Important Dates Spring Term 2014 First day Monday 24 th February

1. Important Dates • Spring Term 2014 • First day Monday 24th February • Pancake day Tuesday 4th March • World book Day Thursday 6th March • Trip to Offley Farm To be confirmed • (help needed with transport) • Jo Jingles session Wednesday 19th March • Parents eveningWednesday 25th March • Easter Parade Friday 4th April • Egg hunt & end of term Friday 4th April • Summer Term starts Tuesday 22nd April • Theatre Trip Friday 9th May • Paradise Wildlife Park Wednesday 25th June • Committee Members : • Kelly Smith : Chairperson • Toni Gardner : Secretary • Rachael Milan : Treasurer • Beth Atkinson : Member • Cadie Albertini : Member • Anthea Krempa : Member Spring2-2014 c/o Offley Endowed School School Lane Gt Offley Herts SG5 3AT Tel: 01462 768606 offleypreschool@hotmail.co.uk www.offley-preschool.org So February is nearly over, this year is passing quickly. We have much to cover this next half term ending with our annual Easter Parade and egg hunt. We will continue to update our facebook page weekly as well as reminder emails. Thank you to those of you who have returned our questionnaires. We appreciate your honestly as this is what improves our service enhancing opportunities for your children and those of the future. • If you would like to join • or gain further • information please speak • to either Paula Metcalfe • or any of the team. Our opening hours are: Mon-Fri 8.50-1pm and Tue, Wed, Thur 8.50-3pm. Lunch clubs all week from 12-1pm at £3.50 per session. We do have some spaces for additional sessions if you and your child would like to increase attendance.  Please speak to a member of staff who will happily book you in. Lunch club - this is a lovely social way for the children to interact together, to eat their lunch. Please speak to a member of staff if you would like your child to attend - the cost per session is £3.50 Collection times Can we politely remind you of the pick-up times for preschool. They are as follows: Morning session 12pm (unless your child is staying for lunch club where it is 1pm) Afternoon session 3pm Please refer to our late payment charge/policy which is displayed in the foyer. Chinese Banquet Once again we were able to offer the children a Chinese banquet to bring in the Chinese new year. Throughout the week your children completed activities using chopsticks, watched lion dances via youtube and enjoyed a selection of Chinese music. Many made a Chinese year of the Horse poster. Improvements to the Preschool We are continuing to improve the setting, over the holidays our new windows were installed. For the future we are planning additional resources in the garden, removing some bushes, removing and replacing the side shed as well as looking into replacing the covering at the entrance. Bad Weather Should the Preschool need to close due to bad weather, a member of staff will send a text message to your mobile or phone your home number (please make sure we have your correct details). An email will also be sent along with an update placed on the website. Our status will also appear on the following website alongside all Hertfordshire settings: www.hertsdirect.org/eycclosures We will endeavour to stay open. February 2014

2. Activities This half term we will be looking at the Theme Spring, alongside feelings. Your children will be carrying out many crafts focusing on springtime animals and changes in the environment. We would love you to be part of this by looking at changes when you are out and about, snowdrops, blossom, buds sprouting through the mud. Activities on Feelings is something we feel the children will benefit from such as face plates, feely bag and emotional snap. Trip to Offley Farm Once again we have been invited to visit Offley Hoo farm to see the animals (Farmer Alan has invited us along, we are lucky as the farm isn't open to the public). I am awaiting confirmation of dates and as soon as I have these I will let you know. We will need assistance transporting the children to and from the farm. This really ties in with our theme and enhances the children's knowledge of farming on their doorstep. World Book Day It is World Book Day on Thursday 6th March. We would like the children to come to school in Fancy dress or role play costumes. We will be spending the day working through some favourite books, acting out the Bearhunt and every child will be receiving a voucher issued by the government. Please allow your child to wear a costume (not compulsory) and bring in a favourite book. We will try to read them all. Easter Parade We will be holding an Easter parade at the end of term. Parents are invited to join us as the children sing a few seasonal songs and share some of their work before parading in their hats. A template will be sent home in due course and we ask that the children decorate it however they wish. A prize will be awarded to every entry with larger rewards for our winners. We will be inviting judges in and they will be briefed that it needs to be the children's work. The WOW board The board is placed in the room for all children to see and together with yourselves we will be adding a Star achievement. Anything that is an achievement to your child. These achievements can be very minor, Paula ate all of her dinner, Emma got herself dressed, Adam swam without armbands in his lesson. When a new one is written the old one will be placed in the learning journey folders. Preschool Policies As a setting we are updating our policies and making some changes to the way we operate. These policies are available for you to view at anytime. We would like to bring to your attention that as a setting we require your child to attend a minimum of two sessions and depending on numbers have no maximum. If you require extra sessions please speak to a staff member. Remember your child is entitled to 15hours per week spread however you wish including lunch clubs the term after their 3rd birthday. Mobile Phones Just a reminder that in line with our Safeguarding policy, mobile phones are not to be used on the premises. Your child will not be handed over to you until you have hung up your conversation, Please refrain from having your phone out on site. Thank you. IMPORTANT INFORMATION Please notify us as soon as possible to any information changes. PLEASE MAKE SURE WE HAVE A CORRECT EMAIL ADDRESS. I am always available if you would like to discuss any issues or concerns regarding your child and am usually at Preschool by 8.20am. Regards Paula Metcalfe. February 2014 Offley Pre-school Staff: Paula Metcalfe, Sara Page, Elaine Wood and Claire Pin Page 2 of 2

3. Term Dates for 2013/2014 • These dates have been set using the Hertfordshire school suggested dates Autumn Term 2013 Tuesday 3rd September to Friday 20th December 2013 Half Term Monday 28th October to Friday 1st November 2013 Spring Term 2014 Tuesday 7th January 2014 to Friday 4th April 2014 Half Term Monday 17th February to Friday 21st February 2014 Summer Term 2014 Tuesday 22nd April 2014 to Tuesday 22nd July 2014 Half Term Monday 26th May to Friday 30th May 2014 Inset Day Monday 2nd September 2014 Inset Day Friday 29th November 2013 Inset Day Monday 6th January 2014 Inset Day Friday 14th February 2014 Inset Day Friday 20th June 2014 Occasional Day Wednesday 23rd July 2014