-
Dear Parents and Carers
I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new and also to say thank you for all your support in welcoming me as the new manger, I am always on the end of the phone or email to help and support in any way I can.
The team and I would like to thank you for all your kind gifts and well wishes.I hope you feel that the zoom nativity was hugely successful and will join me in a massive thank you to all the children and the team for making a beautiful memory in exceptional circumstances.
The Christmas stall raised a massive £130 and will enable the preschool to buy a second ipad and trial a new online system for learning journeys and observations….watch this space for more information.
Time to look forward to a new term and welcome Orlagh who will be joining us in January and to say a sad goodbye to Emily and Chester whose families are moving on to a new adventure, we truly wish you the best if luck.
Parent consultations will be taking part in February and again time for another first; we are hoping to hold this by phone or video call with your child's key worker by appointment.
More details to follow in the new term.
Stay safe, stay well and enjoy your Christmas
Kind regards
Georgina and the St Pauls Crofton Preschool team
*****************************************************************************************************
Curriculum and ideas for home
This term our theme is toys.
Week 1- Teddy bears.
Week 2- Wheeled toys.
Week 3- Flying toys.
Week 4 -Round toys
Week 5-Programmable toys
Week 6 -Dinosaur and small world
If your child would like share their favourite toy with us please submit a photo and reason by Dojo so we can share with the group.
*************************************************************************************
Dates to remember this term
4th Jan preschool closed for a deep clean
5th Jan preschool back at 9.30am
Census week w/c 4th Jan
18th Jan deadline for fees and funding( please note an invoice is given for half term 1 and 2 at the start of this term)
February parents consultations
11th Feb last day before half term
15th - 21st February- half term
22nd Feb Back at preschool.
***************************************************************************************************
Things to remember
Please name all coats bags and personal belongings
We have an amazing garden which we use all year round please dress your children accordingly
Lunch boxes should be a healthy balances meal and easy to open for your children please also remember we are a
nut free/ no peanut butter preschool.
**********************************************************************************************
Covid 19 updates and reminders
We will continue to use two queues and entrance and exits points A and B, please can I remind you to wear a face covering and keep your distance when waiting at the preschool.
Hand gel and antibacterial spray will be available to use please ensure this is done before entering.
Temperatures will still be taken at the door and enhanced room cleaning is in place
Covid secure measures mean we need to keep the room well ventilated with windows open at all times please keep this in mind as the room is cooler than usual. Please ensure your child is dressed in layers.
If a member of your household is isolating it is preschool policy for the children to remain at home for the required time as well.
I also ask you keep me informed of any tests within your bubble. Thank you for helping us to keep children and staff as safe as possible.
Curriculum Theme – Toys
We will be welcoming 1 new starter into the setting this term and encouraging the children to help her to settle by being kind and friendly towards her.
We will be introducing a new behaviour management tool during this term (details to follow) which is designed to encourage positive behaviour at all times.
We will be using different resources such as stories and role play to talk about our feelings e.g. when we create our ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’ role play
There will be opportunities to use large equipment such as slides, climbing frames and balance beams indoors during term.
Ball skills such as kicking, catching and bowling will be promoted in week 4 (round toys) through various activities.
There will be an opportunity to use tools in week 2 both in the garage role play and when constructing with Big Builder.
We provide daily activities that promote the use of a pincer grip and continue to encourage the children to try and manage their clothing independently.
In week 1 we will have a role play area set up to reflect the story ‘Goldilocks and the three bears’.
We will choose daily stories based on the weeks theme and a wide range of books will be available to the children every day.
We continue to encourage recognition of the child’s name at welcome, snack and in the cloakroom.
Mark making is encouraged in all role play areas.
Imaginative play will be encouraged with different role play areas and small world toys every day.
We will use paint and graphics to look at colour and collage resources to talk about texture.
There will be craft activities related to the theme every week.
The children will have the chance to explore sound with musical instruments and to use scarves to interpret music.
We will continue to introduce new vocabulary to the children through songs and stories.
Turn taking will be encouraged in conversations and good listening skills will be promoted at story time
During the term there will be opportunities to use varied ICT toys such as remote control cars, Bee Bots, table top computers and laptops.
We will be recreating real life scenarios in role play such as an airport and a garage so children can mimic adult behaviour and different occupations.
We will be talking about the weather and the changing seasons as well as looking for signs of Spring in the garden
Maths activities are available daily in the hall. In addition we will use number/maths songs to encourage counting and shape recognition.
Varied construction resources are available to raise awareness of 3D shapes.
In relation to the theme, we will also be playing compare bear bingo (week 1) and using the dinosaurs with the sorting set in week 6!
- Help your child to recognise their name so that they can find their coat peg
- Encourage your child to put on and take off their coat independently
- Help your child to learn to blow their nose and dispose of the tissue
- Practise washing hand thoroughly at home. There are several songs available on line to help with this – please ask staff if you can’t find one