February 2015 Newsletter for Pre-School, Isleworth

Harvard Park Pre School Isleworth February Newsletter 2015.

News from the Managers Nicki and Tracey and deputy manager, Natalie – We would like to welcome new parents who are joining us this month or who joined us late in January!

Just a reminder, we are closed from Monday 16th-Friday 20thfor half term. We are closed on Monday 23rd of February for our parent/teacher consultations. Those of you who have booked appointments, you will be receiving a reminder slip within the next week or so. If haven’t booked you appointment with a member of staff or key-worker please do so as soon as possible. It is an opportunity to find out how your child is doing and their development as well as a chance to have a look at their learning journals.

Please be aware of security when picking up your child, there are only 8 members of staff and 28/30 children going home. The moment you step into the building, your child/children are your responsibility. Please do not talk to the member of staff on the door as they are concentrating on parents picking up their children. Please be patient and wait to talk to someone who is not on the door. To ensure the safety of our children we are currently operating a 5 parent policy, only having 5 parents in the building at one time. Please be patient with us and the other parents. We encourage you to gather their belongings first before calling your child over as we are limited to space in the coat peg area. Thank you for your co-operation.

When your child’s session has finished and you are making your way to the barrier, please use the paths and zebra crossing provided, we would hate for someone to have an accident. We teach our children about road safety and the importance of crossings and staying safe while near roads so we would like to encourage you to do them same.

News from Natalie, Danielle, Seema, Diluni, Rosa, Jeanna, Marilyn, Laura, Erin and Anusha: We are having to find a replacement bear for Holly as she has gained quite a few injuries which are non-mendable  please bear with us while we find a new ’Holly’. We would also like to ask you, if you have any newspapers going spare or that are heading for the recycling, could we please have them as we use them for activities and our messy play. Also, we have had a dip in fruit supplies lately, please remember to bring in fruit on your child’s sessions. Just an apple or a banana will do.

Our theme for this month is Space! Our children have thoroughly enjoyed this in the past and there is lots of new learning to be had. Your children will be encouraged to join in with activities such as creating their own planets using different materials and textures, exploring our world and the solar system in which we live, creating ‘space food’ and looking at the story ‘Whatever next’. We will also be spending time outside looking at the sky and discussing what we are able to see. We will also be looking at Chinese New Year, which is the year of the sheep this year, as well as Valentine’s Day. Some of our activities will be creating crafts and mark makings for you to take home and treasure forever.

We would like you, as parents, to get involved in their learning journals. We have a parent’s page and some of them are looking a bit empty. Your keyworker will provide you with white sticky labels, for you to jot down a few things your have been up to at the weekend, during the week or even

in the evenings. This can be as simple as any new words your child presents to you or something that they have never done before.

Mission of the month: - On a clear night, head outside with your child, look up at the sky and talk about what you can see.

Write down any new language your child displays or what they have said in your conversation.

Just a few notes to start off the month of February:• Please it is very important that your child does not bring anything containing NUTS into the pre-school setting as we do have children and staff who have a NUT ALLERGY!!!  • Labelling your child’s clothing especially hats coats and gloves as we are having trouble with some children wearing the same colour and the same type of coats. If you would like us to do say simply say.

• We are still having problems at drop off times and having to open and close the gate many times – PLEASE BE ON TIME!!!!

• Some parents have requested that they collect their children at 3.30 due to horrid weather if you would like this option please let the staff know and we will have a group of children in the office room ready and waiting to go home – the other children will stay in the big room tidying up and having stories or songs.

• World book day is on 5th March 2015- time to get thinking about your child’s favourite book and an outfit to match!

Big well done to all your parents who have been encouraging either walking or riding to preschool! Less buggies is better for us as we have lack of storage as you can see.

To avoid upset or confusion everything should be clearly labelled with your child’s name. Also remember once you collect your child from their groups they are your responsibility so DO NOT let them push the door handle to let themselves out. ADULTS ONLY!!!!!!

We would like to wish a very Happy Birthday to Darcy May, Felcity-Lily and Massah. We hope you have a lovely birthday!

Please could parents/ carers bring in fruit so we can share it during our snack time?

You are doing great so keep it up!  please avoid Kiwi’s as we have a child who has an allergy, Thank You.

We have noticed that some parents are still parking next to parked cars outside the school gates please do not do this! PLEASE REFRAIN FROM USING THE STAFF CAR PARK AT ANYTIME EVEN IF THE BARRIER IS UP/THEY DO HAVE CAMERAS AND HARVARD PARK DO GET INTO TROUBLE IF OUR PARENTS ARE SEEN DRIVING IN. THANK YOU Can parents please join our Facebook site as we are trialling our news letters on our new site to save our trees! Just type in Harvard Park Pre-school and Day Nursery and we should pop up! We regularly update this with pictures, messages and notices. We will of course print of a few copies to those parents who do not have access to a computer. We will also display a copy on our parents table.