Important Dates Summer Term 2015 Summer Term starts Monday 20th April Preschool AGM (8pm Offley Place) Thursday 11th June Fun Day (Sponsored walk) Saturday 13th June Gullivers Theme Park Thursday 18th June Music Train Monday 22nd June Inset day Friday 3rd July National Move up day Thursday 09th July Songs & Achievements Friday 10th July Movers visit to class 1 Wednesday 15th July Movers visit to class 1 Thursday 16th July Party Day ALL INVITED Friday 17th July End of Term Wednesday 22nd July CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE REMAINING DATES – PLEASE IGNORE PREVIOUS NEWSLETTER DATES. Autumn Term 2015 Autumn Term starts Wednesday 2nd September Committee : If you are interested about joining our committee please speak to either Paula Metcalfe or any of the team. Summer 2 2015 c/o Offley Endowed School School Lane Gt Offley Herts SG5 3AT Tel: 01462 768606 offleypreschool@hotmail.co.uk www.offley-preschool.org Page 1 of 2 This is probably the last newsletter for a proportion of you. Thank you for choosing Offley Preschool, we wish your children a happy continued journey of learning. We will be working with Offley Endowed for a smooth transition process. We have seven weeks of fun planned, Sponsored walk & Bbq, School trip, Achievement presentation, End of term party alongside our theme of “Occupations” looking at the different jobs “Mummies and Daddies do” as well as Pepper Pig. I am always available if you would like to discuss any issues or concerns regarding your child and am usually at Preschool by 8.20am. Regards Paula Metcalfe. Fundraising Our annual sponsored walk and Bbq is planned for Saturday 13th June, Please collect as many sponsors as you can and support this event. (We use some of the money to fund our end of year party). Sponsor forms will be distributed this week. We need jam-jars filled as soon as possible please. Also I am trying to organise a Bingo evening, probably the end of July, a Saturday evening. Money prizes. School Photographs The photographs should be with you this week. Feedback would be appreciated regarding pose and price. We haven't used Brian before, the children seemed relaxed but you are the critics, your opinion counts. Sunny Weather Please check that we have your signed suntan application letter. Without this permission staff cannot apply sun cream (named). As a setting we will have an emergency cream, this will be used as a last resort, not administered without permission. You will be informed at collection. Transitions As transition and leaving dates become closer we will continue to work with you, your children and Offley Endowed school reading stories, speaking about teachers, classroom layout, accompanying the children as they visit their new classroom, trying on uniforms and practicing with dinner trays and independence. We will answer questions, listen to the children and prepare them for the next stage. Living Eggs Once again this was a fantastic experience. The children were mesmerised as the birth happened in front of them. Conversation flowed, we spoke about the colour, which colour was which sex. Several children took up residence and didn't move from that spot for the whole session. They asked if they could hold them the moment they hatched. As the week went on, we held the chicks, spoke about how they felt. A couple of children wanted to clean them out, feed them, change their water. We have many pictures. June 2015

IMPORTANT INFORMATION Website Please use our website and sign up for our closed group facebook page. We send weekly reminders via facebook and email, keeping the website updated with photos of our many activities as well as key dates throughout the year. If you have any suggestions as to improve what we display please speak to a member of staff. Getting out and about Hopefully we will get to go out and about a couple of times in the next seven weeks. We will be spending much more of our sessions outside, making the most of the warmer weather. All areas will be addressed, looking at numbers and letters. Music Train Music Train seemed successful, Hayley is booked in for another visit. We would love your feedback, which will help us decide whether to continue in September or try another outsourced activity whether it be music, movement, cooking or language. Parents evening Thank you to all parents that came in for a chat. We love telling you about your children and their achievements, friendships. Please remember to return the Learning Journeys as we have so much more to add over the coming weeks. You are always welcome to view it, share news of your own, after all it is a journey and that doesn't stop as your child leaves for the day. Activities – Themes of interest This half term we will be looking at the Theme “Occupations” we will be looking at Nurse’s, Doctors, Firemen, Police, Paramedics to name a few. Many children are interested in Superheroes which includes Elsa, we will be addressing this, linking in activities, crafts and resources. For our younger children, Pepper Pig will be our Character. Collection of children If for any reason you cannot collect your child, we need to know who is coming in your place, for everyone's protection we will ask for a password. Understanding that many children go to play at friends houses, you may feel it unnecessary that we ask when your child goes home with another Childs parent. Again this is just good practice, making all staff aware. As emergencies happen, last minute changes, we are asking that every child at pre-school has a password, this will resolve safeguarding issues. Additional Sessions – Space permitted Our opening hours are Mon, Fri 8.50-1pm and Tue, Wed, Thur 8.50-3pm. We offer one off additional sessions when required – Payment must be made on the day. Policy on Sickness reminder: Children must remain off of school until they have been 24HOURS clear of all symptoms. We will be firm on this. Coughs and colds are fine if your child feels well enough for school. Mobile Phones Just a reminder that in line with our Safeguarding policy, mobile phones are not to be used on the premises. Your child will not be handed over to you until you have hung up your conversation, Please refrain from having your phone out on site. Thank you. IMPORTANT INFORMATION Please notify us as soon as possible to any information changes. To become more environmentally friendly we would like to send as much information out as possible via email. PLEASE MAKE SURE WE HAVE A CORRECT EMAIL ADDRESS and PHONE NUMBER. Website www.offley-preschool.org Please take a look when you get a chance. The website is updated frequently. We welcome any comments or suggestions. Offley Pre-school Staff: Paula Metcalfe, Sara Page, Elaine Wood and Claire Pin June 2015 Page 2 of 2