Term 1 Autumn Newsletter
Firstly, we would like to take this opportunity to welcome all our new parents and carers to the Windmill Nursery and for all our returning families. Please remember your children are your responsibility until they are safely inside the nursery room.
Each term you will receive a newsletter to help keep you informed of all the relevant news, events and themes that are coming up. For more information please take a look at our website.
Autumn Term
For the first few weeks of this term the children will be learning about ourselves and our families, we will also be concentrating on settling all children into nursery. We will then plan activities daily in line with the children’s interests. Remember if your child is new to nursery or returning, being at nursery with the routine and all the lovely toys can be distracting, there is so much to do so children will often have toileting accidents just while they settle into nursery life. Please try not to worry. Please put your child in warm clothes as the weather is changing.
The colour for this half term will be RED. The colour for next half term will be YELLOW.
We are doing a display board “All about me”, so if you can let us have a family picture that we can use to pin up on our board, helping us to get to know your child and there family, pet, Grandparents etc., we would be grateful.
Term Dates
Term 1: 2nd September – 25th October 2024
Half Term: Monday, 28th October – Friday, 1st November 2024
Term 2: 4th November – 13th December 2024
Please note, there will be no regular sessions on Thursday, 12th and Friday, 13th December as these are the dates for our nursery Christmas Concert and Parties. All children are able to attend on these special days.
Application for Primary School in Kent
For children starting school in September 2025 applications for reception year will open on 5th November 2024 and close on 15th January 2025. You can apply for up to 3 schools. Put the schools in order of preference. It’s in your best interest to list 3 schools.
EYFS
This is the statutory framework that sets standards for early year settings to follow, for children’s learning development and care from birth to 5 year olds. These standards follow your child through the first year of school too. For more information about the EYFS and any Government publications, please go to www.foundationyears.org.uk.
Gentle Reminders
Please ensure all bags, coats, children’s clothing and shoes are labelled.
Wanted
Newspapers to cover our craft table. We try to use a wide variety of materials for our craft activity and would be grateful if you have any spare wool, boxes, tubes, food colouring, buttons, pasta, rice lentils, and any drawing paper which you no longer need.
Key Person
Your child’s key person has already been allocated. They will be completing a “My Unique story” document, that will be handed out soon, and we look forward to seeing them returned as soon as possible. The Unique Story is a valuable document that supports our partnership with you, enabling you to share information about your child’s likes and dislikes and also will be completed by your child’s key person every term.
Policies
If you would like to see any of the nursery policies, they are available on the Windmill Nursery’s website.
Volunteers
We are a charity with a Board of Trustees whose support is vital to the setting. The nursery is also supported by any person wishing to volunteer, gardening, wrapping Christmas presents or other jobs that may be needed at that time.
Collection of Children
We are unable to allow children to leave the nursery premises without an authorised adult.
We strive to not only make your child’s time at nursery a successful and enjoyable period, but we also strive to work in partnership with you so that your time as parents of the Windmill Nursery is also a positive experience. If you have any questions, at any time, please do not hesitate to ask.
Children’s Birthday
We love celebrating your child’s birthday, but could we ask you to just bring in a cake, rather than sweets, as we have many allergies this year.
THANK YOU.