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MARLOW BOTTOM PRE-SCHOOL PLAYGROUP
It’s hard to believe that we are in the count down to the summer holidays already! This is therefore the last Newsletter of this school year. That said we will pass on any updates to you, in particular a date list before the end of term. Also watch out for some information about the Pre-school – what we are all about, how to get involved (we have one opportunity listed in this Newsletter, and we will communicate the rest separately), and ways in which you can ensure you are getting the best out of us. As ever when we say Good Bye to children moving on up to Big School, we lose a few parents too! This means that we create spaces for new faces to get involved and put their mark or legacy to the Pre-school. At the end of every year, we do a bit of nail biting and guess work around our numbers for the following academic year! We have to work to very tight budgets, whilst also ensuring that we provide the very best of care, opportunity and interest to all our children. As a pre-school we have made a deliberate decision to run at a higher staff: child ratio than the government grants allow us to (1:5 rather than 1:8!). We can only do that with community support (fundraising!) and by being organised. Please could you help us – let us know about siblings and when you want them to start, encourage friends & neighbours to come, and supply us with any feedback that would be relevant to help us ensure that we really do offer the best care that you would want / expect from us. I look forward to catching up with as many of you as possible at the Picnic or Odds Farm, and if you have any comments or suggestions to make, please seek me out I’d love to hear from you. All the best for a great summer…… Paula Pre-school News We have a busy few weeks ahead of us. BURFORD SCHOOL VISITS - It will soon be time to say goodbye to our older children who will be making the move to ‘Big School’ next term. In preparation for this, there will be visits for those children going on to Burford School in the next week or so, and then the Reception teachers come and visit us. Please see dates in the Diary section. TEDDY BEAR’S PICNIC - To celebrate the end of a very happy year at preschool we will be having a Teddy Bear’s Picnic with St. Mary’s on the playing field (don’t forget your Teddy!) Meet you there from 12 onwards, 22nd July ROSE CARNIVAL – Saturday 21st June 2008. Every year the pre-school parents run the Kiddies Tombola for the Playing Fields Association and we need you to sign the form by the register to volunteer your help (an hour slot for two people). Don’t worry, the hard work will already have been done by the staff setting up the stall and putting on the tickets – children are welcome of course, and they always have fun helping (good for maths skills matching those numbers!) We also need small good quality items for prizes such as crayons, pencils, notebooks, hair toggles, sweets etc. ODDS FARM DAY TRIP – Friday 4th July. After such a great day last year, it has been decided that we will have our end of year outing again at Odds Farm. You all should have received your booking forms by now, by either e-mail or at pre-school pick up, so please return cheques & forms to pre-school asap. WAITING LIST - A request for those of you who have under 2’s! I appreciate that this may seem early but could you please complete a Reservation Form for your child/children. It is very important to us (& you tell us to you too!!) that siblings are given places & getting on the Waiting List early is the best way to guarantee this. We also need a rough idea of numbers so that we can plan sessions appropriately and ensure that the high staff: child ratio is kept to OUR standard - something we as a Pre-school and Committee, are extremely proud of. Reservations Forms are available from Pre-school or if you have any questions then please speak to Sue Shaw or Joy Small (01628 472027). FRENCH LESSONS – In September there will be spaces for our very popular French Lessons run by Madame Barlow (who also teaches Burford School children) if you would like to enrol your child for these or if you have any questions then please speak to Sue Shaw (in English please!). AGM – With the AGM looming in September, date to be confirmed, there are several positions available. One such position is available immediately and it’s for a Pre-school Representative on the Village Hall Trust. This entails attending a short meeting approx. one hour every two-three months in the Village Hall on a Thursday night and involves being a ‘messenger’ for the Pre-school. It would suit either a Mum or Dad, although experience of DIY would be of great help to the VHT! A BIG thank you to all who have helped & supported us, wishing you a lovely summer, from all the staff. Sue Shaw
Fundraising update! Thank you to all of you who came to the Easter eggstravaganza. We raised over £300 in just one morning and in total we are £5 off the total budget for the year. WELL DONE EVERYONE! On to the summer - unfortunately the BBQ has gone the way of most - Rained off!! There wasn’t enough take up on it and I was a little sad to cancel it, BUT we are having a Girlie Lunch out on the 12th July from Noon til about 3pm at The Two Brewers Pub in St Peters Street £10 per head to which we can choose from some lovely food! This means pack your fellas and significant others off with the children and come and relax and enjoy an afternoon with other like-minded mums. For those of you who had booked a baby sitter for the BBQ on the 19th or would like to, then there is open house at My house where you can bring along a bit of food, lots of drink and celebrate the end of term (well very nearly!) If you would like to come to either of these then please drop a note to me via Sue Shaw at playschool. Happy Summer Hols from the Fundraising team (and I would hate for you to be put into a false sense of security but it’s not far off ‘til Christmas!!!!) Thank you. Kirsty Blake
VISITS TO BURFORD Mon June 9th & June 16th OUTING TO ODDS FARM Friday 4th July meet in the Village Hall car park at 9.30 am for the convoy or we’ll see you there! (note: pre-school will be closed that day)
RECEPTION
TEACHERS VISIT US Mon July 7th
& Wed July 9th THE LEAVERS PRESENTATION Tue 22nd July (regular session for those who normally attend Tuesday mornings, with a presentation for all those children leaving to go to school at 11.30 am.) THE TEDDY BEAR’S PICNIC! Tue 22nd July Meet at the Playing Fields from midday
TERM STARTS BACK Thur 4th September 2008 If your child is going to school in September 2009 then they are entitled to attend our more ‘grown up’ afternoon sessions, please sign the relevant forms, for more info see Joy or Sue. AGM TBC
As if there was not enough going on, we also had a visit from Early Years this week! It was a very useful visit & gave us great insight into the upcoming changes to Ofsted (inspections and expectations etc). Sue & Lindsey are attending a course next week, and will be able to fill us all in on what to expect, and how we are going to meet these requirements, in the next newsletter. Needless to say the staff & children showed themselves at their best, and our visitor was impressed by the pro-activity of Sue & her team & the level of involvement and contribution all the parents make so my thanks to you all. There is much to look forward to, with the Spring Fair for the children, Quiz Night and more. I look forward to seeing you (& meeting more of you!) at these events. If you have any comments or suggestions, please seek me out or leave me a note a pre-school. Paula Pre-school News Sponsored Obstacle Course - Well done to all the children for completing the ten laps required for our Sponsored Obstacle Course. All the children who attended that week had lots of fun whilst participating as well as learning something new. The staff made sure the course was challenging for all, even our older and more energetic children found that there was something to stretch their abilities, so well done all including the staff for preparing it! So now it’s the turn of you parents to go begging for that money pledged by your lovely families and friends – don’t forget the money needs to be in by Friday 14th March and a BIG thank you for your generosity. Sue Shaw
Well, we are busy little bees but now we need your help. We are holding a Spring Fair after the concert on the last day of term. I know that there are some marvellous cooks out there among you and now is your time to shine. So would you be willing to put your apron on and get out the cook books and come up with yummy treats to sell at the Fair? Watch out for the notices going up at Playschool. We have had a great response to the quiz night & tables are selling fast – please get your order into me as soon as you can! Something for the summer Just to whet your appetite, we are trying to work out the details on a great evening event just before the end of term. Just imagine a barmy evening, lots of old friends and new friends, music ...I’m not going to say anymore other than watch this space and make sure you have your dancing shoes at the ready! Thank you. Kirsty
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Registered Charity No. 1021465. |
Notes
from the Chair
