OFSTED Inspection

As you are aware, our Nursery was inspected by OFSTED on 20th March 2019.

We are pleased to have retained our Good Outcome and received many positive comments from the OSTED Inspector.

The report has now been published and can be accessed from their website.

https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/300795

OFSTED Visit Wednesday 20th March.

This is to notify all of our parents and carers that an Ofsted Inspector will be visiting our setting tomorrow Wednesday 20th March. He may wish to speak with you.

Spring Term Newsletter 2019

Welcome to the Spring Term at The Psalter Lane Nursery.
We are delighted to announce that Mrs Shannon Little is the new Deputy Manager. We wish Miss Dower good luck for her new adventure in fostering. We also welcome Miss Chance who is joining the team in Garden Room and Miss Mahoney in Treehouse.

Comic Relief: 15th March
We will be taking part in Red Nose Day this year, helping to raise money for Comic Relief. We will be doing lots of fun activities week commencing 11th March, including dressing up, cake sales etc – look out for what will be happening!!!!

Treehouse
The children in Treehouse will be singing the “Old MacDonald” song, together with learning animal names and the sounds they make,
helping to develop their language skills.
Tree Tops
The children in Tree Tops will be reading “Dear Zoo”. They will be looking at different kinds of animals, the sounds they make and linking stories to animal songs, such as “Old MacDonald”.

Garden Room/Oak Room
The children in Garden Room and Oak Room will be learning about shapes; the names of shapes, the number of sides, finding shapes in the environment, different sizes of shapes and
enjoying number time.

School
The deadline for school applications was the 15th January 2019. We hope that you all applied on time and you will be notified on 16th April as to which school your child will be attending. Going to school is a big transition in a child’s life and we would like to support you and your child as much as possible. We are aiming to have a Transition Meeting at the nursery in March/April where a teacher from a local school will attend to help inform you of what to expect when your child starts school and how to support them. As a nursery we will offer advice on how to be ‘School Ready’. We hope this is something that will be supportive to you!ways nice to know what the children have been up to over

World Book Day
To celebrate World Book Day on Thursday 7th March the staff will be dressing up as characters from a book. We are inviting the children to dress up as their favourite character and bring in their favourite book to share with their friends. Books are an important part of a child’s life and sharing stories can support learning and development in all areas.

Library Books
In the porch we are offering a small library service where your child can borrow a book for you to share with them at home. All you need to do is encourage your child to choose a book and sign it out. You can keep it for as long as your child enjoys it, just remember to sign it back when you return it—Reading is Fun!

Scrapbooks
These are an important part of your child’s development and learning. They give both nursery and home a chance to share the child’s interests, skills and experiences, as well as developing language and communication skills. Please remember to bring them into nursery so they can share them with their friends.

Star Moments and Home Observations
In the porch we have some star moments and home observation forms that you can complete and return to your child’s key person. It’s an opportunity to share some of your child’s achievements, interests and what they are doing at home. These will help your child’s key person to support their learning.

Term Dates

Term Begins: Monday 7th January
Half Term: Monday 18th February —
Friday 22nd February
Term Ends Friday 29th March
Further Term Dates are published on our website

Parking
Can we please remind parents not to bring their cars up the cul-de-sac as there is no parking there or outside nursery, it has double yellow lines and it is an offence to park on them as well as being a danger to the children and parents coming in at nursery.
The neighbours around the nursery have the right to contact the police if anyone parks across their driveway.

First Day Absence Calls & Attendance
Can we please remind parents to inform the Nursery if your child is unable to attend for any reason. The Nursery will follow up any unexplained absence with a phone call to see why your child is not at nursery. It is important for all children to attend nursery regularly and on time as it gets them into a routine ready for school. If your child receives funding then punctual time keeping and regular attendance is essential in order for this to continue. Children arriving late to Nursery can sometimes miss out on activities already started at the beginning of the session.

Adverse Weather Conditions

Whilst we will always try to remain open in adverse weather conditions we may have to close the nursery at short notice or delay the start time. Notification of this will be posted as soon as possible on our Website and Facebook page.

