SPRING TERM NEWSLETTER
It has been a very busy term with 3 new members of staff, new EYFS Reforms, Toddler Group and a new website, as well as several new children joining us.
Events that we have celebrated this term include MacMillan Coffee Afternoon in September where we raised £61; we celebrated World Space Week and Halloween in October; Diwali, Guy Fawkes and Children in Need in November; and of course, Christmas with our lovely Nativity in December.
We have also been busy with other areas of learning with topics including:
• Handa’s Surprise where we tasted lots of African fruits and chose our favourites
• UK Foods and Animals where we looked at British fruits and compared them to the African ones. We also learnt about native animals, what they look like, where they live, etc.
• Harvest and Autumn where we harvested our vegetables from the Preschool garden and made homemade soup with bread rolls to take home.
• We looked at Celebrations including Diwali, Guy Fawkes, Remembrance Day and Children in Need and talked about each of these celebrations, why they are important and have become traditions and why people around the world remember, commemorate, celebrate or honour them. We made lots of crafts, had a Teddy Bear’s Picnic and engaged in lots of busy learning.
• We continued the Celebrations theme into Christmas where we practiced for our Nativity, enjoyed dressing up, learning lines and singing songs ready for our performance which I am sure you all enjoyed. We also made lots of Christmas crafts to bring home.
We have also learnt lots this term about ourselves, and have a new All About Me notice board. We have looked at similarities, differences, favourites, feelings and emotions.
COMMUNICATION & DEVELOPMENT (CaD) BOOKS
You will have seen in the newly introduced Communication and Development (CAD) books that we are working with your child covering all of the areas of the EYFS. These books record some of the learning and ‘wow’ moments we are witnessing in the setting and are an opportunity for us to share your childs’ learning journey and highlights of their preschool life with you. Please remember that these books are 2 way communication books, so please feel free to ask questions, record events, add photos or anything else that you would like us to know about your child and what they are doing outside of the setting.
CORE, CONTINUOUS & ENHANCED PROVISION
Please be reassured that our core, continuous and enhanced provision continues and we are working with your children in all areas of learning providing opportunities for your children to:
• Develop friendships, understand emotions and develop their self – understanding that they are unique.
• Encouraging physical development through exercise – climbing, dancing, moving in different ways, and learning about keeping ourselves healthy.
• We are modelling communication and language, speaking, interacting and listening to your children to help them develop their own communication skills and understanding.
• Introduced them to learning that spans across the world so that they can understand their place within it and develop curiosity, wonder, exploratory and problem solving skills.
• Enabling them to express themselves through art, music, and a wide range of materials to develop their imagination, creativity and experimentation.
• We take every opportunity to count, recognise shapes, develop special awareness to develop problem solving, pattern spotting and developing curiosity about number, quality, shape and space through adult led and independent learning using mathematical resources and activities.
• We have a strong focus on Literacy with books often being the subject of our planning, but also developing, encouraging and providing opportunities for talking, singing, playing, reading and writing. We have also introduced Makaton to the children as an ongoing communication tool.
We continue to blend these areas of holistic development and learning in our planning, interactions with the children, activities and specifically selected resources to enable your children to reach their full potential through indoor and outdoor play, providing an enabling environment for them to explore during independent learning time and through focussed adult led activities.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
Children’s learning should be through play wherever possible – this is how they learn best. Children are unique and learn at different speeds. Our job is to guide them through this learning journey and provide opportunities for them to develop in an enabling environment where they feel secure and have the freedom to explore, interact and learn.
We often get asked how you can support your child’s learning from home. This information, published by the Government during the pandemic may help – https://www.gov.uk/guidance/help-children-aged-2-to-4-to-learn-at-home
You can help your child to learn through the little things you do with them at home, for example:
• Everyday conversations
• Make-believe play
• Games with numbers or letters (please only introduce letter sounds not names as this will help them later when they begin to read)
• Reading together
• Involving them in the things you are doing, such as household chores, and talking with them about it
You do not need to set separate time or plan complicated activities dedicated to learning. These activities can be built into everyday life and play.
COMMUNICATION
As always, your Key Worker is available should you need to discuss any particular aspects of your child’s learning and next steps. You can speak to a member of staff at drop off and pick up, call on 07837 357815 or 07801 581054 out of hours or email info@highamptonpreschool.co.uk. Please check our closed Facebook page for Parents/Carers for weekly updates, events and news.
STARTING RECEPTION IN SEPTEMBER?
If your child is due to start school in September, we would like to remind you that the deadline for primary school applications is 15 January. Please visit https://www.devon.gov.uk/educationandfamilies/school-information/apply-for-a-school-place/apply-for-a-primary-school-place
PLAYING OUTSIDE
It’s cold and often wet, but we would like to play outside whenever we can and as we have a cover that allows us to do this, we would be grateful if you could please send your child with a coat and appropriate footwear every day.
CHANGE OF CONTACT DETAILS
Please ensure that the contact details we have on file are correct and any specific requirements for your child are up to date.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
• Half term 5 January 2022 – 17 February 2022
• Half term break 22 February 2022 – 24 February 2022 (inclusive)
• Half term 1 March 2022 – 7 April 2022
• Easter Break 12 April 2022 – 21 April 2022
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Finally, the Preschool team would like to wish you a very Happy New Year and welcome your children back to Preschool for the Spring Term of 2022.
