As you are probably already aware our team leader, Sue Lambert, recently lost her son in a tragic accident.  Another son is recovering in Poole Hospital at present.  Our thoughts and best wishes are with the family at this time.  A collection is being made for Wessex Neurological Unit and Poole ITU and donations can be left at the Cottage or School office.

 

 

Due to these unforeseen circumstances, we contacted Dorset Surestart Staff Bank service, who provided us with details of a suitably qualified member of staff to join our team temporarily.  Kimmaree Williams was able to help us out at short notice so that we could run our Holiday Club as normal.  She has been a real asset to the group and maybe helping us out again over the coming weeks.

 

 

Welcome to Kerry Curchin who has joined our team as a Pre-School Assistant and is working with us on Monday and Friday mornings.  She has recently achieved her NVQ2.

 

 

Thank you to Holt Football Club for the generous donation to the group again this year.  The donation will be added to our fundraising account.

 

 

Questionnaire

Thank you to everybody who returned a completed questionnaire, your input is invaluable to us in making future plans for the group.  It highlighted some areas for us to consider and we hope to address these over the coming groups.  However some questions can be answered immediately and they are detailed below:

 

• Children are offered water or milk.

   

• Healthy snacks are provided e.g. apple, pear, banana, carrot

   

• There is a Daily/Weekly Planner giving details of activities during the week to be found on the noticeboard just inside the entrance door.

   

• Keyworker/Development files – Quite a few parents asked questions about this issue and we are therefore reviewing the way this information is presented and plan to hold an Open Evening/Parent Evening early in 2008 to provide more information.

   

 

Photographer

Photographs of the children have now been taken and packs should be available on a sale or return basis in about 2 weeks time.

 

 

Soft play area

Weather permitting, work will start on the Soft Play Area in the week commencing 12^th November.  It is scheduled to take approximately 2 weeks and during this time the children will be using the paved area for outside play.  It is hoped that work will be complete in time for the Christmas Fayre on 24^th November.

 

 

Christmas Fayre 24^th November 2pm – 4pm

The PFA have asked us to organise Santa’s grotto again this year and we would be grateful for any decorations, lights or white sheets that you may be able to lend for this event.  Please bring them into the Cottage (named) by 17^th November.  We are also running some craft stalls and would be grateful for volunteers to man stalls on the day. A rota can be found on the computer desk as you come into the Nursery if you are able to help.  The stalls we are running are decorated biscuits, decorated pine cones, lucky dip and scratch card tree decorations.

 

 

Nativity & Christmas Party

 

Confirmed dates for these events are:

 

Friday 7^th December            Nativity at Holtwood Chapel

 

Friday 21^st December            Christmas Party at Holtwood Chapel

 

 

Preliminary details of these events have been sent out with invoices to enable those people wishing to pay by Internet Banking to make one payment.  Further details will be sent out on the next newsletter.  However we will be holding a raffle at the Nativity and would be grateful for donations of prizes, which can be left at the Cottage.

 

 

Holiday Club

Numbers attending these sessions are increasing and the themed days in particular were very well attended.  We are now turning our thoughts to the February Half Term holiday (18^th – 22^nd February) and will be sending out details in the near future. 

 

 

Website

 

You will have received a copy of the Early Learning Centre catalogue recently with details of other shopping outlets.  Money prizes are being offered for those sites where the most money is spent between 1^st November and 31^st January 2008.  So please don’t forget to use this website when Christmas shopping.

 

 

Staff Vacancies

There will be a vacancy in January for an SEN Assistant at the Caterpillar session on Tuesday and Thursday afternoon (12.00 – 2.45pm) and a Holiday Club Assistant.  If you would be interested in these positions please call in for an application form or contact a member of staff for further information.

 

 

Committee Meeting

The next Committee meeting will be held on Wednesday 16^th January 8.00 pm at the Cottage.  We would welcome parents to come along, so if you could spare just a couple of hours please put this date in your diary.

 

 

Nursery Places

We have a few places available on Tuesday and Thursday mornings for Nursery sessions.  If you would like extra sessions for your child please contact a member of staff.

 

 

Signing Out

If you collect your child early from Nursery or Caterpillar sessions please could you ensure that you sign the register when you leave.  This enables us to keep our register up to date so that we know who is present at all times,