Latest Pre-School Newsletter
BILLERICAY CATHOLIC PRE-SCHOOL NEWSLETTER –NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018
Please make a note of the following dates:
WEDNESDAY 20TH NOVEMBER - PRE-SCHOOL AGM
This will take place in the small hall starting a 8pm.
Everyone will be emailed a letter about this and a nomination form.
FRIDAY 13TH DECEMBER – PRE-SCHOOL CHRISTMAS CONCERT
We will be having our Christmas Concert on the above date. All the children will be invited to take part
PLEASE PUT YOUR CHILD’S NAME ON THE LIST ON THE NOTICE BOARD IN THE FOYER MARKED “CHRISTMAS CONCERT”IF THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE PART
Children who usually come in on a Friday should be brought in at normal time.
ALL OTHER CHILDREN SHOULD BE BROUGHT IN AT 11.15 am.
The concert will start at about 11.25.
We will provide the costumes and will give them out during the week to children who are coming in at 11.15 so they can come in already dressed in their costumes.
Staff will dress children in their costumes who are already in on that day.
You will all receive a letter with more details nearer the time.
FRIDAY 20TH DECEMBER – PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PARTY All the children are invited and will need to be brought in from 10 o’clock onwards. The entertainer will be coming in at 10.15. Mums/carers will need to come back at 11 o’clock to see your child receive their present from Father Christmas.
This will be our last day of term and we come back on Monday 6th January.
CHRISTMAS HAMPER RAFFLE
We will be raffling a Christmas Hamper after the Christmas Party. We would be grateful for any donations of items to fill the hamper, e.g. bottles of wine or spirits, Christmas puddings or cakes,. mince pies, chocolates, biscuits, Christmas crackers – anything “Christmassy” you can think of. These can be brought in as soon as possible and placed in the basket in the foyer.
We would also be grateful for any unwanted wicker baskets suitable to make the hampers up in.
CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PRESENTS
We need some volunteers to wrap the children’s Christmas presents which they will receive at the Christmas Party Please let us know if you can help.
EARLY YEARS ENTITLEMENT NURSERY EDUCATION GRANT FOR THE SPRING TERM
All children who will be three years old before the 31st December 2019 inclusive are eligible for Government funding of their Pre-school fees from the beginning of the Spring term commencing on the 6th January 2020. A list will be placed in the foyer of the children who, according to our records, are eligible. Please check the list to make sure that your child is included. You will also be required to complete a Spring 2020 Parent/Carer Declaration Form
PRE-SCHOOL FEES
If your child is not eligible for Free Early Years Entitlement, fees are now due for the period Monday 4th November– Friday 20th December (7 weels) at £12.25 a session
Lunch club fees are £2.50 a session.
VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION FOR CHILDREN'S SNACKS
We also ask for a voluntary contribution towards the snacks of 50p a session
An invoice for your fees will be available for you to collect in the foyer during the first week of term.
This will show the total amount of your fees.
The amount of the voluntary contribution will be shown separately.
CHILDREN IN RECEIPT OF FREE EARLY YEARS ENTITLEMENT FOR 3-4 YEAR OLDS AND 30 HOUR EXTENDED ENTITLEMENT
You will receive an inoice detailing the number of funded hours you are claiming with us and the amount of any unfunded hours you have agreed to pay for
The voluntary contribution of 50p a session will also apply
This cannot be shown on your invoice as it is not a mandatory charge
As an example: If your child attends 2 sessions a week this would amount to £1 a week x 7 weeks = £7
If your child attends 3 sessions a week this would amount to £1.50 a week x 7 weeks = £10.50
FUNDING FOR TWO YEAR OLDS
The Pre-school is eligible to offer funding the term after your child’s second birthday if you meet certain financial criteria. Everyone should have received details of this. If you have not yet had this please ask the Supervisor.
30 HOURS EXTENDED CHILDCARE ENTITLEMENT FOR 3-4 YEAR OLDS
We are only able to offer 21.5 hours a week because of the availability of the hall.
Please visit www.essex.gov.uk/earlyyears or call the Family Information Service on 0800 055 6874 to find out if you can claim for these additional hours. There are also leaflets available and a poster displayed in the foyer
PRE-SCHOOL WAITING LIST
Please remember to complete a registration form for any younger siblings not yet on our waiting list. It is never too early to put your child’s name down.
