News at Little Friends
February Newsletter |
| Thank you
Firstly, we would like to say a big thank you for all of the chocolate and biscuit gifts that we received during the Christmas period. They helped to keep us going during a very busy time of year!
We would also like to thank those parents and other family members who joined us for Christmas Lunch and those who came to see the Learning Centre Christmas production ‘We Know all about Christmas’. We were amazed at the amount of people who came to both of these events and are very thankful that we have such supportive parents and families (and enough space to accommodate everyone!). Photographer On Thursday March 15th there will be a photographer at the nursery to take the children’s photographs. If your child does not normally attend on a Thursday please feel free to bring him/her along. We are again using U-Yoo Photography if you would like to view what products they offer and what you can expect if your child has his/her picture taken please visit their website at www.u-yoo.co.uk Parent Partnership An important aspect of our parent partnership is sharing in the recording of your child’s overall development through the Early Years Foundation Stage. As such we regularly send development files home for you to view, add to and make comment on. Your views and comments are extremely valuable to your child’s development file and these files should reflect an equal balance of achievements between home and nursery. It would be very much appreciated if you could periodically provide your child’s key worker with an observation or two which can be included in his/her development file. Sharing interests and information about activities which you have taken part in outside of nursery are also valuable additions to your child’s development file and allow for key workers to extend and encourage children’s interests through the daily activities which they provide. Tea Towel In previous years we have produced a Little Friends Tea Towel using the children’s hand prints and drawings. Following a request from a parent we looked into producing another one and have decided to do one to commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. The staff and children are currently busy making and collecting hand prints and drawings which will be sent away to be turned into a tea towel. As soon as we receive the proof for this we will display it and begin taking orders. Positive Parenting Workshops We have been offering Positive Parenting Workshops at Little Friends for the past 6 months and have so far covered a range of topics including Attachment & Bonding, Wellbeing, Behaviour Management, Baby Led Weaning, Growing Families (Preparing for a New Sibling), Promoting Learning & Development at Home, Healthy Eating for the Under 5’s and Children’s Teeth and Oral Health. Our next Workshop is on Wednesday 15th February (they are held on the third Wednesday of each month). The main topic will be Potty Training but we will also be revisiting ‘Baby Led Weaning’, with some parents who have followed this weaning program with their children sharing their experiences. The topic for each workshop is decided at the previous one based on the current needs of the parents who attend, however any parent with a specific challenge/problem or topic of interest can present this for inclusion at any time. Over the months attendance at the Workshops has gradually grown, we very much appreciate the support already given by those parents who have attended and would welcome the added support of anyone else who is interested. Outdoor Wear As you know outdoor play forms a large and important part of our daily routine at Little Friends and it is essential that children have the correct clothing for each season to keep them protected against the weather. This winter we have been particularly aware that the children are very often sent home with dirty, wet clothes and coats from their adventures outside! This may not be an ideal situation for many parents who do not have the time or opportunity to wash their child’s coat on a daily basis but it is vitally important to their development that children are allowed to play freely outside and not have their play restricted. We have done some research and found a company who supply good quality, waterproof all in one suits, jackets and trousers which we feel would be ideal outerwear for the children which will keep them dry and warm whilst also protecting their coats and clothes from getting very wet and dirty during outdoor play. We have some samples of these available for you to see and there is also some information in the hallway. Please see Maggie if you have any further questions or would like to place an order. Fees We realise due to current economic difficulties that this is an uncertain time for many families; with this in mind we have taken the decision not to raise our fees in April. However, it is also a difficult time for small businesses so we will continually review this decision over the next 6 months and there may be the need for a fee increase later in the year to ensure our future sustainability. Dates to Remember Positive Parenting Workshop Wed 15th February – Everyone Welcome (Topic – Potty Training) Positive Parenting Workshop Wed 14th March – Everyone Welcome (Topic – TBA) Good Friday 6th April – Nursery Closed Easter Monday 9th April – Nursery Closed Positive Parenting Workshop – Wed 18th April – Everyone Welcome (Topic – TBA) May Day Bank Holiday 7th May – Nursery Closed Parent Evening Thurs May 17th – 7 – 9pm (Adult only evening) Teddy Bears Picnic/Queens Jubilee Celebration Thurs 31st May – Everyone Welcome Spring Bank Holiday 4th June – Nursery Closed Queens Diamond Jubilee 5th June – Nursery Closed Positive Parenting Workshop 21st June – Everyone Welcome (Topic – TBA) Learning Centre parents please also refer to the calendar of events which have. Advanced notice of 2012 Christmas closure dates: Close 6pm Friday 21st December 2012 Re-open 7.45am Wednesday 2nd January 2013 |
| Article posted on Thu 02 February 2012 |
Calendar of Events September 2011 - August 2012 |
September Topic – Water October Topic – Autumn November Topic – Our planet December Topic – Christmas January Topic – All About Me February Topic – Jobs March Topic – Spring April Topic – Stories May Topic – The Rainforest June Topic – Dinosaurs JulyTopic – Insects AugustTopic – Holiday/Travel |
| Article posted on Tue 30 August 2011 |