The Jays Day Care Nursery, Pre-School and Outdoor Learning

An Important Reminder: When dropping off or collecting your child, please can you ensure the gate is closed. It can be quite busy with parents now having to wait outside and we wouldn’t want a child to run out of the gate.

Please also remember social distancing. We would prefer that no more than 2 parents are in the lobby at any one time.

We have noticed that it can get a bit congested at drop off and pick up time. For Pre-School children, please feel free to use the playground door – just give a little knock.

Our Nursery photographer will be in Nursery on Thursday 15^th October 2020 from 1.30pm-4.30pm. The photographs she takes are fantastic and they are returned in time for Christmas making great gifts. Please note this will be by appointment.



NB Children here on the day will automatically have their photograph taken so please let us know if you DO NOT wish your child to be photographed.

If your child is ill please do not bring them in. Should they have a temperature or cough, please follow the government guidelines and isolate for 10 days or until a negative test is received. We have attached a flowchart, symptom checker and our Covid-19 safe operating procedures for your information.

If a child is suffering from sickness or diarrhoea our policy is that they are not to return until 48 hours after their last bout. Many thanks for your cooperation in this matter. 

Hazel has re-started her wonderful workshops and has changed the format a little. Instead of termly themes she will be incorporating music, movement, dance, planting, and creative arts every term. She plans to take account of the seasons and celebrations tying this all in together and linking songs, stories, movement and dance into the activities. She will be taking as much of this outdoors as possible using our lovely grounds, planters and outdoor classroom. We are looking forward to seeing the lovely sensory path re-created and enjoying some home grown produce along with seeing some wonderful artwork and singing and dancing. She would love to do another performance for parents to see and will incorporate this as and when it is safe to do so. The children love this time with her. Look out for her wonderful displays and photo’s on Facebook and Tapestry.

We have had to suspend Beach School for the time being due to Covid-19. Clare has introduced further Forest School sessions and has structured some specifically for Toddlers so that they are also able to take part. These will be on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday with Pre-School children able to take part in the afternoon and Toddlers in the morning. If you haven’t had details yet and you think this is something your child will enjoy, please do not hesitate to speak to us. Due to the high cost and staff ratio, we do have to make a charge for this wonderful experience.

Don’t forget to take a look at Clare’s posts on our Facebook page and your Tapestry accounts.

We hope that you are all joined up to our online learning journal – Tapestry. If you are not or are having problems with this, please do let us know. Please remember that this is a two-way interactive process and we love to hear your feedback on what we share if even it is a ‘like’ so that we know you have seen it. We particularly enjoy seeing what activities and information you share from home.

Outdoor Space

As some of you may know, we have registered with easyfundraising and we need your help!

easyfundraising is a great website where you can help us raise funds simply by doing your everyday online shopping with over 3,300 big name retailers like Amazon, Argos, John Lewis, ASOS, Booking.com, eBay, Boden, and M&S.

Every time you shop, we receive a small donation to say ‘thank you’ and it’s completely free too! We want to raise as much as possible so please sign up and help us at https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/jaysdaycare/

Why are we doing this? Well – we really want to continue with upgrading our outside learning space. The children have been so happy with their new play equipment in the Pre-School playground that we are now in the process of building a similar structure in our Toddler and Baby outdoor area. We are hopeful that this will be completed soon. Thank you to all who have made donations to help towards this.

It is really important for us to hold up to date information on your child. We usually send out some update forms for you to check however, we are planning to move to a new system in January. New registration forms will be sent out later in the term to ensure we have all the details we need for our new system. Please look out for these and return them asap.

In the meantime, please let us know if you move house or change any of your emergency contact details.

Many Thanks

If you are on a low income you may be eligible for 2 year old funding. Please check your eligibility at

www.devon.gov.uk/twoyearoldfunding/

30 Hours Funding

If you are entitled to and are planning to use the extended 30 hours funding, we have to verify your 11 digit code by end December (children turning 3 in the Autumn term). Please bear in mind that some parents have found it can take up to 15 days to receive the code. Please note, we will send the relevant funding forms to you the half term prior to you being eligible for funding.

Weather

With the weather in mind and looking ahead to nearer the end of the term, please be careful on Bittaford Hill as this can get very icy.  You may wish to use the lanes near Wrangaton. Should we have a lot of snow, it would be advisable to contact the Nursery before leaving home or check our Facebook page. We will endeavour to keep the Nursery open as far as is reasonably possible. Please can you make sure your contact details are up to date. If the Nursery does need to close, unfortunately fees will still be charged as we still have costs to cover.

Wet and cold weather is on its way so already please can you make sure your child has the following items every day:

• Warm, waterproof coat.
• Full change of clothes.
• Wellington Boots and indoor shoes.
• Hat, scarf and mittens (please do not send gloves).

Please make sure ALL items are LABELLED.

Please can you ensure we have plenty of spare clothes. We do try to protect children’s clothes as far as we can but we do messy/wet activities and along with nappy/potty accidents we do not always have enough spare clothing.

Please could you also ensure that we have plenty of nappies and wipes. Please note, there is a £5 charge should we need to provide a nappy pack.

Please bear in mind during potty training that tight clothes and dungarees can make it difficult for your child. We do encourage independence here at nursery and tight clothing is very difficult to pull up/down especially when desperate! 

We would normally have a Christmas Nativity for you to come and watch and a Christmas Party for the children. The lovely Billy Wiz usually makes an appearance and keeps the children laughing with his characters antics. Sadly, it looks as though this will not be able to go ahead this year. We will come up with some lovely ways to celebrate with the children and still make it a fun time for them.

We will keep following the guidance re Covid-19 and let you know if the situation changes.

We shall be celebrating Christmas Jumper Week from the 7^th December

– come to Nursery dressed in your favourite festive knitwear or decorations for a small donation to Save the Children.

Thursday 15^th October 2020

Photographer in 1.30pm – 4.30pm

Monday 26^th October – Friday 30^th October 2020

Half term for Term Time only children

W/b 7^th December 2020

Christmas Jumper Week – come to Nursery dressed in your favourite festive knitwear or decorations for a small donation to Save the Children.

Friday 18^th December 2020

End of Term for Term Time only children.

Thursday 24^th December 2020

Shorter opening hours 8am-4pm

Friday 25^th December 2020

Christmas Day – CLOSED

Monday 28^th December 2020

Bank Holiday – CLOSED

Friday 1^st January 2020

New Years Day – CLOSED

Monday 4^th January 2021

First day of Spring Term for Term Time only children

Please note – We will be closing at 4pm on Christmas Eve. We will adjust your invoice accordingly.

From Jacqui and the Team