PAGE 1 OF 2
CHILDREN’S SHOE BAGS
We have several children attending Pre-school who have severe food allergies and we must insist that you do not put food of any kind, medicines, creams or other inappropriate items in your child’s shoe bag as these are accessible to other children when they are getting ready to go home
MONDAY, TUESDAY AND THURSDAY LUNCH CLUB - CONTENTS OF CHILDREN’S LUNCH BOXES
We would ask that if you put grapes in your child’s packed lunch they are cut into small pieces as whole grapes are now considered one of the major choking hazards in young children. We would also remind you that we have asked that you do not put any food in your child's lunch box containing nuts or traces of nuts.
OUTDOOR PLAY
Please remember to leave a warm coat and a pair of suitable shoes in your child’s bag to change into for outdoor play. It would be a great help if you could put your child’s name in their indoor and outdoor shoes and on their bags and coats.
CHILDREN’S ABSENCE FROM PRE-SCHOOL
We now require you to let us know when your child is going to be absent f and provide an explanation for their absence.
You can do this by text, telephone or email. -Telephone: 07980411925 - Email: billericaycatholicpreschool@gmail.com
LINKS WITH HOME BOARD
If your child has any special outings, experiences or achievements that you would like to share with us, e.g. photos, leaflets on places they have been etc. please send them in and we will display them on our board.
PAPER FOR DRAWING AND PAINTING We are running low on paper for the children to draw and paint on and would be grateful for any unwanted A4 or larger size paper or rolls of paper. It doesn’t matter if there is printing on the reverse
Please continue to send in suitable items for the children to use for collage, e.g. cereal boxes, kitchen roll tubes, unwanted pasta and rice, ribbon, wool, old birthday cards, yoghurt pots, etc. Please note that we are unable to accept toilet roll tubes or egg boxes
This term the children will be learning about “People who help us” - We will also be talking about how Christmas is celebrated in different countries all over the world. If anyone has any experience of Christmas celebrations in another country we would very much welcome your input. As well as opportunities for lots of child- initiated activities and fun, we have adult-led activities and experiences planned for each week as follows:
4th Nov: The children will be learning about fire engines, fire fighters and fire safety We will be reading the fire safety publication
“Frances the firefly” and talking about the dangers of playing with matches. We will also be making bonfire pictures and rockets.
We are hoping to have a visit from a fire engine during this week 11th Nov: We will be explaining to the children about the role of community police officers
We will be taking our own fingerprints to bring home and making a police car and police helmet
18th Nov: We will be talking about the Lollypop person and how they help us to cross the road when we go to school.
We will be practising crossing the road safely using our own zebra crossing in the hall and learning about the green cross code.
We will be making belisha beacons and traffic lights and going on walks to see these in the outside area.
25th Nov. - This week the children will be learning all about ambulances and how doctors, nurses and dentists help us . We will be asking
them to recall their experiences of going to hospital , doctors or dentists.
We are hoping for a visit from a local dentist this week to talk to the children about the importance of looking after their teeth.
and also and ambulance. We will be making ambulances with moving split pin wheels.
2nd Dec The children will be learning about the role of the postman and woman.. They will be “writing” their own letter to Father
Christmas and making a post box to post them in.
We will also be wrapping parcels for Santa’s sleigh using scissors and cellotape.
9h Dec. We will be doing Christmas stamp and sponge printing with gold and silver paints.
We will also be making Christmas wreaths and we will be explaining that people in lots of different
countries all over the world will be hanging Christmas wreaths on the doors of their houses.
16th Dec: This week the children will be making Christmas cards and decorations. Our Christmas party is on Friday
LETTER TABLE
We will be starting the first week of this half term with the letter “h” and working our way through the alphabet each week.
We would like the children to bring in suitable items beginning with the letter of the week to encourage them to practise linking sounds to letters. Please put your child’s name on any items they bring in.
PLEASE LOOK AT THE DISPLAY BOARD IN THE FOYER AND ON FACE BOOK FOR EACH WEEKS’S LETTER.
Term Dates for 2020
Spring Term
Open: 6th January
Last day of term: 14th February
Half Term: Monday 17th February – Friday 21st February
Open: Monday 24th February
Last day of term: Friday 3rd April
Summer Term
Open: Monday 20th April
Last day of term: Friday 22nd May (Friday 8th May is a Bank Holiday)
Half Term: Monday 25th May – Friday 29th May
Open: Monday 1st June
Last day of term: Wednesday 22nd July
Please make a note of the following dates:
WEDNESDAY 20TH NOVEMBER - PRE-SCHOOL AGM
This will take place in the small hall starting a 8pm.
Everyone will be emailed a letter about this and a nomination form.
