BRADLEY HOUSE PARENT CHRISTMAS NEWSLETTER 2023

As we come to the end of year, we would like to look back over the year and celebrate the learning and achievements that have taken place at Bradley House, from children transitioning form nursery to school life and retaining our Ofsted rating ‘Good’. We certainly have had a busy year here at Bradley House.

Our staff and children have worked hard throughout the year to build a portfolio of activities cantered around the natural environment and eco-friendly activities in order to obtain the Eco-schools green flag for 2022-2023 as well as achieving platinum level with the Woodlands trust. We look forward to our latest projects that will be continuing into the new term, with exciting opportunities for children to continue developing their knowledge on the world around them and engage in a range of activities to support their development.

Over the last month we have been spreading festive cheer across the nursery whilst getting crafts and signing songs. Whilst the term may be over the festive season certainly isn’t and from all of us at Bradley house we hope you have a Merry Christmas and a happy new year however you choose to spend it.

Learning focus at the moment

Babies

Our babies have been busy completing an array of crafts for their Christmas boxes, from calendars and baubles, to cards and Christmas trees, there was lots of gluing, sticking and painting fun to be had. The children engaged in many sensory activities whilst creating their crafts and even got the chance to explore the snow. The babies wrapped up warm and for what would be the first time for most of our babies explored the fresh snow in the garden. We would like to thank all our parents that joined us for our baby breakfast last week, we hope you enjoyed your croissants and current tea cakes as you experienced breakfast time in the baby room.

Toddlers

Our toddler children have been preparing for Christmas by helping the staff create a winter wonderland in our quiet room for their grotto party. The parents of the toddler children were invited to join us for some festive fun games, food and dancing as we celebrated Christmas in a winter wonderland, were they were excited to find that Santa had left them a surprise. The children in the toddler room have been getting creative with their cards and Christmas crafts as they explored Christmas shapes and colours, making snowmen and talking about the reindeers that help Santa deliver their presents. The toddlers have certainly enjoyed singing Rudolph the red nosed reindeer.

Preschool

Pre school have had a busy month with lots of Christmas events to prepare for, from singing carols are sycamore care home and participating in some festive activities, we even had one of the residents read us a Christmas story. We then had our Christmas disco that was filled with dancing and party food, along with some games such as stick the nose on Rudolph and pass the parcel. Our children was very excited when Santa made an appearance to deliver an early present for the children. Saving the best until last our children participated in a carolling concert to raise money for our chosen charity for the year. The children did an amazing job at performing some of their favourite Christmas carols and even taking the spot light for some solo performances, whilst the parents tucked into some festive treats made by our onsite cook Judith.

Outdoor Learning Focus

This Autumn we will be exploring our landscape and observing how the change in weather affects nature. What are the signs of Autumn.

The majority of what we will be doing is helping nature get ready for winter. We will do this by building habitats like ponds, hibernatoriums bug hotels and bird houses. We will also make some wildlife feeders to take home. These will be re fillable so you will be able to care for your wildlife throughout winter.

Alongside these we will make wildlife trackers and pitfall traps to monitor our wildlife at Portland Nurseries.

Other activities will be to build a giant nest and group shelters. This will help the children think about the effort it takes to create a habitat. This will help us think of ways we can help our wildlife things like collecting pet fur or making a mud bath.

And finally we will attempt to filter dirty water. By using different materials we can clean muddy water to make it much clearer. This is to illustrate the challenges of having safe drinking water.

Staff News

Congratulations to Kiera, who was chosen as our Early Years Educator of the Year for Bradley House as well as Sofina who is celebrating 10 years with Bradley. Unfortunately we have bid farewell to Beth as she has return to Fairfield Nursery, I’m sure you will all agree that Beth will be missed at Bradley by all the children and staff. However, in the new year we are excited to welcome Jess back from maternity leave who will be joining our Toddler room in January.

Diary Dates

Nursery will close on Friday 22^nd December 2023 and reopen on Tuesday 2^nd January 2024.

Term time children will return to nursery week commencing Monday 8^th January 2024

January Stay and Plays (the big build theme)

Babies – Thursday 25^th January (4:00-5:00pm)

Toddlers – Tuesday 30^th January (4:00-5:00pm)

Preschool – Wednesday 31^st January (4:00-5:00pm)

Other information

Safeguarding

We would like to remind all parents to ensure they are closing doors correctly when they are entering and exciting the build. Although we have a two door security system in place that keeps the children safe, we need your help to ensure that doors and baby gates are closed when you are walking through, this ensures that the building is secure and staff are able to focus on engaging in activities with your children.

Lost and Found property

We kindly request your cooperation in labelling your child's belongings, including shoes, clothes, hats and other personal items. Clear labelling with your child's name will help ensure that everything is returned to its rightful owner. This simple step will save time and minimise any potential mix-ups. Please check the Lost and Found property boxes periodically to retrieve any misplaced items.

Warm Clothing

As the nights draw in and the temperature is getting colder, please can you ensure your child has suitable clothing to participate comfortably in all aspects of outdoor play. If you would kindly bring a fleece to wear under the waterproof coats, hats scarf and gloves and wellingtons that are all clearly labelled with their name and that can be kept at nursery.

Mobile Phones

Please can I remind parents that the use of mobile phones on nursery premises is strictly prohibited, you must not take any photographs or videos at nursery or at any nursery events. Using your mobile phone breaks the statutory welfare requirements and is also a breach of safeguarding policies to which we must adhere.

Have you heard of Workplace Nursery Salary Sacrifice?

Workplace Nursery Salary Sacrifice enables working parents to save thousands of pounds while still enjoying outstanding nursery provision.

Typical savings are at least £3,000 a year!

Does your employer offer Salary Sacrifice?

The scheme works by an employer setting up a partnership with a local nursery. Employees who opt in then have guaranteed places and the costs come out in the form of a salary sacrifice, thus saving them thousands of pounds.

How It Works

The workplace nursery salary sacrifice scheme enables you to salary sacrifice the cost of your nursery fees. Enabling you to pay your fees monthly, directly from your salary before tax, via your workplace. Therefore, reducing the tax and national insurance contributions made.

The scheme also benefits the nursery as they get additional funds, these contributed by the employer (but at no cost to them as they are offset). Parents with their children at the nursery then get a say in how these extra funds are spent – it might be on learning resources, revamping outside space or for educational trips out.