PORTLAND HOUSE PARENT NEWSLETTER AUTUMN TERM 2024

Welcome to our Autumn term newsletter.

We wish everyone a toasty warm welcome as we enter into this exciting autumn term, as we say goodbye to the summer and also our preschool children who have transitioned to school this September and welcome all our new families. We are all excited to embrace this wonderful season of change of vibrant autumn rich colours and eager to explore the nature's treasures that it brings. It is a particularly exciting time for children, as distinctive sounds and smells fill the air, and the once vibrant green shades of summer give way to an array of warm yellows, reds and browns in our nursery gardens.

We look forward to you seeing you at our monthly Stay and Play's which give you an opportunity to join in with your child's activities, talk to staff and meet other parents.

Learning focus at the moment

Over the coming autumn term we will be focusing on a wide variety of activities around investigating changes in nature. As the days become shorter and cooler we will be exploring the outdoors in cooler temperatures and observing how our nursery garden is changing daily. We will also be learning about the autumn harvest, and how the animals prepare themselves for the winter. The children will be able to become explorers, nature detectives and also artists to create beautiful art work using autumnal natural materials and making their own paints from the array of available woodland materials.

If you have any questions about the activities we are doing or would like any additional information please do not hesitate to contact your key person via the parents zone app who will be more than happy to assist with information regarding the activities your child has been doing.

Preschool

This term preschool will be looking at the topic 'all about me' where they will be taking part in different activities and fun learning around the themes of families, identity, feelings and emotions, parts of the body and much more. As part of STEM the children have started to observe the changes in season as they look into talking about the change in trees, colours of the leaves and other autumnal changes happening around them. This also links to their outdoor learning where the children will be observing changes in weather and season. In phonics the children will be exploring and building on their phonological awareness by looking at environmental sounds and rhymes. Preschool will be taking part in cooking club in the coming weeks with a variety of fun and yummy recipes.

Toddlers

As we approach the autumn term we would like to say a warm welcome to the children who are joining us, this month we are focusing on our 'all about me' topic. We will be spending time learning about ourselves as individuals, our friends, families and those who are special to us. We welcome any parents who want to share some family photos with us that we can discuss while learning about families. Following on we will be learning all about autumn, our garden provides a fantastic space with lots of natural objects for us to explore and collect. Learning through the natural environment around us creates multiple learning opportunities, supporting language development, mathematical skills including counting, size and categorizing, builds social skills, team work and gross motor skills. If you are going on any autumn walks or days out over the coming months we would love to see any photos you may take. Please upload to parent zone to share or your child may want to bring in some natural items they have found such as leaves, sticks, conkers for us to look at while at nursery.

Babies 1

As we roll into the autumn term, we would like to take this opportunity to welcome our newest babies and parents. We have been busy settling them in and we are very happy with their progress at this big step into nursery life.

We look forward to having new faces at our Stay and Play sessions that we have coming up soon. Also, a big shout out to our regular attendees for stay and plays over the last few months it has been lovely to have such great turn outs.

Now that autumn is starting to settle in and the weather is changing, the babies have been exploring all of the different textures around the garden as the leaves are starting to turn and fall from the trees. We are starting to practise putting on our outdoor suits and wellies to explore the garden and excitedly looking forward to jumping in lots of muddy puddles, kicking the fallen leaves, cooking up delights in the mud kitchen and to make lots of new memories using all of our senses.

Babies 2

As we head into autumn, the leaves are beginning to fall from the trees and the weather is starting to cool off. We will be learning about colours, the weather and adjusting to change. We will be learning new skills, such as, putting on our outdoor clothing and wellies in preparation for outdoor play. In the garden we will explore different textures, such as, crunching of leaves, puddles and thick oozy mud. In turn we will bring the outdoors inside and create Autumn tuff trays to explore.

Project Update

We are pleased to announce once again all of our sites have achieved for 2024 the Eco schools green flag award. This award is a combination of learning about the environment and creating an action plan which will improve our nursery settings and surroundings.

The upcoming term sees two new projects: Food for life and Start life well.

These are both based around nutrition and physical activity.

“Food for life” heavily focuses on the nursery menu, cooking club and the learning that surrounds where food comes from.

“Start life well” looks at physical activity and embedding the importance this plays on our health starting at a young age.

Outdoors

Our ‘nurturing nature group’ lead by Alannah will now meet this term on Tuesdays at 4.15pm, sessions will commence bi weekly starting from Tuesday 24^th September.

If there are any parents or family members that are green fingered and would be interested in helping us with the gardening club for the children or coming along to learn new skills please can you contact the office or speak to your child’s key worker.

