NEWSLETTER
Dear Parents and Carers,
15th May 2017
Sadly on Friday 26th May it will be Helen’s last day at Pre-School as she is moving on to pastures new.
We would like to thank Helen for her input into the setting during her time here as well as supporting
the children and their families, we wish her well in her new position.
I wanted to let you know that I will be leaving after half term to start a new job. I am sad to be
moving on and will miss your children, for some of you I have looked after two of your children! I
count it a privilege to, alongside yourselves, help them to mature and help them gain independence and
new skills. Thank you for entrusting them into our care.
My good wishes to you all, Helen.
As we are now well into our Summer term and the weather has been gracious, we are accessing more
activities outside in the play areas. However, our black rubberized play area has always caused
problems on clothing, footwear and skin but this is worse when the weather is warm and sunny. I do
apologise for this as even though we have been disputing this with the company for a number of
years, we are still in the same position. We will only use this area now when it is not possible to use
the other outside play area.
The working together sessions to the reception class are an enjoyable time for our rising 5s and have
given the children the chance to explore both indoors and outdoors in the reception, alongside
spending time with Mrs Heafield, Miss Burridge, Mrs De-Russet and on some sessions Mrs Day.
Please can we ask all parents when bringing their children to the setting in the mornings that the
parents remain in the foyer and let their children come into the setting on their own as this
sometimes causes upset to children already in the setting. If you need to see a member of staff let
Annie know on arrival and we will make ourselves available.
Tempest Photos – please can all orders be returned to the Pre-School by Friday 19th May.
Can I please request that you inform us in advance if possible of any early drop offs or late pick ups
to your normal session times to ensure that staff are in the setting, as some children are arriving 10
minutes earlier than their booked in session and this may incur extra costs.
Communication Books – these are still working well but would like to ask if parents could please also
write in these as now we are having some lovely sunshine the children should be arriving with sun
cream already applied, please can you pop this info in their books so that all staff are aware that this
has been applied to your child. Also please send in named sun cream and sun hats.
Can I please ask that if your child wishes to bring a toy or item into Pre-School that you encourage
them to put this into the tray, whilst all the staff try to ensure that their belongings remain in the
tray we can’t always do this. Please also if your child takes anything home that isn’t theirs please can
you return to the Pre-School as we have missing cars, cash register money, pens etc.
Also if you have any of the Pre-School clothing at home could you please return them as we have no
girls spare clothing at the moment, therefore if anyone has any girls tops or bottoms they no longer
need we would appreciate any donations.
30 hour free childcare entitlement – you may already be aware of this but from September 2017
there will be an additional 15 hours funding available for 3/4 year olds, this comes with a criteria
base for working parents which is as follows: both parents are working (or the sole parent is working
in a lone parent family) and each parent earns on average a weekly minimum equivalent to 16hrs at
national minimum wage (NMW) or national living wage (NLW) ie. earnings of £107 a week.
Working will include employed and self-employed persons.
It includes those parents on zero hour contracts who meet the criteria.
There will be an income cap so that, when at least one parent in a household has income of £100,000
or more, that family will not be eligible to take up the extra free hours.
If you would like any further information please speak to Annie.
Also available is Tax-Free Childcare, this is an on-line government service to help parents to pay for
childcare, for every £8 a parent pays into their Childcare Account, the government will add an extra
£2 to their Childcare Account for them to then use to pay for their childcare. For further
information please speak to Annie
Hourly fee price increase – from September 2017 the hourly fee rate will rise from £3.70 per hour
to £4.00 per hour, this is in-line with the government funding rate which increased last April to
£3.98. Any children who access over the funded entitlement or do not receive any funding will be
charged at £4.00 per hour.
Dates for your diary:
Friday 26th May – Last day of half term.
Monday 5th June – Return to Pre-School.
Wednesday 28th June – Sports Day further info to follow.
Wednesday 12th July – Summer Outing further info to follow.
Friday 21st July – End of Summer Term
Thursday 7th September – Return to Pre-School
General Information
PLEASE remember our sickness and diarrhoea policy that children should not be brought into the PreSchool setting until 48hrs from the last bout of sickness or diarrhoea. If your child is poorly or
unable to attend the setting, please can you phone us to let us know that they will not be attending.
We have spaces available on all days and sessions next term, as well as being able to accept 2gether
funding for 2 year olds. Pre-School polo shirts £6.50, sweatshirts £8.00 and fleeces £12.50 are
available if you wish to purchase.
Should you wish to use our breakfast or after school club facilities could you please if possible notify
us as soon as possible so we can put the relevant staff in place. Also please keep to allotted funded
hours and times as if not you may incur extra costs, however we are flexible and can alter, change
times and hours at short notice.
REMINDER: Please can we make sure the front door is closed securely for the safety of our
children, any problems please let the staff know. Also could parents please park at the bottom
gate and walk up to Pre-School as the car park is for the Primary School and their staff only.
We hope you all have an enjoyable half term break and we look forward to welcoming you back on
Monday 5th June.
(NB: The Baby & Toddler Group are open over the half term, Wednesday 9.30am-11.30am)
Many thanks, Lynn