Bents Farm Day Nursery
Newsletter
May 2015
A big welcome to all our new families that have joined us since our last newsletter.
Baby Boom! 

Isabelle I mum is expecting!
Max’s mum is expecting!
Staff - Claudia is expecting!
20 Years – To celebrate nursery being open 20 years we are having a party! Sunday 28th June, from 2pm
until 6pm. There will be a barbeque and children’s entertainer. Please see the posters around nursery and
the adverts in the Go Local! EVERYONE WELCOME
Sports Day- Don’t forget to book the afternoon off Friday 10th July, come and enjoy the afternoon and
strawberries and cream with us.
Leavers Photo – Tempest photographer will be taking a group photo of all children leaving for school this
September on Wednesday 17th June. Please bring your child in if this is not a day your child usually attends
as this is an important keepsake for your child.
Financial News – The annual nursery fee increase will take place in September, from 1st September 2015
fees will be charged at £46.00 for a full day and £23.00 for half a day.
The government have announced that Early Education funding hours will increase from 15 to 30 hours per
week for working parents, with a pilot scheme starting in September 2016.
If you currently claim Early Education Funding for your child, please ensure that you stick to the times that
you have asked for, particularly if you only attend for your funded hours. If you are unsure of the times that
you have requested, please ask a member of staff. If your child’s attendance falls below 75% of the
funding hours that you are claiming, Calderdale can ask you to repay the funding that you have claimed for
that term.
If your child leaves the setting for school in September, please ensure you have completed and returned
the school holidays booking form in order to book your child into nursery over the summer holidays. If we
have not received a completed form before the 30th June, we will assume that your child will not be in
nursery over the summer, and that their last day at nursery will be Friday 17th July 2015 (when the term
ends). If you have not done so yet, please let a member of Pre-School know your child’s leaving date.
Staff – Katie has now started in the baby rooms and Claudia will be going on mat leave soon.
The move round of rooms – The babies have now moved into the new baby room and seem to have
settled well enjoying the freedom of two rooms and easy access to their messy activities.
The pre-school children are now getting the hang of their new room, there are still layout changes going on
so your child’s coat-hook may be harder to find!! Pre-school is slightly more structured than nursery and
the children are expected to have more responsibility for the toys and their own behaviour in order to help
to prepare them for school.
A parent has asked us to compile a ‘guide to pre-school’ for the children
and parents moving down, so we have tried to give you as much information as possible below, as always
we value your feedback, pop us a note in the post box please.
Phonics – During circle time the children will begin learning about phonics (the alphabet), please
ask a member of staff for further information if needed.
 Books – You can change your book as little or as often as you like, this can be daily, weekly,
whenever the fancy takes you. Pre-school staff suggest changing it once a week.
 Show and Tell – Again these can be brought in as little or as often as you like, some children bring a
different show and tell item in every time that they are in. These are put in the show and tell box, to
talk about at circle time (what it is, where it came from etc.). We do advise that toys from home, for
show and tell go straight into the show and tell box and are not out and played with at other times,
as we cannot be responsible for favourite toys being lost or broken during the course of the day.
 Children’s Drawers – All pre-school children have a drawer with their picture and name on it, these
are for any drawings, newsletters, recycling bags etc. that go home with you. The children take
responsibility for these drawers and enjoy putting their pictures and things to take home in them
during the course of the day. Please check these when you pick your child up from pre-school.
 Uniform – This is completely optional and available to purchase from nursery, t-shirts are £8.50 and
sweatshirts are £9.75. Please ask a member of staff if you wish to purchase anything.
 Helpers – Helpers are chosen on a rota basis, which will enable every child to help with small tasks,
this enables the children to take responsibility for their room, helping to get things ready for dinner
and ensuring all areas are tidy etc.
 The Rocket – All children start the day on the green area of the rocket and are moved up or down it
according to their behaviour during the course of the day. If they are still on the green area at the
end of the day, they receive a star on their moon. Once the moon is full of starts they will receive a
small chocolate treat to take home. Children may also be chosen to be the star of the week and
take ‘Patrick’ home for a visit.
If you require any further information, the staff are always happy to help!
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Traffic - Please can everyone ensure they use the car park at all times, we understand that it is a long walk
from the car park to pre-school in the rain, but the safety of the children and consideration to others is
paramount. Please also ensure journeys up and down the lane are made at minimum speed and use
correct car seats and child restraints in order to keep our children SAFE.
Please also ensure if you use a taxi to drop off or collect your child that they wait in the car park.
If car seats are being left in the dryer room please ensure your names are on them.
Entrance – Please do not open the door to anyone even if you know them, this is for everyone’s safety and
please note no one under the age of 18 years can collect a child.
Attendance – Please ring nursery before 9:30am if your child is not attending.
Social Events – If you have any ideas for social events for parents/staff please post them in the post box in
the main entrance.
2nd Carers – If your child is cared for by anyone other than family i.e. nanny, child-minder, other setting
etc., could you please tell your child’s key worker. As part of working together a requirement from Ofsted, it
is important to gather information surrounding children’s interests and activities out of the setting in order
for us to extend children’s learning. We would also like to pass information from here to all people involved
to continue the cycle.
Inhalers – If your child uses an inhaler please ensure your child has one left at the setting at all times as
we can refuse to care for asthmatic children without inhalers.
Thank you, that’s all for now. Julie, Steven & the team.