Latest News

URGENT UPDATE – 3RD NOV 2020

3.11.2020

Unfortunately our phone line is currently down. If you need to contact us please email: office@willownursery.co.uk

We will monitor our emails regularly during the school day.

If we need to contact you, we will email you.

In an emergency, we will contact you using a staff mobile phone.

Telephone parents consultations will not go ahead unless phone line is fixed 

Please check here for updates.

Nursery News 19.10.2020

NURSERY NEWS

19th October 2020 – Edition 204

Find out About:

A: October Half Term Break

B. Parent Consultations.

C. School Photographer.

D. What the children are learning this week.

A: October Half Term Break Approaching:

Time has flown six weeks of this school year has passed already. Next week will be the Autumn Half Term break. School will be closed from Monday 26th October to Friday 30th October. School is also closed for staff training day on Monday 2nd November.

OUR NEXT NEWSLETTER WILL BE PUBLISHED ON MONDAY 9TH NOVEMBER

B. Parent Consultations- A reminder.

We offer parent consultations once a term to all children in the 3+ age group.

We ask you to telephone the school office to make an appointment for your child.

Telephone 01582-662600

Staff with have a list of times available. You may select an available time. Staff will ask you for some details: your name, your child’s name, and the phone number you would like us to call you on for the consultation.

We have only one phone line at school so the consultations will be at the following times:

Green Group, Speaking with Mrs Patterson.

Tuesday 3rd November 2020. Appointments available from 3:00pm to 5:10pm

Red Group, Speaking with Miss Skai

Wednesday 4th November. Appointments available from 3:00pm to 5:10pm

Yellow Group, Speaking with Miss Howe.

Thursday 5th November. Appointments available from 3:00pm to 5:10pm

C. School Photographer

A school photographer will be here on Wednesday 11th November, for Main Nursery children, and Thursday 12th November for Catkins children. If your child is in Catkins Class but does not attend on a Thursday, and you would like your child to come in just for a photograph, please talk to Miss Tyler or Mrs Brinkley and they will suggest a time. Our photographers name is Victoria Mitchell and she is based in Dunstable. She uses colourful backdrops and props within her photography.

D. What the children are learning this week.

We use our newsletter to share information about what the children are learning at school. We do this so you can take an interest in current topics and maybe support this learning at home.

We generally have a specific focus for each week that we plan activities around. To begin with we talk to the children about what they know. We encourage them to talk about their families and homes. We then try to show the children where toys and equipment can be found (and hopefully where they can be returned to!). We have had a week looking at favourite toys, and a week exploring the Maisy Mouse storybooks. This week, in the Main Nursery we will be learning about ‘Who’s Who?’ in school. The children will be learning all the staff’s names, and their role in school.

One activity this week will be to provide a ‘staff hunt’. Children will have a clipboard with a worksheet of photo’s of the Main Nursery staff. Individual children move around the school, and write a pencil tick next to the staff photo when they find them. The children find it fun, and it is a meaningful mark making exercise. We will attach staff photo’s to the trees and play equipment around the garden and play movement games with the children, asking them to run to the photo of Miss Howe, or jump to the photo of Mrs Patterson etc. We will also have a mud kitchen in the garden this week. Children explore soil and water, mixing it in bowls, saucepans and other containers. In maths, children will explore Bee Bots. These are programmable toys that move forward and turn on the spot to change direction. Children program a set of instructions in the Beebot to control how it moves.

The theme this week in Catkins Class will be the Incy Wincy Spider Nursery Rhyme. Children will be making spider webs. Children will share the story of ‘Pip and Posy and the Scary Monster’ as a group read. In Catkins Class we have some sets of 4 books that are the same, so a member of staff can read a book with a small group and they can each have a copy of the book to hold. Children learn how to look at the illustrations to find out information, they can look at the pages and notice where the words are. They can learn to hold the book the correct way up and begin to turn pages one at a time in the right direction.

Nursery News 12.10.2020

NURSERY NEWS

12th October 2020 – Edition 203

Find out About:

A: Catkins Refunds due to Lockdown March 2020.

B. Parent Consultations.

C. Catkins spaces

D. What the children are learning this week.

A: Catkins Refunds Due to Lockdown March 2020

Catkins class closed during the Summer term 2020 due to the covid pandemic. Any parent who had paid fees for the summer term was sent a refund cheque through the post. Some of these cheques have not yet been cashed. Please, if you have one of these cheques present it to your bank as soon as possible. Generally, banks will only cash cheques within six months of the issue date.

B. Parent Consultations.

We offer parent consultations once a term to all children in the 3+ age group.

