Princess of Wales Day Nursery
November 2013 Newsletter
PLAYSCHEME
th
December 19 2013 – January 3rd 2014
NURSERY CLOSED
December 25th & 26th 2013. January 1st 2014
Staff news
New staff: We would like you to welcome a few new staff members to our fantastic team,
Sarah Macleod, Rhiannon Groom, Abby John, Fathi Muhamed and Brindusa Capanescu. I’m sure you
will wish the all the best in their new adventures here at Schoolhouse Daycare.
Welcome Back Sian Newell from her Maternity leave, Sian will be working three days a
week in all areas of the nursery.
Congratulations to Tatiana Jacome who is expecting her second child in February 2014.
Tatiana will be leaving us to go on Maternity leave at the beginning of February. Also to Annmarie
Walker who is also expecting her second child in April 2014.
Training and Development
Many of our staff have attended training in Level 2 Food hygiene as well as Paediatric First Aid.
Cathy and Annmarie continue to keep up to date with the Foundation Phase training, aiding them
in the Estyn framework.
Many of our staff are embarking on QCF level 5 in Childcare and Kelly is undertaking the QCF
Level 3 in Management.
We believe that are staff are our best asset and continuously offer them training to keep them
learning and enhance their knowledge and up to date with any new emerging information.
Nursery news
We have had a few busy months, Kelly and Bev walked the coastal path from Porthcawl to
Dunraven Bay at Southern down beach and raised £458.00 for the charity Walk On Wales, all in
aid of Welsh Guards Afghanistan Appeal and Combat Stress.
The nursery received their e-Quality Counts inspection at the beginning November where we are
striving to get the highest level, By undertaking e-Quality Counts your nursery will embark on a
quality journey to assess all areas of your business. The scheme comprises of 15 sections which
cover all areas of your nursery business from management to observation and reflection, to
informing practice and nutrition, serving food and oral health.
CONGRATULATIONS!
We have achieved a GOLD with Investors In People, where people management excellence
counts. This award shows that we have an outstanding working culture where we put our staff
first and nurture them; we know that our staff are the heart of the nursery.
What’s on in Bridgend at Christmas time……
Elf-steddfod
Go dressed in your best Elf costume and join the annual Elf-
steddfod where over 1,000 elves will gather to jive and shilly on December 14 th. In
Bridgend town centre.
A Victorian Christmas…. 14
th
– 15th December
Step back in time for a victorian Christmas at Bryngarw Country park. There will be traditional
fairground rides, storytelling, a Christmas market, traditional seasonal treats and carol singing
on Sunday evening.
Christmas concert inside Margam Castle… 13
th
December 7pm.
Take a picnic and enjoy a traditional Christmas at Margam Castle with an evening of Christmas
classics like Oh Holy Night, Let it snow, Joy to the World and Silent Night. Rediscover the true
spirit of the festive season. Tickets are £12
Christmas craft
For this craft, you'll need a pair of old socks that are crew length, or longer. First, cut off
the top of the sock from the foot. Turn the sock inside out and attach a rubber band
tightly to the top of the sock. Then turn the sock right-side out again Fill the sock with
rice. Make sure to pack it down as you go so the sock gets a nice round base. Rubber band
the top of the sock closed and put another rubber band 3/4 of the way to the top for the
head of your snowman. Now, decorate! Tie a scarf around your snowman's neck and add
eyes, nose, and buttons. Use the toe of your cut socks to fashion a stocking cap. Or you
could use coloured argyle socks to create hats and sweaters for your snowman. You can
either sew or glue on your buttons, and add embellishments - twine, bows, ribbons, etc - as
needed. This is such a quick and easy craft - 10 minutes tops - that it would be simple to
create a whole family of snowmen for your mantle!
Christmas Recipe
CINNAROLL HOLIDAY WREATH
Cooking time:25 Mins
Prep Time: 25 Mins
Makes: 18 rolls
Ingredients:
1 package Big and Flaky Crescent dough
8 tbsp. butter softened
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
3 tbsp. sugar
1 tbsp flour
1/3 cup finely chopped walnuts,
optional
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350°. Lightly grease a cookie sheet or line with parchment paper.
Gently unroll Crescent dough onto a lightly floured board and separate into 3 rectangular
sections (each having 2 triangles). Press the seams of the triangles together to achieve 3
rectangles. Place dough pieces on a foil lined cookie sheet and freeze for 5 minutes.
Mix the butter, cinnamon, sugar, and flour together in a small bowl until smooth. Remove the
dough from the freezer. Divide the mixture by 3 and spread each piece of dough evenly with 1
part. Sprinkle with nuts if desired. Tightly roll up each piece beginning at the shorter end of the
rectangles. Freeze the rolls again for 5 minutes just until firm so that they are easier to cut.
Cut each roll into 6 -1" pieces. Set the buns, 2 inches apart, onto the greased cookies sheet.
Bake the cinna-rolls for 12-16 minutes. Allow to cool 15 minutes before forming wreath.
Arrange the cinna-rolls on a plate in a wreath pattern. Drizzle with cookie Icing and Sprinkle
with Holiday decors.
Don’t forget you can visit our website at www.schoolhouse-daycare.co.uk or visit us on