FRIDAY 13TH DECEMBER – PRE-SCHOOL CHRISTMAS CONCERT
We will be having our Christmas Concert on the above date. All the children will be invited to take part
PLEASE PUT YOUR CHILD’S NAME ON THE LIST ON THE NOTICE BOARD IN THE FOYER MARKED “CHRISTMAS CONCERT”IF THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE PART
Children who usually come in on a Friday should be brought in at normal time.
ALL OTHER CHILDREN SHOULD BE BROUGHT IN AT 11.15 am.
The concert will start at about 11.25.
We will provide the costumes and will give them out during the week to children who are coming in at 11.15 so they can come in already dressed in their costumes.
Staff will dress children in their costumes who are already in on that day.
You will all receive a letter with more details nearer the time.
FRIDAY 20TH DECEMBER – PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PARTY All the children are invited and will need to be brought in from 10 o’clock onwards. The entertainer will be coming in at 10.15. Mums/carers will need to come back at 11 o’clock to see your child receive their present from Father Christmas.
This will be our last day of term and we come back on Monday 6th January.
CHRISTMAS HAMPER RAFFLE
We will be raffling a Christmas Hamper after the Christmas Party. We would be grateful for any donations of items to fill the hamper, e.g. bottles of wine or spirits, Christmas puddings or cakes,. mince pies, chocolates, biscuits, Christmas crackers – anything “Christmassy” you can think of. These can be brought in as soon as possible and placed in the basket in the foyer.
We would also be grateful for any unwanted wicker baskets suitable to make the hampers up in.
CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PRESENTS
We need some volunteers to wrap the children’s Christmas presents which they will receive at the Christmas Party Please let us know if you can help.
EARLY YEARS ENTITLEMENT NURSERY EDUCATION GRANT FOR THE SPRING TERM
All children who will be three years old before the 31st December 2019 inclusive are eligible for Government funding of their Pre-school fees from the beginning of the Spring term commencing on the 6th January 2020. A list will be placed in the foyer of the children who, according to our records, are eligible. Please check the list to make sure that your child is included. You will also be required to complete a Spring 2020 Parent/Carer Declaration Form
PRE-SCHOOL FEES
If your child is not eligible for Free Early Years Entitlement, fees are now due for the period Monday 4th November– Friday 20th December (7 weels) at £12.25 a session
Lunch club fees are £2.50 a session.
VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION FOR CHILDREN'S SNACKS
We also ask for a voluntary contribution towards the snacks of 50p a session
An invoice for your fees will be available for you to collect in the foyer during the first week of term.
This will show the total amount of your fees.
The amount of the voluntary contribution will be shown separately.
CHILDREN IN RECEIPT OF FREE EARLY YEARS ENTITLEMENT FOR 3-4 YEAR OLDS AND 30 HOUR EXTENDED ENTITLEMENT
You will receive an inoice detailing the number of funded hours you are claiming with us and the amount of any unfunded hours you have agreed to pay for
The voluntary contribution of 50p a session will also apply
This cannot be shown on your invoice as it is not a mandatory charge
As an example: If your child attends 2 sessions a week this would amount to £1 a week x 7 weeks = £7
If your child attends 3 sessions a week this would amount to £1.50 a week x 7 weeks = £10.50
FUNDING FOR TWO YEAR OLDS
The Pre-school is eligible to offer funding the term after your child’s second birthday if you meet certain financial criteria. Everyone should have received details of this. If you have not yet had this please ask the Supervisor.
30 HOURS EXTENDED CHILDCARE ENTITLEMENT FOR 3-4 YEAR OLDS
We are only able to offer 21.5 hours a week because of the availability of the hall.
Please visit www.essex.gov.uk/earlyyears or call the Family Information Service on 0800 055 6874 to find out if you can claim for these additional hours. There are also leaflets available and a poster displayed in the foyer
PRE-SCHOOL WAITING LIST
Please remember to complete a registration form for any younger siblings not yet on our waiting list. It is never too early to put your child’s name down.
PAGE 1 OF 2
CHILDREN’S SHOE BAGS
We have several children attending Pre-school who have severe food allergies and we must insist that you do not put food of any kind, medicines, creams or other inappropriate items in your child’s shoe bag as these are accessible to other children when they are getting ready to go home
MONDAY, TUESDAY AND THURSDAY LUNCH CLUB - CONTENTS OF CHILDREN’S LUNCH BOXES
We would ask that if you put grapes in your child’s packed lunch they are cut into small pieces as whole grapes are now considered one of the major choking hazards in young children. We would also remind you that we have asked that you do not put any food in your child's lunch box containing nuts or traces of nuts.
OUTDOOR PLAY
Please remember to leave a warm coat and a pair of suitable shoes in your child’s bag to change into for outdoor play. It would be a great help if you could put your child’s name in their indoor and outdoor shoes and on their bags and coats.
