FAIRFIELD PARENT CHRISTMAS NEWSETTER 2023

As 2023 draws to an end the Fairfield Family would like to take a few moments to reflect on what a fabulous 2023 we have had. We worked very hard in achieving our Green tree award to the highest level Platinum, as well as completing the ECO school award which we look forward to achieving again in 2024. We have been out in the community, visiting our local care home and recycle centre to support our learning and development and really enjoyed our forest school sessions. Thank you for your continued support throughout the year, attending children’s stay and play sessions, donations to charities through all the different events we have celebrated such as children in need, McMillan bake sale and our sponsored rhyme week for Yorkshire Childrens Charity. Finally a big thanks for all our lovely cards and gifts we have received for Christmas its very much appreciated.

Learning focus at the moment

Babies

Have been enjoying lots of different festive activities with their keyworker, we have been practising lots of new single words and exploring all things festively sensory.

Toddlers

Our toddler children have been using their increasing recall when singing Christmas songs that we have been learning, making lots of festive things to take home when practising our creative skills in the messy area. We have made Christmas wreaths, baubles and explored the winter wonderland story tray, reading the book “one snowy night” in small groups.

Preschool

Pre school have been expanding their knowledge that they have already around the festive period, reading books with their key person at circle times and using those stories to increase our understanding, not only of Christmas but of different special events in our community such as EID and Diwali. We have been practising our mathematic skills and using one handed tools when making Christmas cards and decorations for our tree at home. We have been practising working together, listening to instruction and understanding others needs and feelings when making a big Christmas tree in the loose parts area. Preschool did a Carol concert performance for all their families, they did very well remembering all the words and actions to many of their favourite Christmas songs. We enjoyed our Hot Cocoa and biscuit treat together.

Outdoor Learning Focus

Preschool have been continuing the festive theme outdoors when participating in their forest school activities. We worked together to make a hanging Christmas tree our of sticks and baubles, we had lots of problem solving to do together and this sparked lots of conversations and thinking of our own ideas. Toddlers have helped to go n a twig hunt and make a Santa stick man alongside our preschool children, encouraging them to help each other.

Wellies, hat scarf and gloves update – all year round play all weathers.

Staff News

Congratulations Chloe our Early years Educator of the Year

Megan Harris our Rising Star

Courtney Broadbent on the safe arrival of her Baby boy Rudy Sutcliffe

A Great Big Portland Thank You

Last year and again this Portland Nurseries donated a ‘mountain’ of selection boxes to the Welcome Centre food bank here in Huddersfield. Donated by Parents from all our sites they will now find their way to local families within our community who for one reason or another are living with financial restraints.

When I delivered the selection boxes the response I received was “ This is amazing, we can now put a luxury item into some food parcels”.

What a heartfelt statement…Thank you Portland families as you have made this possible!

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.