As parents are unable to come into school at the moment due to the covid pandemic, we are following government guidelines and offering parent consultations on the telephone. Parents will have the opportunity to have a 5 minute phone consultation with their child’s keyworker.

We ask you to telephone the school office to make an appointment for your child.

Staff with have a list of times available. You may select an available time. Staff will ask you for some details: your name, your childs name, and the phone number you would like us to call you on for the consultation.

We have only one phone line at school so the consultations will be at the following times:

Green Group, Speaking with Mrs Patterson.

Tuesday 3rd November 2020. Appointments available from 3:00pm to 5:10pm

Red Group, Speaking with Miss Skai

Wednesday 4th November. Appointments available from 3:00pm to 5:10pm

Yellow Group, Speaking with Miss Howe.

Thursday 5th November. Appointments available from 3:00pm to 5:15pm

C. Catkins Spaces.

We still have some morning spaces available in Catkins. At the moment we still have morning spaces available on Wednesdays Thursdays and Fridays. Get in touch with the office if your child attends Catkins and you would like an additional session.

Encourage friends and family to call if they are thinking of enrolling their two year old in a setting, we’d love to see some new faces.

D. What the children are learning this week.

We use our newsletter to share information about what the children are learning at school. We do this so you can take an interest in current topics and maybe support this learning at home.

This week though, I’d like to talk about the whole class grouptimes that we are teaching at the moment.

In the Main Nursery, (Green Red and Yellow Groups) we plan to teach the children five grouptimes across the week. Children attend in different patterns: some do 5 mornings, some do 2 ½ days M-W, some do 2 ½ days W-F and some do 5 full days. We arrange children into groups across the week to ensure they all experience the 5 different grouptimes.

Children have free choice to move around the school both inside and outside during the majority of the session time. In the morning we stop and come together at 11:00am and split children into 3 groups for grouptime. Grouptime is 25 minutes long. These are our current groups.

Music- The children will experience 10 music sessions that are carefully planned to build on what they have learnt in previous sessions. The staff had training from the De Capo music organisation. We use De Capo materials , music, songs, picture cards, beat cards, etc. to teach children through singing, movement, using instruments and playing rhythm games.

Oxford Reading Tree- Oxford University Press publish a reading scheme to help early reading. We have a set of picture cards to introduce the main characters in the storybooks. The children discuss the detail in the pictures. The staff tell a story about each picture. Staff write a caption under the pictures for the children and staff to read together. We have some whole class size books for early readers which the staff read with the children. (We have a number of Oxford Reading Tree books in our library that the children can re-visit by themselves.)

Theraplay Sunshine circles- sunshine circles are planned activities to encourage children to listen carefully, take turns and join in with co-operative activities. These activities help children’s wellbeing.

Big Books- We have a good selection of children’s storybooks (such as The Hungry Caterpillar and Elmer the Elephant) that are big enough for the whole class to share at the same time. Staff read the stories to the children, discuss the text, look at the pictures, and play some rhyming games with the children.

Listening with Lola- Lola is a little soft toy Leopard. Each week Lola introduces a new listening game.

Catkins also have a grouptime at the end of each morning session. However, the attention span in Catkins class is much shorter, and we aim for grouptime to last for about 8-10 minutes. Some children are not ready for grouptime when they first begin in Catkins. This is fine, these children stay with play with staff in the main classroom. So in Catkins the grouptime sessions are:

Lola – Lola first appears in Catkins, with some very simple listening activities.

Lift off to language- A program of activities to encourage Two year olds to become more confident using language. The sessions are planned to give all children the opportunity to speak and be listened to.

Signing- We teach the children some basic sign language, so they can make their needs known if they are reluctant to speak. The signs we teach cover words to make their basic needs known such as being hungry or thirsty. We also teach signs for emotions so that they can express their feelings, such as feeling happy or sad. We teach the program using a scheme developed by Luton Council. There are books and stories which involve two little characters, and we have two soft rag dolls representing the characters, that the children meet at storytime.

Music time: Children learn nursery rhymes and songs, they play along with basic instruments such as shakers and bells, and they dance to different kinds of music.

Nursery News 5.10.2020

NURSERY NEWS

5th October 2020 – Edition 202

Find out About:

A: Starting Lower/Primary School in September 2021

B. Forest School Program

C. Catkins Class: 3+enrolment.

A: Starting Lower/Primary School in September 2021

Apply for a lower or primary school place in Central Bedfordshire

When to apply for starting school in 2021

Children born between 1 September 2016 and 31 August 2017 are due to start school in September 2021.

You need to apply before 15 January 2021.

