Please click the following link to read our Summer Term newsletter.
April 2022
Dear Parents/Carers,
Welcome to the Spring/Summer terms at Busy Bees. We hope the children will enjoy fun filled terms and are ready to undertake a wide variety of fun and educational activities.
As part of the EYFS we
Welcome to the Spring/Summer terms at Busy Bees. We hope the children will enjoy fun filled terms and are ready to undertake a wide variety of fun and educational activities.
As part of the EYFS we focus on seven main areas of learning, which are:-
Prime Areas
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Physical Development
Communication and Language
Specific Areas
Literacy
Mathematics
Understanding the World
Expressive Arts and Design
A useful website for parents/carers is ‘what to expect, when (EYFS )’ www.foundationyears.org.uk
If you would like to learn Jolly Phonics songs and join in with the actions with your child you can find them on You Tube (just type Jolly Phonics songs in the search bar).
Your Child’s Key Person
Each child is allocated a Key Person, this is the person who works closely with your child and monitors their development. It is vital that EVERY parent/carer is aware who their child’s Key Person is and that you have good communication with them. If you are unaware who your child’s Key Person is, please ask your child’s room leader to introduce you to them.
Tapestry
We actively aim to encourage parents/carers to be involved with their child’s progress, it is very important that we have strong links between home and school. As many of you may know we use ‘Tapestry’ as part of our way of recording the children’s developmental records. This has been very successful so far and we have received lots of positive feedback from both parents/carers and our staff. The benefits of using Tapestry include:
- Enables parents /carers to see photos and observations of your child’s learning and experiences
- Share your child’s at-home learning activities with us by putting comments on the ‘Parents Observations’ section
We also put lots of information on Tapestry regarding activities that are taking place within the classroom and nursery.
If you haven’t received your invitation to join Tapestry or have been unsuccessful in joining, please see your child’s key person who will be happy to ensure that you are signed up successfully.
Busy Bees website
If you haven’t looked on our website recently, please take a few minutes occasionally to check it out as we have lots information relating to your child’s class and events taking place within the nursery.
You can see a full list of our team and the classes they work in under the ‘Staff’ section on our website www.busybees-nurseryschool.co.uk
We have recently updated our brochure, which has lots of useful information relating to how the nursery operates and items that your child/ren need to bring to nursery each day. A PDF version of the brochure can be found on our website.
If you have a Facebook account, it is advisable to follow us as we regularly put updates on our page relating to activities and events that are taking place within the nursery.
Healthy Snacks – NO NUTS OR PRODUCTS THAT CONTAIN TRACES OF NUTS
As you are aware, each child is required to bring in their own healthy snack each session. May we please stress the emphasis on ‘HEALTHY’
Items for a healthy snack could include:-
PLEASE ENSURE ALL GRAPES ARE CUT IN HALF LENGTH WAYS
Raisins
Cereal bars
Yoghurts
Crackers etc
Please ensure all snacks are clearly named
Lunches – NO NUTS OR PRODUCTS THAT CONTAIN TRACES OF NUTS
If your child stays over the lunchtime period, could we please ask that you also provide a healthy lunch.
Events taking place in the coming months
Parent Consultations
As you will be aware, we have recently held face to face parent/carer consultations. The nursery staff have said how much they enjoyed having the opportunity to speak with you face to face. If you were not able to attend a meeting, but would like to schedule an appointment, or would like to arrange a telephone call, please speak to your child’s Key Person or Room Leader who will be happy to schedule a mutually convenient day/time.
June – Class (whole group) photographs
Further information relating to class photographs will be given out shortly
Little Chicks Teddy Bears Picnic (weather permitting)Thursday 14th July – 11.00am – 12.00noon
PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN FOOD AND BLANKET
Parents/carers of children from the Little Chicks class are invited to join their child and teachers for a picnic on the Busy Bees sports field
July – Presentation days (weather permitting)
PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN FOOD AND BLANKET
Monday 18th July – Ladybirds- 11.00am – 12.30pm
Tuesday 19th July – Robins – 11.00am – 12.30pm
Wednesday 20th July – Bumble Bees – 11.00am – 12.30pm
Thursday 21th July – Butterflies – 11.00am – 12.30pm
Saturday 30th July – Open/ Admissions Day 10.30am – 4.00pm
All parents/carers and visitors are welcome to come in to have a look around and meet the staff and register their child for the new term in September.
