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

We hope you have all had a lovely summer and made the most of the sunshine although it was a little while ago now.

We have had some lovely new children and their families join us. We would like to welcome Lottie, George, Cove, Finley, Flo, George H, Hugo, Isaac, Isla, Oren, Rae, Seb P, Stella, Seb R, Seth, Billy, William O. We hope everyone has settled/settles well and enjoys nursery life.

Sadly, we have had to say farewell to Claire who was working in our Pre-School Room and Dawn who was working in our Baby Room. We are missing them and wish them well in their new ventures.

We have been lucky to recruit Mandy who you have probably seen answering the door. We have also recently held interviews and will have new staff joining us over the coming weeks. We will gradually introduce them at the door.

Although it is not how we would like it, we are all used to the new procedures. We do appreciate your co-operation with transferring children at the door. Please could we ask that you say your goodbyes and have hugs and kisses before handing over your child to staff in order to help with social distancing.

Please could you also ensure that only 1 adult comes to collect your child so that we can keep the area as clear as possible.

Due to the high rates of infection in our area we have chosen to keep this procedure in place for the time being.

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.

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.

Sickness and Illness

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 PCR test is received.

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.

Creative Workshop

Hazel runs her wonderful workshops on a Thursday morning incorporating music, movement, dance, planting, and creative arts. 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 have seen some some lovely home grown produce and flowers and the children have enjoyed her displays in the lobby. She hopes to do one of her amazing performances with the children around Easter time for parents to see. The children love this time with her. Please do see the photo’s on Facebook and Blossom.

Don’t forget you can find us on Facebook. We have a username to make finding us easier fb.me/jaysnursery We try to update it regularly with news of what your children have been doing at Nursery. It is also a great way of receiving important information. Please do share with your friends and family.

We have had to suspend Forest School whilst Lydia undergoes treatment. Clare (outdoor learning leader) has taken over as Pre-School leader in the interim. We are missing Lydia and hope she will be back working with us soon. We look forward to Forest School resuming in January all being well.

We hope that you are all enjoying our online learning journal – Blossom. If you are not or are having problems with this, please do let us know. You are able to share photo’s and observations from home by clicking on ‘journey’ ‘add’ and follow the steps. This helps us to work on our ‘In the moment planning’ process where we build on children’s learning through their interests. Should you wish to know more about this way of planning, please ask your child’s keyworker or any other member of staff.

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/

Our contributions so far have helped towards our outdoor play structures. We are looking at what our next project might be and will keep you posted.

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). If you have not received your form, please let me know.

2 year old Funding

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/

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, with Blossom, there is no need to do this. Please can you check information on your Blossom account via the in the left hand corner ‘my profile’ and let us know if there is anything that needs changing i.e.change of address.

Many Thanks.

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 or your Blossom App. We will endeavour to keep the Nursery open as far as is reasonably possible. If the Nursery does need to close, unfortunately fees will still be charged as we still have costs to cover.

All Children

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!

Clothing/Winter

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.
• Hat, scarf and mittens (please do not send gloves).

Please make sure ALL items are LABELLED.

Christmas Jumper Day

We shall be celebrating Christmas Jumper Day but for the whole of December

– come to Nursery dressed in your favourite festive wear

for a small donation to Save the Children.

Christmas Festivities

All being well, we will hold our Christmas Nativity on 9th December (all Pre-School Children only). Parents of Pre-School Room children only, to come and watch and there will also be a Christmas Party for the pre-school children. The lovely Billy Wiz will make an appearance and keep the children laughing with his characters antics.

Sadly, we will not be able to invite all parents this year as we are still having to be careful in the face of Covid. We will be asking that only 2 parents per child attend and we will have to ask that siblings do not attend on this occasion. We hope you understand our decisions regarding this but want to keep everyone as safe as we can.

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

Christmas

Dates For Your Diary

Friday 19th November 2021

Children in Need – Pyjama Week – details to follow.

December 2021

Christmas Jumper Day/Month – come to Nursery dressed in your favourite festive wear or decorations for a small donation to Save the Children.

Thursday 9th December

Pre-School Christmas Party and Nativity.

Friday 17th December 2021

End of Term for Term Time only children.

Friday 24th December 2021

Shorter hours - Closing at 4 p.m.

Tuesday 4th January

Re-Open Tuesday 4th January 2022 8 a.m and first day of Spring Term for Term Time children.

Monday 21st February – Friday 25th February 2022

Half term for Term Time only children.

Merry Christmas From Jacqui And The Team!