YOU MUST APPLY FOR A SCHOOL PLACE through your home Local Authority. For information or to apply online please look at the following website: https://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/info/5/school_admissions

We have three schools in this East Dunstable area, and there are many other schools within a few miles of here. Schools usually offer visits to prospective parents, but the Covid-19 pandemic may be effecting schools normal open events. I have taken the following information from our most local schools websites.

Hadrian Academy

We want you to be confident that Hadrian Academy is the right choice for both you and your family.

If your child is due to start school in September 2021 and you would like to have a look around our academy, then please contact the school office on 01582 618400 or email office@hadrianacademy.co.uk where our staff will be happy to take details and arrange a school visit.

Vale Academy

If your child is due to start school in September 2021 and you would like to have a look around our academy, we will shortly be arranging after school hours appointments.

School Address: The Vale Academy and Vale Nursery Wilbury Drive, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU5 4QP

Phone Number: – 01582 211150 vale@thesharedlearningtrust.org.uk

St Christophers Academy

Gorham Way Dunstable LU5 4NJ

Tel: 01582 500960 Email: SCA-admin@bestacademies.org.uk

B. Forest School Program

Mrs Brinkley spent a year studying to become a Level 3 Forest School Practitioner in 2017 . In order to support her work in school, all other school staff studied to become Level 1 Forest School Practitioners during the 2018 school year.

What is a Forest School? -this is a quote which outlines what a Forest School is and the ethos of them:

‘An inspirational process that offers children, young people and adults regular opportunities to achieve, develop confidence and self-esteem through hands on learning experiences in a local woodland environment’ (Forest School (England) network 2002)

Whilst we have some trees and shrubs, we acknowledge that we do not have a ‘Forest’, but Forest School teaching and learning is all about participating in activities in the outdoors, learning new skills, building strong relationships and thinking creatively. Mrs Brinkley has planned 8 activity sessions that Main Nursery children will take part in during their final year at nursery. Mrs Brinkley will work with a small group once a week for 8 weeks. We aim to have worked with Green Red and Yellow group children by Easter 2021.

So, for your information, these are the eight activities the children will be participating

in:

1.Fairy/ Gnome Dens. Children will use natural materials that they find in the garden to build a small den for an imaginary fairy or gnome.

2. Making Fairies or small people. Children will be shown how to make a fairy using twigs and clay. Children will be encouraged to make their own character, using their imagination to add hair, wings or other accessories.

3.Larger Dens. Working as part of a small group children will build a den from tarpaulins and ropes. Children will then join Mrs Brinkley inside the den for a story together.

4. Clay Faces. Children will mould a flat circular clay shape onto a tree trunk. Children will then add natural objects to the clay to create a face. Children will be shown how to make marks in the clay using sticks found in the garden. Children will compare their own features with those of their friends. Children will discuss similarities and differences.

5.Bug Hunt. Children will look around the garden areas, trying to find bugs to put into their bug collecting pot. They will tip their collections out onto a white paper surface, then use a magnifying glass to look carefully at the bugs. We will be teaching them about being careful with the wildlife and to look after nature.

6. Mud Kitchens, Mud Potions and Mixtures. Children will be provided with pots and spoons. They will have the opportunity to mix soil with sand and water to make liquid mud. Children will then be able to add leaves and grass, and anything else that they find in the garden, into their mixture.

7. Making Woodland Medals. Children will be shown how to use a hand drill to drill a hole in a small disc of wood in order to make a medal. Children will decorate their medals using felt tip pens

8. Using a Kelly Kettle to make a warm chocolate drink. Children will observe Mrs Brinkley using a Kelly Kettle to create heat. (Wood is used to create a small fire inside the kettle, which then heats the liquid above.) Children will enjoy warm chocolate to drink with a snack.

Mrs Brinkley’s Thoughts….

I am really excited to be now teaching our children ‘The Forest School Way’. The

children are enjoying the new experience and their ideas are extending learning further. Forest School learning has so many benefits to the child’s learning and covers all areas to support the overall well being of the children.

Welcome to Forest School learning Willow!

C. Catkins Class: 3+enrolment.

We are beginning the enrolment process for Catkins children who will be eligible for 15 hours funded education in January 2021 (Blue Group) and April 2021 (Orange Group). Children in Blue Group and Orange Group, in Catkins Class, have all received an important letter last week. Please complete the Options Form in the pack and return to Mrs Davies by Friday 9th October. Option requests are considered in the order that they are returned. I will then confirm in writing,the option choice your child has been allocated.

Nursery News 28.9.2020

NURSERY NEWS

28th September 2020 – Edition 201

Find out About:

A: Use of Face Coverings.