Summary of Dates for your Diary

Parents Evening 25th March 2019
Transition Meeting for Parents TBC
World Book Day 7th March 2019
Red Nose Day 15th March 2019

Summer Term Newsletter

Welcome to the Summer Term at The Psalter Lane Nursery, hopefully it is going to be sunny one where we can be outside exploring the garden, so don’t forget your sun cream and hats.
It is a busy term with children getting ready for school. Hopefully you have received confirmation of your child’s school places and we would be very grateful if you could let your child’s key person know which school they will be attending in September 2018. We will be completing a Transition Form for your child which will inform their new school about their learning and development in the seven areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage.
Parent’s Evening
Our Parent’s Evening this term will be held on Tuesday 12th June 4.00pm—6.30pm. This is an opportunity for you to come along to discuss your child’s learning and development with their Key Person and for those whose children are going to school.
Please speak to your child’s key person to arrange a suitable for Parent’s Evening. We would like to ask that your children do not attend it with you!
Holiday Club
Summer Holiday Club 9.00am – 3.30pm
Week 1 Week 2
Tuesday 24th July Tuesday 31st July
Wednesday 25th July Wednesday 1st August
Thursday 26th July Thursday 2nd August
Week 3 Week 4
Tuesday 7th August Tuesday 14th August
Wednesday 8th August Wednesday 15th August
Thursday 9th August Thursday 16th August
* Booking Forms must be in
before: Friday 22nd June 2018
Check out and follow our Facebook page:
For up to date news and to see what the children have been up to in nursery!

Attendance and Funded Places
It is important for your child to attend Nursery
Regularly and on time so that they can learn and
develop their skills and knowledge. If your child
Receives 2, 3 and 4 year old funded learning then
it is a requirement that your child attends their
sessions regularly and arrival and collection times
are adhered to, so we are able to claim the grant from the Council. We cannot claim the grant for
your child if the requirements are not met and
sessions may have to be paid privately!
Suncream
Please apply sun lotion to your child before they come to nursery. We can re-apply your child’s sun lotion to them in the afternoon if they are at nursery all day. Please label your child’s lotion and sun hats with their name.
Leaver’s Party

Hopefully the weather will be sunny as we hope to have a leaver’s picnic on 22nd June for the children and families that are going to school in September. Bring a picnic to share with your child and enjoy the fun and entertainment. Invites will be sent our
nearer the time.

Parking
We know that it is a busy time at Nursery at the beginning and end of sessions but could we please remind parents/carers that there is NO PARKING in the cul-de-sac or on the double yellow lines around Nursery. Please help us keep all children safe at Nursery by not bringing cars in the cul-de-sac.

Holidays
Could you please complete a Holiday Form for any holidays you have planned so we know your child will not be in Nursery.
Summer Term Dates

First Half Term Begins Monday 16th April
May Day Bank Holiday Monday 7th May
(Nursery closed)
Half Term Monday 28th May — Friday 1st June
Second Half Term Begins Monday 4th June
Term Ends Friday 20th July

Invoice Payment Dates
The first 50% of the fees must be paid and cleared by Friday 11th May 2018. The remainder of the fees must be paid and cleared by Friday 6th July 2018. All Extras must be paid for within 7 days of the invoice issue date. Charges will be made for late Payments!

Topics
Our topics this term will include Growing, the children are looking at plants and how they grow and change, what they need to grow etc. This will be supported with stories and lots of fun
activities! We are also learning about travel and preparing for school.

Our Show and Tell Days for Oak Room and Garden Room are:

Monday 23rd April Tuesday 12th June
Tuesday 1st May Wednesday 20th June
Wednesday 9th May Thursday 28th June
Thursday 17th May Friday 6th July
Friday 25th May Monday 9th July
Monday 4th June Tuesday 17th July

For all our children that will be leaving us in July:
Get your child ready for their new routine by
switching their meal times to match those of the school day. Encourage your child to explore new environments and interact with new people Talk to your child about what they are most looking forward to at school.
Let your child practise putting their new school uniform on and taking it off.
Establish a good bedtime routine so your child’s not tired for school.
Please take the leaflets at the bottom of the stairs with information about being ‘Ready for School’.

Spring Term Newsletter 2018

Happy New Year and welcome to the Spring Term at The Psalter Lane Nursery.
The weather is very wet, cold and windy at the moment and we would like to remind you to bring your child’s coat, hat and gloves to nursery as well as a change of shoes as they will be exploring the outdoors in both morning and afternoon sessions. Please remember to label your child’s clothes with their name.
We would like to welcome back Mrs. Millis, she will be returning to The Psalter Lane Nursery after her maternity leave at the end of January 2018.
Parents should have applied for their child’s school place by 15th January 2018 (if their child’s birthday is between 1st September 2013 and 31st August 2014) and if their child is starting school in September 2018.
This is a big transition in a child’s life and we would like to support you and your child as much as possible. We would like to offer you an opportunity to attend a transition meeting at The Psalter Lane Nursery in February (date to be confirmed) where a teacher from Hunter’s Bar will attend to help inform you of what to expect when your child starts school and how to support them. As a nursery we will offer advice on how to help your child be “school ready”. We hope this is something that will be supportive to you.

