Newsletter for Week Beginning 2nd July 2018
Dear parents, children and carers 2nd July 2018
This newsletter is kindly sponsored by KEITH REYNOLDS BRICKWORK
The newsletter is also on our website, on our Facebook page or by email on request
Rufus the rabbit and Joey the budgie are back soon for their holidays! We have been drawing Joey: the children find animals fascinating and they are so therapeutic too. We read animal stories such as Dear Zoo, Monkey Puzzle, Monkey see Monkey Do, Giraffes Can’t Dance.
Last week had a fabulous water week! Watering our plants, washing aunty Janet’s socks, bathing babies, paddling and enjoying water. Some of the children started exploring with floating and sinking animals – lots of predicting and reasoning opportunities. The scorching weather is an opportunity to encourage children to think about self-care and why we need to wear sun-cream and sun hats and spend less time in the hot sun and drink plenty. We all had yoga and relaxation time in the cool back room in the afternoons when the sun got really too hot to be out safely. We also had our own informal races using egg and spoon and quoits. Many of you will recall we have had ‘Mini-Olympics’ in the past, organised by year 5s in school. However, due to building work this is unlikely to take place this year. If this changes we will let you know.
This week we’ll move onto sea creatures and talking about seaside experiences. There are opportunities for ice-cream shops and café role play. We can make boats and experiment with loading them with treasure. Lots of opportunities here for predicting, making links between cause and effect and solving problems etc – the characteristics of effective learning.
Don’t forget, please do send or bring in postcards from your/your family travels. If you are going away please do let us know in advance. Don’t forget. Most weeks, we have a selection of photos on our website www.hummingbirds-nursery.com most weeks, giving you a taste of our week at Hummingbirds.
SUMMER FAIR THIS SUNDAY 8TH JULY FROM 11am to 1pm approximately. We have lots of tickets left if anyone is able to sell more. Donations of tombola prizes need donations of packets of sweets/lollies (for prizes), books (good condition), tombola prizes (brand new items e.g. smelly sets, wine, chocolates etc) and craft items (card, craft bits, kids tattoos etc) we will have a cake stall and so donations of cakes/biscuits will be gratefully accepted from Friday 6th. It looks like another sunny day so we can have stall outside too.
WE NEED TO GET SAVING as the outside play are is deteriorating and will cost around £20,000 or more to replace the whole thing. It was grant funded originally but the days of grants for such things are long gone.
NUT ALLERGY – remember we have a child with a nut allergy so no nuts/nut products please.
30 HOURS FUNDING * if applying for 30 hours from September, you need to be doing this now and have a code before 31st August. Parents receiving 30 hour check your ’grace period’ dates!
WEATHER warning – AGAIN it is going to be VERY HOT all week. The Cancer Research UK advice is really to cover up with loose long sleeves and sun hats or stay out of the sun. PLEASE BRING SUN HATS THIS
WEEK & PUT LABELLED SUN-CREAM IN THE BASKETS TO BE PROVIDED AND COLLECT IT AT END OF DAY
IF YOU NEED IT AT HOME. We cannot check each child’s bag for sun-cream. Hats and glasses are available but children prefer their own hats.
WE’VE RAISED £707 to date (in 2 ½ years) …. Help increase us this to £1000 and register at www.easyfundraising.org.uk and select ‘Hummingbirds Garstang’ to help raise funds. Get the reminder app if you are already registered so you never miss a chance to raise funds for us.
100 club membership LOOKING FOR NEW MEMBERS. It is a really easy way to help raise funds AND get the chance to win half our monthly takings every month! Just £2 per month.
GDPR I have some yet to give out some PRIVACY NOTICES and consents to collect.
BABY & TODDLER MORNING: Mondays from 9am to 10.30am. A chance to chat to other parents.
SS Mary & Michael’s pre-school transition visits 1.30-3pm we can take the children across BUT YOU PICK UP FROM school at 3pm
Also see our annual questionnaire by the register. Your chance to have some input. We do consider your views and try to make changes to improve our service e.g. we have updated our website and now have photos as a result of previous surveys.
Only 3 weeks left! Key persons will be speaking to parents of children leaving us this time to discuss transition documents. We will be organising a leavers’ picnic treat. For those children staying on, pleased complete sessions forms and return asap or tell Janet which sessions you will be using so I can organise staff rotas for September.
Best wishes, Janet, Shirley, Carole, Bridget and Helen
