Author: Bunnies

Bunnies Preschool (SHephall)

SEPTEMBER 2020

Changes for September
All settings have had to make adjustments to their usual working practices due to COVID and we are no exception. The two biggest differences that you will notice are that we are no longer able to have parents in the classroom (unless their visit is deemed to be essential), and that there is now a one way system in the school grounds that all families attending Featherstone Wood School have to use.
To enable social distancing we have to allow for all the children in the main school to have arrived and entered the school safely before our Bunnies arrive, so we have had to temporarily tweak our opening hours. From September our morning sessions will run from 9.15 to 12.15 and our afternoon sessions will run from 12 to 3. Lunch clubs will finish at 1.15 and 2.15 (please note, lunch club spaces must be booked in advance).
When arriving at preschool please come in through the first gate and walk down through the staff car park. There are markers at 2 metre distances through the car park to aid social distancing. Children will enter the classroom one by one and parents must stay outside. Children will clean their hands with hand sanitiser on the way into the classroom and coats/bags etc left in boxes at the door. Wherever possible we ask that just one parent or carer attends to aid social distancing. You then leave the school grounds via the footpath, following the arrows to the pedestrian gate. The same system is in place at 12.15 and at 3 o'clock when the children go home. Please queue along the side of the car park and we will call you to the door one by one.
We are, of course, always available should you wish to talk to us about anything, we will have a member of staff outside at the start of each session, and we are always available during working hours on the telephone. Emails are checked daily (please note, whilst we can receive emails during working hours we are unable to respond to them, therefore there will be a delay in you receiving a reply). Appointments can be made to speak to any member of staff in person if necessary

07754 305 185
shephall@bunniespreschool.co.uk

Fees
We have reviewed our likely running costs and income and we have found it necessary to make a small increase to our fees to remain viable. This has been brought about by this year’s minimum wage increase plus our running costs have increased significantly since our last fees review. We regret that in order to stand still, there will be a small increase in our session fees to £14.40 for each 3 hour session from September 2020. Lunch clubs will also increase to £4.80 per hour.
Fees will be reviewed annually and you will be notified of any changes before they come into effect. There is funding available for children the term after they turn 2, this is dependent on your family circumstances and income. Please check http://www.hertsdirect.org/services/edlearn/css/flexyears/freeearlyeduc/apply2yroldplace/ if you think that you might be eligible or speak to Rachel in confidence. All children are entitled to 15 hours free at preschool the term after they turn 3. Please note, funded hours cannot be increased midterm.
Just a reminder, all fees are due in advance at the start of each week, or, if you prefer they can be paid in advance monthly or half termly.

Dates for your diary
2020/2021
ACADEMIC YEAR
September 2020
Wednesday 2nd September—new starters day—by appointment
Thursday 3rd September—first day back for all of our ‘old’ children
October 2020
Friday 23rd October—break up for half term
November 2020
Monday 2nd November—preschool reopens
Friday 27th November Inset day—school site shut
Monday 30th November—inset day—school site shut
December 2020
Thursday 17th December—break up for Christmas
January 2021
Monday 4th January—new starters day (TBC)
Tuesday 5th January—preschool resumes for all of our ‘old’ children (TBC)
February 2021
Friday 12th February—break up for half term
Monday 22nd February - preschool reopens
March 2021
Friday 26th March—break up for Easter
April 2021
Monday 12th April—preschool reopens
May 2021
Monday 3rd May—bank holiday
Friday 28th May—break up for half term
June 2021
Monday 7th June—preschool reopens
Teddy Bears Picnic—date TBC
July 2021
Friday 16th July—break up for the summer

What does my child need to bring to school?
We use our outside area every day and in all weathers so your child will always need weather appropriate clothing, e.g. a warm coat, a hat and gloves in the winter; a sun hat and plenty of sun cream in the summer. During cold weather we recommend that you dress your child in layers rather than one thick jumper as this makes regulating their body heat much easier.
If your child is in nappies they will also need to bring to school a changing bag complete with nappies, wipes, nappy sacks etc. All children need a FULL change of clothes each session in case of little accidents or messy play.
If your child has a comforter, for example a dummy or a blanket, please do bring them in if you think your child might need them. We recommend packing them in your child’s bag and letting the member of staff on the door know that they are in there, we will then get them our for your child if they need them during the session.
If your child is staying with us all day or for lunch clubs they will also need to bring a packed lunch with them.
Please leave all other items, toys, books etc at home as we all need to minimise the risks of germs being spread between home and school and visa versa.

Labels and changing bags
Please ensure that all items of clothing coming to preschool are clearly labelled with your child’s name.
We are always happy to change nappies etc at pre-school; however parents MUST provide all the necessary equipment in a clearly labelled bag. Please ensure that changing bags have adequate supplies in each day including wipes, nappy sacks and nappies. Please also make sure that there are no creams, lotions or potions left in your child’s changing bag. All of our children can access their changing bags throughout the session and such items can present a hazard to the children’s
health and safety. If for any reason they need to come to school with your child please hand them to a member of staff in the morning for safe keeping. Providing items that are missing from bags, especially wipes and nappy sacks has incurred a huge increase on our running costs; as a consequence of this a small charge is made for items that are regularly used from our stock.

Focus child
Every term each child has a week when they are our ‘Focus Child’. During this focus week we all observe the focus children while they play to find out more about their interests and how they are progressing. At the end of the week we invite you in for a parent consultation with your child’s key person.
We value the knowledge and understanding that you have of your child as their first educators and it really helps us to know what your child likes doing at home, any achievements they have made and if you have anything that you would like to know about your child’s development etc. Therefore, a week or so before your child’s focus week we will send home a simple sheet for you to complete. We also welcome any photos that you would like to share with us that we can put into your child’s learning journey book. These pictures can be prints or if you would prefer email them to shephall@bunniespreschool.co.uk Please note, please put your child’s name in the subject bar of any E-mails that you send, attachments without a recognisable label will not be opened!

Video tour
As we are unable to show prospective parents around our lovely setting we have created a video tour which can be viewed on our Facebook page and on our website. Please take a look and let us know what you think!

Please send us your photos!
We would love to know what your children have been up to since the last time we saw them.
Please send us some photos that we can pop into their learning journals. Please send them to shephall@bunniespreschool.co.uk and clearly mark the email with your child’s name.

Staff
Just a reminder as to who is who!
Rachel, (BA Hons Education Studies – Early Years; ELKLAN Level 3) preschool leader and SENco
Anna, (level 3 Childcare Learning and Development CCLD) deputy leader and Monkey group key worker
Sherrie, (CCLD level 3) SENco and Koala group key worker
Jane, (level 3) Tiger group key worker
Louise, (level 3) Giraffe group key worker
Dawn, (level 3 CCLD) preschool assistant
Kerry, (ELKLAN Level 3) 121 support worker and preschool assistant
All staff and volunteers are DBS checked, hold current child protection certificates and all key staff are paediatric first aid trained.

Grapes
In line with the latest safety advice, please ensure that all grapes are cut in half lengthwise to minimise the risks of choking

Contact details
If any of your emergency contact details have changed please let us know so we can update your child’s records.

Snow
Should we be lucky enough to get any of the white stuff this winter we are only able to open if enough members of staff can safely travel to preschool, and only then if the main school site remains open. If Featherstone Wood School is forced to shut due to show, we will also be closed. We do, of course, try to alert as many parents as we can; however, as you can appreciate it is not easy contacting everyone. We publish updates as soon as we get them on our Facebook page.