Staff Development
Over the coming months the staff will have the opportunity to visit other settings in the local area in order to observe good practice and bring ideas back to our setting. Angie has already observed the reception classes at Whiteley Primary School and enjoyed her time so much that she visited again in her own time!
Mail Collection
We have introduced a new mailing system at the setting to aid communication and to ensure that all parents receive newsletters and other information quickly. Please ensure that you check the pockets at the end of each session. Party invites can also be distributed via the pockets! All mail is put in the Sweethills Room at the end of the day.
Nativity Performances
The Nativity performances were a great success. A big thank-you to the whole staff team for organising the event and the proud parents for supplying additional costumes and attending. A special thank-you must go to Sara Haynes who has taught the staff and children the sign language to accompany the songs. It was a real team effort!
Open Week 12th - 16th October 2009
The Open Week has been a great success with many parents attending a session with their child. Parents who spoke to the committee said that they were impressed at the level of detail in the learning journey's and loved looking at the photographic evidence. Some parents had witnessed the children using sign language within the setting and were thrilled to see it in action. There will be an Open Week each term but if you can't wait that long please volunteer to help in a session.
New Term - New Opening Hours September 09
The pre-school has extended its opening hours to ensure that children can access 15 hours of free child care in the term after they turn 3 years old. Please let us know your views of the new opening hours at the drop in coffee morning on Friday 16th October. The staff have said that the children have settled in well and those who are staying all day are falling asleep less!
With our new opening hours children are able to attend for more than 15 hours per week which is charged at the hourly rate of £2.85 per hour.
When you arrive at pre-school please ring the bell on the door to the Main Hall to gain entry and remember to sign your child into session. Sweethills parents need to sign the register located at the entrance to the room.
AGM Monday 19th October 2009 at 7.30pm
New Members Required!
New members will be required in October 2009 as many of the current committee's children have already started at local schools in the area. If you would like to get involved please email admin@whiteleypreschool.co.uk or speak to one of the committee. It really is a worthwhile and rewarding position. See the committee page for more information.
At the AGM we will be considering the adoption of the Pre-School Learning Alliance Constitution 2008. The full 2008 constitution is available for you to consider and read at:
http://www.pre-school.org.uk/documents/153
Pre-School Learning Alliance Updated Constitution Information
£3000 ICT Capital Bid Awarded to WPS!
The trustees were 'over the moon' when they received a letter in July 09 informing them that their bid for £3000, to provide ICT equipment for the pre-school, had been successful! They immediately spent the money but due to the summer holidays orders were not fully processed. Over the coming months the equipment will be used at the setting!
ICT will be a focus area on our action plan this year and after the staff have received some training with the equipment they will introduce it to the children. We have purchased 2 new laptops and a variety of programs, tuffcams, tripods, metal detectors and some other treasures! Our aim is that ICT will become embedded in the curriculum! We will document our progress over the coming year.
Sponsored Bike Ride- March 23rd - 27th
This year’s sponsored bike ride took place in session between Monday 23rd to Friday 27th March. The money raised purchased new outdoor play equipment. We have installed a waterbutt to catch rainwater so that the children can fill their buckets and watering cans and we have also bought some LARGE building blocks. These blocks were expensive but are a real asset to the pre-school.
Photographs - Wednesday March 18th 2009
Cardwell and Simons photography will be visiting the setting all day on March 18th 2009. Please read the notices for more information about the event. Any child not in session can come in and be photogrpahed on the day. Children can be photogrpahed in uniform or normal clothes. If you wish for a more traditional head and shoulders "old style" school pose please let the photographer or Bryony know. In the summer term class photographs will be taken.
New Resources March 2009
The staff have been reorganising the resources at the pre-school, donating old and out-dated toys to the local charity shops. Annie Shaw and Bryony Page have been creating a wish list of new resources to support the curriculum and aid self selection of the toys by the children. The new new storage trolleys in the main hall have arrived and will allow the children to select toys themselevs. A massive thank-you to all who attened the Christmas Fayre approximately £900 was raised and this has been spent on the trolleys and various other bits and pieces!
Councillor Sean Woodward awarded the Community Centre with a grant to replace the old and damaged tables and chairs. In March the new tables arrived and make the setting look even more welcoming. The cafe area is looking so inviting with its table cloth, vase of flowers and the "safe" knives from Pampered Chef! It is fantastic to see the children cutting their own pieces of fruit.
The staff have worked really hard to ensure that the environment is stimulating. A huge thank-you for all of their hard work this academic year. The committee has seen a leap forward in the provision at the setting. Annie Shaw, our new pre-school leader, has encouraged and led this development. If you ever spot her in the new IKEA she is bound to be hunting for a bargain for the pre-school!
Open Week 19th - 23rd January 2009
The overwhelming reaction to Whiteley Pre-School opening its doors to the parents was to do it more often! So, each term the pre-school will have an open week where parents / carers can join a session and see their children at play. During this time you will be able to share your child's Learning Journey and be able to have a chat with your Key Person. Many parents commented on the relaxed atmosphere and the happy and content children! The staff have been equally positive about the setting being open all week and are looking forward to the next one which has now been booked for early May. More details to follow.
New Planning and Routine October 2008
The staff are trialling a new routine and planning system this half term and many of you will have noticed the planning sheets on view in the coffee lounge. This will ensure that you are aware of the areas being covered in session so you can support and extend your child's learning at home. More inofrmation will follow in the newsletter.
Half Term Sponsored Leaf Collection
The committee and staff are already thrilled with the number of trees that have been completed during half term and are pleased to announce that over £300 has already been raised. Many of you will already have noticed the new art and craft trolley in the Main Hall which will further enhance the art activities. Sweethills have taken delivery of their new paint rack and in the next week it will be installed.The sponsorship form also contains a gift aid section and if the donations come from a tax payer we will be able to claim back the tax paid on the amount donated from the tax office! Please send in all trees by 14th November. We are sure the staff will be able to spend the extra money raised on other equipment!