of running the business this year. At present the fee is 75p per funded hour but may need to rise in January 2024. We will keep you informed of any changes.

Q-Bell & Entrance way

Please can we ask that all Parents/Carers use the q-bell system when dropping your child off and collecting them at the end of the day particularly now the weather is getting bad. If you would like to add additional carers, then we will need their name, telephone number and email address in order for us to send them a link for them to download the app themselves.  Please can we be mindful of individual family’s privacy in the entrance way when dropping off your child. We have noticed many Parents/Carers walking in when staff are trying to have a conversation and sometimes these conversations may be of a sensitive nature and may need privacy whilst having them.

Scarecrow Festival

(Organised by one of our parents)

We are taking part in Royton’s scarecrow trail running from 14th-31st October.  Find on Facebook for more information ‘Royton Scarecrow Festival’

Small Talk UK

We know this year has been tough for the children in our setting. With the extremely long NHS speech and language waiting lists in this area, many children are now missing out on the vital support and early intervention they need. Therefore, it’s more important than ever that you have access to the best training, tools and advice to help support the children in our setting to get the best start in life.

Since November 2021, a lady called Emily who is a Speech and Language Therapist from Small Talk UK has been working with small groups of children in the Sunshine room and Busy Bees. We have found these Language booster sessions very beneficial. However, Emily is having a baby so this term the staff are using intensive Speech and Language strategies to support our children. You can find more information about Small Talk on the display board in the entrance hallway.

Emily will be giving our staff support throughout her maternity leave to ensure that children are receiving the best support where needed. Staff have also been Wellcomm trained which is a tool to be able to screen children in the setting around their Speech and Language abilities.

Clothing

Please can we ask that you keep your child’s bag re-stocked with a full set of clothes. If you could take their bag home every week to replenish and get them stocked up for the following week particularly the children who are currently toilet training as we have limited spare clothes in nursery.

Busy Bees

Wiffy Wilson: The wolf that wouldn’t wash- September

Funny bones- October

Whatever Next- November

The jolly Christmas postman- December

Bunnikins

Jayde, Leanne, Margaret and Kurana are based in this room.

Our Themes/Topics for this term are:

• Minibeasts (Sept)
• Halloween (Oct)
• Family & Pets (Nov)
• Christmas (Dec)

Please could you send your child into nursery with weather appropriate shoes with good soles either with them on or in their bag, this is to ensure their feet don’t get cold when playing outside in the garden, stop them from slipping when pulling themselves up to standing and they will help to develop those walking skills in the room.

Please could we ask you to send over some family photos including any pets you may have to help with our topic in November. Please send to broadwayroomphotos@outlook.com

Please ensure your child’s spare clothes bag has plenty of clothes in and that they are age appropriate.

Over this term, we will be giving the children the opportunity to explore their senses in sensory tuff trays relating to our topics. We will be exploring both inside and outside with different materials and textures this may mean the children might be getting messy and will be changed into fresh clothes.

 Rainbows

The staff based in this room are Liz, Emma, Becky & Elle.

In Rainbows we have welcomed our new children and staff as we all settle in and begin to make lots of new and fantastic bonds.

Our Themes/Topics for this term are:

• Minibeasts (Sept)
• Halloween/Bonfire (Oct)
• Families and pets (Nov)
• Christmas (Dec)

Whilst we have already enjoyed our theme of minibeasts recognising and creating lots of different insects. We have also made a flying start to our new theme of Halloween by decorating our room all spooky, dressing up and doing lots of crafts. We have been extremely lucky to be able to go on trips around the local area each week either going to the park, shops or looking at the pets in ‘Pets at home’. As the days are beginning to get more gloomy and wet we do still enjoy to go and run off our energy so we please ask that you bring appropriate winter coats or outdoor suits (if possible) and wellies in for your children, as well as spare clothes for if they do get wet. We look forward to the fantastic fun filled term ahead!

Sunshines

The staff based in the Sunshine room are Becci, Mollie, Courtney, Dawn, Emily, Pat & Jenna.

Aunty Jenna will be leaving us at the end of October to have her baby and Aunty Emily is moving onto University. We will miss them lots and wish them the very best.

Our Topics

• Settling in new children/Feelings & emotions (Sept)
• Halloween/Autumn (Oct)
• Bonfire night (Nov)
• Christmas/Winter (Dec)
• Upcoming events & activities

Autumn craft activities

Witches’ kitchen

Halloween craft activities/Halloween competition hat or mask (see staff for details)

Bonfire night craft activities, making chocolate apples.

Woodland animals

Celebrating Diwali and cultural food tasting

Celebrating Remembrance Day-WEAR RED

Christmas craft activities

REMINDER: Please ensure that your child has wellies in nursery and that they are the correct size. Could we also ask that you check your child’s tray at the end of each nursery day. Thank you

 Busy Bees

Our Busy Bees staff are Joanna, Alice, Reanna, Eleanor & Shannon.

Busy Bees would like to welcome all the new children who started and moved up from Sunshine’s at the beginning of September.

Our topics this term are:

• At home/About us (Sept/Oct)
• Autumn/Halloween (Oct)
• Space/Feeling & emotions (Oct)
• Bonfire night/Diwali/Remembrance Day (Nov)
• Christmas (Dec)

Our Busy Bees children are currently enjoying ‘Dance Beatz’ with Jenny on a Tuesday morning. She alternatively does dancing and yoga sessions. Dance Beatz has created a syllabus that not only teaches dance and movement in a fun and engaging way but focuses on the benefits dance can bring. These include health, fitness, social skills, confidence and self-esteem building, co-ordination, freedom to be creative and for the imagination to flow. These classes are linked to the EYFS.

Please can we ask that any nursery spare clothes you have at home are returned as we have very limited spare clothes at the moment, if you are planning on clearing out your cupboards ready for Christmas, any donations are welcome.

 Pumpkin drawing competition

Busy Bees are asking the children to take part in a pumpkin drawing competition, design the best pumpkin that Halloween has ever seen. Bring your design back by 30th October and you might win a prize.

We cannot wait for all the Christmas festivities Busy Bees will be taking part in, such as the Christmas show, going to this year’s Christmas pantomime which is ‘Jack and the beanstalk’ and nursery’s Christmas party.