Parent’s Evening
Parent’s evening will be on Tuesday 6th February – 4.00pm to 6.00pm. Please arrange a suitable time with your child’s key person. We ask for your children not to attend the Parent’s Evening as children know when you are discussing them.
Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year is 16th February this year and it is the Year of the Dog. We would like you to bring in any photographs of dogs in your child’s family that they can share with their friends. The children will explore this festival through stories, music, dance, decorations. We welcome any parents that would like to share their Chinese New Year traditions with us.

World Book Day
To celebrate World Book Day on Thursday 1st March the staff will be dressing up as characters from a book and we invite the children to dress up as their favourite character and bring their favourite book in to share with their friends. Books are an important part of a child’s life and sharing stories can support the learning and development in all areas.

Library Books
In the porch we are offering a small library service where your child can borrow a book for you to share with them at home. All you need to do is encourage your child to choose a book and sign it out. You can keep it for as long as your child enjoys it, just remember to sign it back when you return it – Reading is fun!

Term Dates
The new term dates for 2018 are available on our website – www.thepsalterlanenursery.co.uk

Scrapbooks
These are an important part of your child’s development and learning. They give both nursery and home a chance to share the child’s interests and skills and experiences, as well as developing language and communication skills. Please remember to bring them into nursery so they can share them with their friends.

Star Moments
In the porch we have some star moment forms that you can complete with your child for something they have achieved, done well, done for the first time, remembered; anything to celebrate your child’s development. These will be displayed in classrooms for the week and shared with the class. Teachers will also be looking for those star moments whilst at nursery to share with parents.

Parking
Before Christmas we had a few incidents regarding parking outside the nursery. Can we please remind parents that there is no parking in the cul-de-sac outside of nursery, it has double yellow lines and it is an offence to park on them as well as being a danger to the parents and children coming in and out of nursery.
The neighbours near the nursery have the right to contact the Police if anyone parks across or blocks their driveway.

First Day Absence Calls
Can we please remind parents and carers that we have adopted the first day absence call procedure as set out in a new code of practice from the Council. We must now ask that all parents call nursery when your child is absent in order for us to update our attendance records. Please note: children attending under the funded learning scheme have their attendance monitored. Irregular attendance may result in funding being withdrawn.

Adverse Weather Conditions
Whilst we will always try to remain open in adverse weather conditions, we may have to close the nursery at short notice or delay the start time.
Notification of this will be posted as soon as possible on our Website and Facebook page.
All schools and nurseries throughout the city will be affected by different weather conditions and ask you to bear in mind that the conditions around Nursery may well be different from those as you leave your home.
Holiday Club
Due to maintenance within the Nursery there will be no Holiday Club in the February Half Term.

19th – 23rd March Sports Relief
We will be taking part in Sports Relief this year to raise money to help vulnerable people in both the UK and the world’s poorest countries. We will be encouraging the children to take part in various physical and sporting activities at nursery and can be sponsored by family and friends. We hope you can support them.

Summary of dates for your Diary
Parent’s Evening – 6th February 4.00pm – 6.00pm
Transition Meeting for Parents – February (date to be confirmed)
Chinese New Year – 16th February
World Book Day – 1st March
Sports Relief – 19th March – 23rd March

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY 2017

We would like to remind all our Parents and Carers that we are closed for the Christmas Holidays.

Holiday Club is running on the 19th, 20th & 21st December. Please note that the last day to request a space for Holiday Club is Friday 1st December. Please ask a member of staff for a booking form if you are interested.

Our last day is Friday 15th December returning Monday 8th January 2018.

AUTUMN TERM NEWSLETTER 2017

Welcome to the Autumn term at The Psalter Lane Nursery. We hope you have had a great summer and are ready to join us for a fun and exciting term.
We would like to welcome Mrs Collingwood to our staff team, she is a qualified nursery practitioner who will be working with the children in Tree Tops and Oak room.
It is always nice to know what the children have been up to over the holidays so we would love for them to bring in any photographs of trips, holidays, outings, special occasions or anything special they would like to share with their teachers and friends.

FEES CONTRACT
Along with this terms invoice you will find 2 copies of the nursery fees contract. We would be very grateful if you could read and sign a copy and return it to nursery as soon as possible and retain the other copy for your records.

THE WEATHER
The weather is already beginning to change and the children will be needing coats, wellies, hats and gloves very soon. Could we please remind you to label your child’s clothes and wellies clearly with their name as so many of the children have similar styles in clothing.
If your child wears wellies to nursery, could we please ask you to bring a change of shoes for them to wear indoors as wellies can be uncomfortable to wear all day and it is also difficult to walk and climb stairs in them.