Busy Bees items for sale
Children’s Busy Bees T- shirts – £6.00 each
Children’s Busy Bees sweat shirts – £8.00 each
Busy Bees book bags – £4.00 each
Swimming hats – £5.50 each
Swimming bags – £3.00 each
If you would like to purchase any of these items please see your child’s room leader who will be happy to help you.
Can we please ask that ALL items of clothing that your child is likely to remove throughout the day are CLEARLY labelled with your child’s name. These include items such as:
hats, gloves, scarves, coats, cardigans, sweaters, in and outdoor shoes, bags etc.
If your child takes swimming lessons during their time at Busy Bees please also ensure all items of clothing and swimwear are clearly labelled.
Unfortunately we do not have enough room to store items such as wellington boots/indoor shoes/back packs etc, could we please ask that you take your child’s belongings home with you at the end of each session.
Sunscreen, sunhats and water bottles
Hopefully the weather will start warming up soon!, when it does, could you please ensure that your child brings a sunhat to school each session and that you apply a factor 50, waterproof sunscreen to your child prior to them coming to school each session. If your child attends for a full day, could you please provide a bottle of sunscreen which must be kept at school. We will then reapply sunscreen prior to your child going out after lunchtime. Each parent should have signed a ‘Parental Sunscreen Disclaimer’ form, please ensure yours is up to date. Please also ensure that you send your child to school with a water bottle each session and that you take it home again at the end of the session/day. Please note, the children’s water bottles must only contain water and NOT juice. Please ensure ALL items are CLEARLY named
Suitable Footwear
Could we please ask that your child wears closed toed shoes to school, (both in and outdoors). Sandals/ crocs/ open toed shoes are not permitted.
Grant and non grant periods for the rest of 2022 are as follows:
Non grant period from Monday 4th April – Monday 18th April
The new grant summer term will begin on Tuesday 19th April – Friday 29th April
We are unable to use the grant on Monday 2nd May due to it being a Bank Holiday
Grant funding will restart on Tuesday 3rd May – Friday 27th May
Non grant period from Monday 30th May – Friday 3rd June
Grant will re-start on Monday 6th June – Friday 22nd July
Grant make up day – for day missed on Monday 18th April will be Monday 1st August
Grant make up day – for day missed on Monday 2nd May will be Monday 8th August
Non grant period from Monday 25th July – Friday 2nd September
Grant will re- start on Monday 5th September – Friday 21st October
Non grant period from Monday 24th October – Friday 28th October
Grant will re-start on Monday 31st October – Friday 16th December
Non grant period from Monday 19th December – Friday 23rd December
As we are unable to use grant on Bank Holiday days, we will be offering an alternative make up day for children who usually attend on Mondays where a Bank Holiday has fallen within the grant period, these days will be Monday 1st August and Monday 8th August
Fees increase
You should have recently received an email informing you that there will be an increase in fees as of Monday 4th April 2022 – if you haven’t received your emailing advising you of the increase, please email [email protected] who will advise you of the changes. A full list of the updated Nursery and Kid’s Clubs fees are available on our website.
Extracurricular activities
Swimming Lessons
Swimming lessons take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays each week – Cost – £6.00 per lesson.
Please speak to your child’s Key Person or Room Leader if you would like further information relating to the classes. We will shortly be drawing up a schedule for parents/carers to be able to take it in turns throughout the term to come in and watch their child take part in their swimming lessons. Further information to follow soon!
