1. 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
c/o Offley Endowed School
School Lane
Gt Offley
Herts
SG5 3AT
Tel:
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

2. IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Website
Please use our website and sign up for our closed group facebook page. We send weekly reminders via facebook and , 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 pm and Tue, Wed, Thur pm.
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 .
PLEASE MAKE SURE WE HAVE A CORRECT ADDRESS and PHONE NUMBER.
Website
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