30 HOUR FUNDED LEARNING
We are currently offering 10 places for children that are eligible for the 30 hours funding. In order to secure a place or to be on the waiting list you must have obtained the eligibility code. Without this we cannot consider offering your child the 30 hour funded sessions. The code lasts for 3 months and after this time it is the parents responsibility to update it, if it is not updated or your circumstances change there is a grace period which allows your child to keep their place at nursery. This is for a short period only and if the parents have not updated their details then the child will lose the extra funded hours. All 3 and 4-year olds are entitled to the universal 15 hours.
It is not the responsibility of the nursery to update and check eligibility so please apply as soon as possible as places are limited.
Please note that if you wish to receive any funded learning then you need to apply for a place or make changes before the 30th NOVEMBER. This allows for any admin that needs to be done before the term finishes and to ensure there is no delay in your child starting their sessions in January. We would encourage current parents who are claiming under the scheme to reconfirm eligibility before the 30th November.

PARKING
Just a reminder that there is NO PARKING in the cul de sac just outside the nursery gates or on the double yellow lines. Please help us to keep all the children safe at nursery by adhering to this.

PHOTOGRAPHS
We have invited Jane Stapleton photographers to nursery on THURSDAY 26th OCTOBER 9am -1pm to take photos of the children in nursery. You are welcome to bring your child and/or their siblings in to have their photograph taken between these times. The photographs will be back in time for Christmas

TERM DATES
There has been a change to the Christmas term dates. The last day of term will be FRIDAY 15th DECEMBER 2017 and we will return to nursery on MONDAY 8th JANUARY 2018

HOLIDAY CLUB
We will be offering two holiday clubs this term.
OCTOBER HALF TERM
We will be offering holiday club on
TUESDAY 31st October 9 am – 3.30pm
WEDNESDAY 1st November 9am – 3.30pm
THURSDAY 2nd November 9am – 3.30pm

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY CLUB.
We will be offering holiday club on
TUESDAY 19th DECEMBER 9am-3.30pm
WEDNESDAY 20th DECEMBER 9am- 3.30pm
THURSDAY 21st DECEMBER 9am-3.30pm
Please book before the 6th OCTOBER for both holiday clubs to secure a place. Please ask your child’s teacher for a form. Holiday club will only run if there is sufficient demand.

MACMILLAN COFFEE MORNING
We are having a coffee morning on FRIDAY 29th SEPTEMBER 9.30-11.30am at nursery. We would like to invite all our parents, carers and grandparents to come and join us for a natter and a nibble and to support the Macmillan cancer support.
We are holding a gingerbread man competition and would like your children to bake and decorate a gingerbread man at home and bring it in to be judged in the coffee morning. There will be lots of prizes. It’s 50p per entry, please ask your child’s teacher for an entry form.
Also at the coffee morning we will have a guess the weight of the cake competition.
If anyone would like to bake anything for the coffee morning that would be gratefully appreciated.
Come and join us for a natter and a nibble.

MOBILE PHONES
Just a reminder that to ensure the safety and welfare of all the children in our care we MUST ask that all parents, carers or anyone that collects or drops off your child refrains from using their mobile phone whilst in the nursery setting.

FACE BOOK /WEBSITE
We are in the process of updating our website so watch this space.
Please like us on Facebook and look out for all the up to date news and information as well as the fun and exciting activities the children have been doing.
We would like permission for your children’s photographs to be shared on Facebook and the website and we will be sending a permission form out soon. Please could you return these as soon as possible.

FIRST DAY ABSENCE CALLS
It is important for Parents/Carers to report their child’s absence to Nursery on the first day. Nursery has to follow guidelines set out by the local authority regarding the regular attendance of all children. Please report all absences on our landline number 0114 2552626.

JUST A REMINDER
The core sessions finish at 12pm and 3.30pm and booked late collections are at 4pm and 5.30pm. Could we please remind our parents that charges will be made after these times (as stated in the fees contract) as suitable staffing arrangements must be made.

OUR EMERGENCY NUMBER IS 07510321039

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Holiday booking forms to be returned to nursery by 6th OCTOBER 2017
Last day of half term Friday 27th October 2017
October half term holiday club 31st October -2nd November 2017
Return to nursery on Monday 6th November 2017
Last day of term Friday 15th December r2017
Christmas Holiday Club 19th – 21st December2017
Return to nursery Monday 8th January 2018
Macmillan Coffee Morning Friday 29th September 9.30am -11.30am
Photographer Thursday 26th October 2017
Last date to apply for Funded learning places at nursery for January 2018 is 30th November 2017