Welcome to the start of a new school year and a special welcome to those of you who are starting playschool for the first time. We all hope your child will enjoy their time with us and have lots of fun along the way.

On behalf of all the staff I would like to say a very BIG thank you to everyone for their kind words, generosity and all the lovely gifts we received at the end of term.

During the first half of this term we will be concentrating on settling in the new children and children returning from the summer break, reinforcing playschool rules and building friendships. To encourage all our children with language development we will focus on learning nursery rhymes with the aid of props to help engage the children and children with English as an additional language. The repetiveness of these rhymes will assist the children.

The nursery rhymes we will be singing are 1,2,3,4,5, Incy Wincy Spider, Twinkle Twinkle, Baa Baa Black Sheep, Hickory Dickory Doc, Hey Diddle Diddle. The words to some of these rhymes can be found on the parent interaction page.

Please feel free to stay and settle your child and always say good-bye before you leave. As well as settling in the children, if any existing parents see any ‘new parents’ looking a bit lost as to where to go or what to do, please point them in the right direction.

The children have been allocated a key person who will work closely with you and your child and answer any of your questions or concerns. In some cases there may be a change to your child’s key person due to session changes and/or staff work patterns. Confirmation of key persons will be sent out in due course.

Should you have any concerns about your child’s speech or any other areas of development, please discuss this with Debbie, our Additional Needs Co-Ordinator. We are able to liaise with other agencies for extra support and also work alongside agencies already involved with your child thus giving your child continuity throughout their development.

New Staff / Committee Members:

We said a sad goodbye to Vicci (Playschool Assistant) and also Caroline (Committee Secretary) over the summer. Coincidently, both their husbands were offered positions in Spain and so both families have relocated during the holidays.

The summer was spent recruiting for Vicci’s replacement and we are pleased to welcome Pamela Jackson to our team. Jo Berry has stepped up to the position of Secretary and is also volunteering in playschool while studying for her Level 3 childcare qualification. Jo has been on our committee for a couple of years. Her eldest child is now at school and her youngest will be joining playschool next year.

Amazing Achievement Slip:

Amazing Achievement slips are available in playschool. Please complete a slip to enable you to share with us anything your child does outside of playschool such as, riding a bike without stabilizers, sporting achievement, family outing, being kind, sharing; the list is endless. The children are very proud when we share their achievement to the rest of the group.

Free Craft:

Junk modelling is always available to the children. Please send in cardboard kitchen towel rolls (no toilet rolls or egg boxes please) and any small boxes/pots/containers/milk bottle tops. Please ensure that all containers are thoroughly washed.

Session Times:

It is imperative that children are dropped off and collected promptly, on time, to prevent disruption and to keep our ratios correct. If you are going to be unavoidably delayed please telephone playschool so we can re-assure your child that you are on your way – 07708 426134.

If you are collecting your child at midday please wait by the white doors in the main car park between the black gate of playschool and the orange barrier. This will enable us to keep the children as safe as possible.

If you are dropping your child off at midday, please continue to use the playschool door at the rear of the Memorial Hall.

If you are driving, please be aware of children and siblings in the car park, especially if you are reversing out of a parking space.

Lunch Club:

Please ensure that all lunch boxes are clearly named (ideally on the outside). When preparing the lunch box please be mindful of children with allergies, ie no nuts or eggs. Children will be reminded that their lunch box is their own and not to be shared. Uneaten food will be returned home to enable you to gauge what your child has eaten.

Library:

As we are unable to keep all our books on the bookcase at once, we will be running a library to enable the children to access more books. The basket of books is on the floor by the book area and should your child wish to take one, please complete the simple form.

Wet Weather Gear:

Please ensure that your child arrives at playschool with a named long sleeved coat as the weather is very changeable. We have waterproof ponchos to go over the children’s coats to enable them to explore outside in the rain. Please remember to bring in NAMED wellies if it is raining.

Snack:

Please remember to bring in a piece of fruit / vegetable sticks for the children to share at snack time.

Harvest Festival:

We would like the children to participate in Harvest Festival. Therefore, on one of their sessions during week commencing 1 October, we would be grateful if they could bring in a piece of fruit, vegetable, flowers or tinned/packet food. Depending on what we receive we may take the children through to the Village Market to sell their produce or alternatively, take it to the church.

Starting School:

Admission to school – September 2014. If your child will be 4 years old between 1 September 2013 and 31 August 2014 you can apply for a school place:

From 1 November 2013, Hampshire residents can apply:

• Online at www.hants.gov.uk/admissions where you will also find information about schools in Hampshire, or
• On a paper application form available from a Hampshire infant or primary school

Schools make individual arrangements for open events in the autumn term. Should you wish to visit Hamble Primary I would suggest that you call the office to arrange an appointment – 023 80453298. Similarly, Bursledon Infant School is 023 80402869 and Netley Abbey Infants is 023 80452263.

Application deadline for a school place is WEDNESDAY 15 JANUARY 2014.

Henville Educational Foundation:

The Foundation was set up to promote and assist the education of young people. Any person under the age of 25 who lives in Hamble, may apply to the Foundation for financial assistance for their education, provided that it is not already available through public funds.

The Trustees meet 4 times a year and consider all applications on an individual basis. They welcome applications from anyone who meets the Foundations’ criteria and encourage a wide range of applicants. All applications are confidential. If you think you may be eligible, please contact Mrs Wendy Mason on 02380 452730 or 07805 940565 for further details.

Payment of Fees:

A few parents have enquired about the possibility of paying fees direct via the internet. This is acceptable providing you use your child’s name as the reference and you email julie@hamblevillageplayschool.org.uk confirming the date of the transaction and the amount paid.

Details are: Barclays Bank
Sort Code: 20-79-25
Account Number: 90380059

Early Years Education Grant (EYE):

These forms are being sent out this week to the eligible children. Please ensure that the forms are returned on time – Wednesday 18 September 2013.

Diary Dates:

Playschool Contact Numbers:

If you need to contact playschool please telephone on:
07708 426134 During sessions
07903 388568 Out of sessions


Kind Regards

for HAMBLE VILLAGE PLAYSCHOOL
Julie Ash
Manager