Forest School
Each class has the opportunity to spend a morning and an afternoon session throughout the week at our onsite Forest School. Our Forest School sessions are led by Miss Naomi. During the session the children will play games, are able to explore their natural environment. Naomi plans various focussed activities with specific learning outcomes. The children have snacks, they listen to stories and rhymes and become confident and familiar with the outdoor environment and the various weather conditions throughout the changing seasons. During wet/muddy days could we please ask that you provide an all in one waterproof rain suit (clearly named). As with swimming, we will also be drawing up a schedule for parents/carers to take it in turns throughout the term to come in and join in with Forest School sessions.
Busy Bees car park
During peak pick up and drop off periods- 8.50am – 9.45am. 11.15am – 1.15pm and 3.00pm – 3.50pm the Busy Bees car park is only to be used for parents who have younger siblings to bring in with them or for parents/carers whose vehicle carries a disability badge. All other parents/carers please use the large car park next to the church. If you do use the Busy Bees car park please do not park there for long periods of time.
Could we please ask that you do not park on the pavements outside the nursery as it makes it very difficult for people to get past with pushchairs and obstructs the view of people coming out of the driveway. It is also against the law to park on pavements!!!
CAN WE PLEASE REMIND YOU NOT TO LEAVE VALUABLES UNACCOMPANIED IN YOUR CAR AT ANYTIME
We would like to mention a few safety points relating to the well-being of your children
1 – If you wish for your child to go home with anyone else, please fill in a ‘parental permission form’ which can be obtained from either your child’s classroom or Sharon in the office. The nominated person must have a valid I.D
2 – Please ensure that gates are closed securely behind you at ALL times when entering and leaving the premises.
3 – Please do not allow your child to run ahead of you whilst leaving the premises (especially in the car park).
4 – Please do not leave children unattended in cars in the Busy Bees car park. It goes without saying that the possible consequences could be serious.
5 – It is vitally important that you update your contact details every time they change so that we have good communication in emergency situations. Please ensure you ask your child’s room leader for a change of information form whenever your details change.
6 – For safety reasons, please DO NOT allow your child/ren to use the climbing frame and play equipment in the front play area. This equipment is only to be used during session time, with Busy Bees staff monitoring the children.
7 – Due to several children attending who have nut allergies, could we please ask that you carefully check your child does not bring any nuts or food with nut traces to school with them. Could you also please ensure that if they have eaten nuts prior to them coming to school, you wash their hands and face thoroughly before bringing them into the classroom.
Our sickness policy
Please do not send your child to school if they are unwell as it puts other group members at risk of catching an infection. If your child is not well enough to participate in their daily activities they should not attend school that day. If a child has had diarrhoea or sickness please do not send them to school for 48 hours since their last attack /symptom. Please contact us via telephone or email if your child is absent due to being unwell, so that we are aware of any illnesses going around. (Please refer to our Sickness Policy on our website for further information on illnesses).
We regularly update our Covid -19 Risk Assessment so that it is in line with current government guidance. Our latest version can always be found on the ‘Policies’ section on our website.
Policies
We have many of our policies on our website, along with a full list of all of our policies. If the policy you require is not displayed on our website please ask a member of staff who will be happy to provide you with a copy.
SENDco information
Lorna Barker is our SENDco (Special Educational Needs + Disability Co-ordinator). If you have any concerns relating to your child please speak to Lorna.
Covid – 19
What a crazy couple of years it has been with the Covid – 19 situation! Things seem to finally be settling down a bit and we can hopefully look forward to getting back to a more of a normal way of living. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for all of your efforts in keeping the children and staff within the Busy Bees family safe.
Attached to this newsletter, you will find a list of Local Support Groups that you may find useful for advise or support. If you, or members within your family need support with issues relating to poverty, bereavement or mental health, to name a few, or there are any other struggles you are facing, please contact a member of the management team or speak with your child’s key person or room leader (whoever you feel most comfortable talking to) who will signpost you to hopefully getting the help and support you need.
With best wishes
Lorna Barker, Nursery Manager – Rachel Davies, Operations Manager
“Our setting is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of
children, young people and adults at all times and expects everybody
working within this setting to share this commitment “