Puddleducks newsletter
January 2024
Welcome to the Spring term of 2024
General notices:
Staffing
We are very sad to inform everyone that Melody will be leaving us at the end of this month. We would like to wish her the best in her future.
We are recruiting.
Family App
Please check your app daily in case any important updates have been added.
With the family app you can update your child/s information, such as permissions, email addresses and phone numbers. If you change any of this information, please could you drop us an email so we can update your paper copy. Technology is great until the power goes!!
Funding
Just a reminder to make sure your 30-hour code is kept in date. The next renewal date for us will be 31st March 2024 so all codes MUST have a start date on or before the 31st March 2024. Please ensure your codes and national insurance are forwarded to Katie as soon as possible to allow for varication.
If you are looking at the new 2-year funding we recommend you hold off applying until the middle of February as the code will expire before the 31st and you will need to reapply again.
Clothing
Please make sure that all items of clothing and water bottles including lids. Are clearly named as when we wash them up, they can get mixed up. This way we can make sure nothing gets lost. Please could all pre-school and ducklings’ children bring in a water bottle so they can self-access water. With the weather now turning please make sure hats, gloves and wellies are in children’s bags as we do still use the outside areas. Can we ensure all children have slippers or crocs to wear indoors.
Please could all children remove their shoes before entering the room.
Please can water bottles only contain water this is an Ofsted requirement
Hours
Please remember not to arrive before the time you have booked. We base our staff’s hours on the number of children we are expecting in. Dropping off early can have a big impact on our ratios and parents will be asked to wait. Until the correct time. This is the same when picking up if you are a few minutes late. Lateness can’t always be helped, a meeting can over run, traffic can be bad, however we would ask that you give us a call to let us know.
Could all pre-school and duckling’s child/ren us the entrance by the office. The gate will be open from 7.30am and close at 9.15am it will be reopened after 3.30pm and closed at 5.30pm. Please take care while using this entrance due to wet leaves.
Important dates
Nursery starts back the 2th of January 2024
Funding sessions start back on Monday the 8th of January 2024 if you require care before this please contact us to see availability.
Early closure on Monday the 5th of February for staff training. Nursery will close at 5pm
February half term 12th no funded sessions this week. Please get in touch if you would d like to book any extra sessions.
Easter Half term 25th March till the 5th April and funding sessions start Monday 8th April.
Notes from the rooms
Pre-school: This half term we will be focusing our learning around toys. We will be looking at how we can create our own toys using junk modelling and natural resources in the garden. We will be celebrating Braille day, National hand writing day, burns night, Australia day the big bird watch and National story telling week.
Ducklings
This term in ducklings we are looking at different books. Shark in the park, Handas noisy night and goldilocks and the 3 bears. We will be making are own telescopes to go on a shark hunt, we will be learning about different animals looking at their habitat and the foods they eat.
We will have fun exploring porridge oats when we learn about the 3 bears as well as making some to try.
Could you please let us know when your child’s 2-year check is due to allow us time to prepare the relevant paper work.
As stated above can Parents please Label your child’s slippers and shoes and welly boots as staff do not always see the shoes that children arrive in Thank you.
Nestlings
This half term in Nestlings we will be enjoying some “Winder theme” play activities. This will include going outside for puddle play (please ensure your child has appropriate clothing), a variety of craft activities, sensory play like ice and “fake snow” for the children to explore.
We will be reading stories together based around winter the weather and winter animals.
Useful information
Are website is below, this has lots of information regarding fees, funding and how to claim.
www.Puddleducksandposh.com
please feel free to look.
We will also be using Instagram and Facebook so can all parents ensure that all permissions are up to date. We would be very grateful of your support if you could follow and share our posts.
Instagram: puddleducksposh
Facebook: Puddleducks and posh
Many thanks for your continued support
Mary and the Puddleducks team