CHILDREN’S ABSENCE FROM PRE-SCHOOL
We now require you to let us know when your child is going to be absent f and provide an explanation for their absence.
You can do this by text, telephone or email. -Telephone: 07980411925 - Email: billericaycatholicpreschool@gmail.com
LINKS WITH HOME BOARD
If your child has any special outings, experiences or achievements that you would like to share with us, e.g. photos, leaflets on places they have been etc. please send them in and we will display them on our board.
PAPER FOR DRAWING AND PAINTING We are running low on paper for the children to draw and paint on and would be grateful for any unwanted A4 or larger size paper or rolls of paper. It doesn’t matter if there is printing on the reverse
Please continue to send in suitable items for the children to use for collage, e.g. cereal boxes, kitchen roll tubes, unwanted pasta and rice, ribbon, wool, old birthday cards, yoghurt pots, etc. Please note that we are unable to accept toilet roll tubes or egg boxes
This term the children will be learning about “People who help us” - We will also be talking about how Christmas is celebrated in different countries all over the world. If anyone has any experience of Christmas celebrations in another country we would very much welcome your input. As well as opportunities for lots of child- initiated activities and fun, we have adult-led activities and experiences planned for each week as follows:
4th Nov: The children will be learning about fire engines, fire fighters and fire safety We will be reading the fire safety publication
“Frances the firefly” and talking about the dangers of playing with matches. We will also be making bonfire pictures and rockets.
We are hoping to have a visit from a fire engine during this week 11th Nov: We will be explaining to the children about the role of community police officers
We will be taking our own fingerprints to bring home and making a police car and police helmet
18th Nov: We will be talking about the Lollypop person and how they help us to cross the road when we go to school.
We will be practising crossing the road safely using our own zebra crossing in the hall and learning about the green cross code.
We will be making belisha beacons and traffic lights and going on walks to see these in the outside area.
25th Nov. - This week the children will be learning all about ambulances and how doctors, nurses and dentists help us . We will be asking
them to recall their experiences of going to hospital , doctors or dentists.
We are hoping for a visit from a local dentist this week to talk to the children about the importance of looking after their teeth.
and also and ambulance. We will be making ambulances with moving split pin wheels.
2nd Dec The children will be learning about the role of the postman and woman.. They will be “writing” their own letter to Father
Christmas and making a post box to post them in.
We will also be wrapping parcels for Santa’s sleigh using scissors and cellotape.
9h Dec. We will be doing Christmas stamp and sponge printing with gold and silver paints.
We will also be making Christmas wreaths and we will be explaining that people in lots of different
countries all over the world will be hanging Christmas wreaths on the doors of their houses.
16th Dec: This week the children will be making Christmas cards and decorations. Our Christmas party is on Friday
LETTER TABLE
We will be starting the first week of this half term with the letter “h” and working our way through the alphabet each week.
We would like the children to bring in suitable items beginning with the letter of the week to encourage them to practise linking sounds to letters. Please put your child’s name on any items they bring in.
PLEASE LOOK AT THE DISPLAY BOARD IN THE FOYER AND ON FACE BOOK FOR EACH WEEKS’S LETTER.
Term Dates for 2020
Spring Term
Open: 6th January
Last day of term: 14th February
Half Term: Monday 17th February – Friday 21st February
Open: Monday 24th February
Last day of term: Friday 3rd April
Summer Term
Open: Monday 20th April
Last day of term: Friday 22nd May (Friday 8th May is a Bank Holiday)
Half Term: Monday 25th May – Friday 29th May
Open: Monday 1st June
Last day of term: Wednesday 22nd July
-
Weather
Pre-School is open today
CLOSURE DUE TO SNOW
In the event of heavy snow, please check our face book page to see if Pre-school is open. You will also be sent an email.
Pre-School is open today
CLOSURE DUE TO SNOW
In the event of heavy snow, please check our face book page to see if Pre-school is open. You will also be sent an email.
Fundraising
Our last fundraising event was the Christmas Hamper Raffle. We raising an amazing amount of £208 which will go towards purchasing a new shed and some more outdoor equipment for the Pre-School. Also a big "thank you" to all hte members of the Pre-school committee who worked so hard in obtaining prizes and selling tickets for the raffle.
Our last fundraising event was the Christmas Hamper Raffle. We raising an amazing amount of £208 which will go towards purchasing a new shed and some more outdoor equipment for the Pre-School. Also a big "thank you" to all hte members of the Pre-school committee who worked so hard in obtaining prizes and selling tickets for the raffle.