B. Keeping Children Safe.

C. Milk and Fruit time.

D. Early Years Pupil Premium

A: Use of Face Coverings

The government is not recommending universal use of face coverings in early years education and care settings. We have guidelines regarding using the ‘system of controls’ to provide additional mitigating measures. There is a concern that misuse of face masks may inadvertently increase the risk of transmission. Safe wearing of face coverings requires cleaning of hands before and after touching – including to remove or put them on – and the safe storage of them in individual, sealable plastic bags between use. Nursery age children could not competently put on and take off masks in a safe way. Pupils at Willow Nursery School should not wear face masks.

Current government advice is that face coverings are not necessary when Nursery staff are interacting with children, as face coverings may have a negative impact on interactions between staff and children. Face coverings should not be used in classrooms as it effects the teaching and learning that takes place.

We would, however, advise parents to consider the use of face masks when waiting outside school, as we know maintaining a social distance of 2 metres is very difficult.

B. Keeping Children Safe.

Parents entrust their children into our care. There are rigorous procedures in place outlined by the government to keep all children safe from harm. I think it is important to let you know about some of the procedures that may affect you and your family whilst being part of our School Community, and I will try to explain the reasons for having these procedures.

We need to know where children are if they are absent from school. If for any reason you decide to keep your child at home, on a day when your child should be at school please telephone in to school as soon as possible and let us know. When registers are completed at the beginning of the session we have to put codes in the registers regarding the reasons for a child’s absence. If we do not hear from you, you will receive a call from one of the office staff or the headteacher asking about the whereabouts of your child.

If you know in advance that you will be absent, for example for a medical appointment, please let staff know and the appropriate code can be entered in the

register.

If you plan to go on holiday in term time, please fill in a holiday form (available from the office staff) which again will let us know the dates that you will be absent. Unexplained absences have to be followed up. If a child is absent for any length of time and we have not heard from their parents as to the reasons for their absence, the child become a ‘Missing Child’. In this circumstance we are compelled to contact the Police and Social Care.

We need to record all injuries. If your child has a fall or receives a bump in school that we are aware of, we will fill in an accident letter to tell you about the incident. This letter will be passed on to you outside, by a member of staff. There is another copy kept in school.

Please inform your child’s Keyworker if your child comes into school with an existing injury that has occurred outside of school time. This can be done by emailing or telephoning the school office. Staff must make a note of any existing injuries a child has. Our children at Willow are young. They are sometimes unable to tell us how they have hurt themselves. Please tell us if you know of any marks/cuts etc as it will save staff trying to work out what has happened.

Teach your child to use the toilet. Guidelines say that we should offer as little assistance in the bathroom as possible. With the Main Nursery children we prefer to give children verbal assistance from outside their cubicle, only offering physical assistance if absolutely necessary. If an adult is needed to help a child in the bathroom another member of staff will always be aware, and support if necessary.

C. Milk and Fruit time.

The government provides all children at Nursery with a carton of milk. We ask all parents to donate fruit or vegetables, so we can share these at the snack table alongside the milk we provide. We ask parents to donate a bag of fruit such as apples, satsumas, pears or bananas, or vegetables such as peppers or carrot sticks. If every parent was to donate a bag of fruit every half term we will have lots to share.

D. Early Years Pupil Premium

What is Early Years Pupil Premium?

This information has been taken from Central Bedfordshire’s Website.

The Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) is designed to narrow the attainment gap between young children from low-income families and their peers by improving the facilities, equipment and learning experiences to benefit the growth and development of eligible children.

All children aged 3 and 4 who meet the eligibility criteria will benefit from the funding. It will be paid to early years providers on an hourly rate basis, linked to claimed hours for eligible children. The annual value for a 15 hour place over a full year will be just over £300, or 53p per hour.

Any provider registered to offer funded early years places will receive the EYPP if they have entitled children. All parents will be asked to supply details to allow a

check to be run by the local authority, eligible parents will trigger a payment direct to the childcare setting.

Eligibility criteria

Children will be eligible if:

· they are 3 or 4 years old and receiving government-funded Free Entitlement in any OFSTED registered childcare provider and their parents are in receipt of one or more of the benefits used to access eligibility for free school meals

· parents receive Universal Credit

· parents receive Income Support

· parents receive Income-based Jobseekers Allowance

· parents receive Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

· parents receive support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

· parents receive the guaranteed element of State Pension Credit

· parents receive Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)

· parents receive Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credits

or if they have been:

· looked after by the local authority for at least one day

· have been adopted from care in the local authority

· have left care through special guardianship; and subject to a child arrangement order setting out with whom the child is to live (formerly known as residence orders) in Central Bedfordshire

If any parent has considered the eligibility criteria and believes their child is eligible please telephone or email the school office and together we can make a claim.