Important Dates Autumn Term 2013 Half term 28 th Oct – 1 st Nov Inset Day Friday 29 th November Ch

1. Important Dates • Autumn Term 2013 • Half term 28th Oct – 1st Nov • Inset Day Friday 29th November • Christmas Disco To be confirmed. • Clarion House Visit Wednesday 11th December • Christmas Performance Monday 16th December • Mon 5.00pm, Thur 11.00 Thursday 19thDecember • Christmas Party Friday 20th December • Last day of term Friday 20th December • Inset day Monday 6th January • Spring Term starts Tuesday 7th January • Committee Members : • Kelly Smith : Chairperson • Toni Gardner : Secretary • Rachael Milan : Treasurer • Corey Hogan : Member • Beth Atkinson : Member • Anthea Krempa : Member • If you would like to join • or gain further • information please speak • to either Paula Metcalfe • or any of the team. Autumn 2-2013 c/o Offley Endowed School School Lane Gt Offley Herts SG5 3AT Tel: 01462 768606 offleypreschool@hotmail.co.uk www.offley-preschool.org Preschool is going through a time of reflection and with this in mind several new developments are to be implemented to benefit the children who attend. More will be explained throughout the letterand in the coming weeks. We value your thoughts and suggestions so please let us know if your child speaks of the new activities. Our opening hours are: Mon-Fri 8.50-1pm and Tue, Wed, Thur 8.50-3pm. Lunch clubs all week from 12-1pm at £3.50 per session. We do have some spaces for additional sessions if you and your child would like to increase attendance.  Please speak to a member of staff who will happily book you in. Lunch club - this is a lovely social way for the children to interact together, to eat their lunch. Please speak to a member of staff if you would like your child to attend - the cost per session is £3.50 Collection times Can we politely remind you of the pick-up times for preschool. They are as follows: Morning session 12pm (unless your child is staying for lunch club where it's 1pm) Afternoon session 3pm Please refer to our late payment charge/policy which is displayed in the foyer. Preschool Fundraiser: Oh what a night – A massive thank you to the committee for organising the event, to the band (The Junkyard Rats) who kept us entertained and to the friends and family who supported the event. We raised an amazing £888.30profit, YES you did read it correctly. This money will be ploughed back into preschool. We have already purchased another Tuff spot for the classroom. Generous raffle donations from Active Luton, Greys of Hitchin, BBC Concert Orchestra, Ruth Wyss Photography, HBS Tennis Club, Elemis, YogaMindSpace, Red Hairdressers and Expositionists international. Thank you cards will be made by the children and distributed. New equipment suggestions Do any parents (or more importantly the children!!) have any ideas of how you'd like us to spend some of our amazing fundraising effort?  Is there anything you think would help make our preschool a better space?. Please pass on the ideas to a staff member. October 2013

2. Harvest full of Happiness The children have been working hard on decorating the shoe boxes and making cards. The weather stayed dry for us and eight children delivered the boxes to our neighbours. All boxes were greatly received, smiles and tears by many. Your children were both polite and friendly, walking to and from preschool taking turns to deliver each box. A big thank you for the donations, hopefully the small token will bring a smile to our elderly neighbours. It is an opportunity to take five minutes, bringing generations together, an opportunity for preschool children to share a conversation and in the weeks to come to say Hello when we pass in the street. Thank you for your continued support, let us continue to make some of our neighbours smile. Phonics, Phonics Everywhere Following a visit from our Early Years Adviser, the preschool will no longer be using our Sticker Tree next term. In its place will be a Phonics Board and the children will have a daily phonics session introducing them to the world of Jolly Phonics which is used in many/most Hertfordshire Primary schools. A separate letter will follow explaining the system. We will be working on Phase 1. Please be assured we will work at every Childs individual level. Show and tell will focus on whatever your child would like to share (Hooray I hear many of you say). Preschool Policies As a setting we are updating our policies and making some changes to the way we operate. These policies are available for you to view at anytime. We would like to bring to your attention that as a setting we require your child to attend a minimum of two sessions and depending on numbers have no maximum. If you require extra sessions please speak to a staff member. Remember your child is entitled to 15hours per week spread however you wish including lunch clubs the term after their 3rd birthday. Additional activities payment The first visit by Jo jingles was a great success. All children present seemed to enjoy the activities. The staff will be learning some of the songs and techniques to carry out in between visits. Karen will be alternating her visits allowing all children the opportunity to participate. Your £5 per half term contribution allows us to rent the village hall every week offering Jo Jingles sessions and extra outings and activities. Gardening assistance Would any parents like to give a couple of hours every 6 weeks or so to help maintain our lovely garden?  It's particularly difficult at this time of year to keep on top of the leaves and all help would be gratefully received The WOW board The board is placed in the room for all children to see and together with yourselves we will be adding a Star achievement. Anything that is an achievement to your child. These achievements can be very minor, Paula ate all of her dinner, Emma got herself dressed, Adam swam without armbands in his lesson. When a new one is written the old one will be placed in the learning journey folders. Mobile Phones Just a reminder that in line with our Safeguarding policy, mobile phones are not to be used on the premises. Your child will not be handed over to you until you have hung up your conversation, Please refrain from having your phone out on site. Thank you. IMPORTANT INFORMATION Please notify us as soon as possible to any information changes. PLEASE MAKE SURE WE HAVE A CORRECT EMAIL ADDRESS. I am always available if you would like to discuss any issues or concerns regarding your child and am usually at Preschool by 8.20am. Regards Paula Metcalfe. October2013 Offley Pre-school Staff: Paula Metcalfe, Sara Page, Elaine Wood and Claire Pin Page 2 of 2

3. Term Dates for 2013/2014 • These dates have been set using the Hertfordshire school suggested dates Autumn Term 2013 Tuesday 3rd September to Friday 20th December 2013 Half Term Monday 28th October to Friday 1st November 2013 Spring Term 2014 Tuesday 7th January 2014 to Friday 4th April 2014 Half Term Monday 17th February to Friday 21st February 2014 Summer Term 2014 Tuesday 22nd April 2014 to Tuesday 22nd July 2014 Half Term Monday 26th May to Friday 30th May 2014 Inset Day Monday 2nd September 2014 Inset Day Friday 29th November 2013 Inset Day Monday 6th January 2014 Inset Day Friday 14th February 2014 Inset Day Friday 20th June 2014 Occasional Day Wednesday 23rd July 2014