Staff News

We welcome our new apprentices Lucy and Keira who have started their journey in Portland toddler and baby rooms, they are looking forward to meeting you all over the coming weeks. We also welcome to our preschool team Tracey who has transitioned this term from our Oakwood nursery and is an experience graduate early years educator and Caitlan who is a newly qualified teacher.

Sadly we say good bye to Melissa who will not be returning from maternity leave and will be staying at home caring for her young family. Melissa had worked 9 Years with the company, we will miss her and wish her all the best for the future. We also say goodbye to Lauren H from the preschool team whom after 9 years based at Portland has transitioned to Hollybank nursery for a term time position. I'm sure you will still continue see her from time.

Portland House Nursery has had another 3 milestone anniversaries with Charlotte and Debbie both celebrating 5 years with Portland Nurseries and Nichola celebrated a whopping 20 years. The children made cards and helped in the presentation of the flowers, gifts and awards.

Congratulations to Rebecca and Mariam who have both successfully attained their level 3 early years educator qualifications after starting their journey as an apprentice and are now employed as Early years educators

Diary Dates

Tempest Photographers- Tuesday 26^th November 2024. 9am – 3.00pm. Children not usually in nursery on this day are welcome to attend and can book a time slot with the office. Further details to follow.

School Applications for Sept 2025 - You can apply online for a school place in September 2025, between 1 September 2024 and 15 January 2025. If you apply after this date it can severely reduce your chances of obtaining a place at your preferred school. To complete this form you will need; A valid email address.

Preschool Parents School Transition Information Evening (school starters 2025) – Thursday 10^th October 6.30-7.30pm

Lindley Scarecrow Festival – Friday October 4^th – Sunday 6^th October 2024. Children will be making a scarecrow to display at the festival. We are inviting you to create a scarecrow with your child at home and send us pictures of your creations on parent zone.

Macmillan Bake Sale – Week of 23^rd September there will be homemade baking available to purchase by the children and cooks. All Monies raised will be donated to the charity so please bring along some change.

Spooktacular Orange and Black Event – Wednesday 30^th - Thursday -31^st October. Children and staff to dress up and donate £2.00 for charity. All monies raised will be donated to our nominated charity candle lighters.

Children in Need – Friday 15^th November – Details to follow

November Nursery Charity Event – A sponsor challenge to fill a bag with household items for children to use as loose part or art activities. Bag with most variety of items wins a prize. Further details to follow.

Christmas Jumper Week – Monday 16^th to 20^th December. £2.00 donations for dressing in your festive knitwear. All monies raised will be donated to Candlelighters.

Childrens Festive Lunch - Friday 20^th December. (Menu to follow)

Preschool festive Singalong – Monday 23^rd December 4.00-4.30pm.

(Details of event and tickets to follow).

Stay and Play events

We look forward to you seeing you at our monthly Stay and Play's which give you an opportunity to join in with your child's activities, talk to staff and meet other parents.

I look forward to meeting all the new families that have joined us.

September Stay and Play

Thursday 19^th – Preschool (9.30-11.00am)

Wednesday 25^th – Toddlers (9.30-10.30am)

Thursday 26^th – Babies (10.00-11.00am)

October Stay and Play

Wednesday 30^th – Preschool (4.00-5.30pm)

Monday 28th - Toddlers (4.15-5.15pm)

Thursday 31^st – Babies (2.30-3.30pm)

November Stay and Play

Tuesday 12^th – Preschool (2.00-3.30pm)

Monday 18^th – Toddlers (2.15-3.15pm)

Tuesday 19^th – Babies (10.00-11.00am)

Nursery Closure Dates

Tuesday 29^th October – Staff training Day

At Portland nurseries we believe that for us to provide your children with the best possible experiences whilst in our care it is mandatory to keep staff training up to date and refreshed regularly. With this, we hold two training days a year where we close the nursery to allow us the time to ensure knowledge and skills are up to date with current practice guidelines.

We appreciate your co-operation and understanding when it comes to closing the nursery for our staff training days.

Thursday 25th December– 1st January 2025 - Christmas Holiday

(Nurseries reopen 2nd January 2025)

Term dates

Monday 2nd September – Autumn term starts

Monday 28^th October – Term time only children break up for half term week.

Monday 5th November – Term time children return

Monday 22^nd December Term time children break up for Christmas holidays.

Further information

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.

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.

Autumn Outdoor Clothing

As the weather gets colder please ensure your child has suitable clothing to participate comfortably in all aspects of outdoor play that are all clearly labelled with their name and that can be kept at nursery.

We would kindly request that you bring a warm fleece to wear under the outdoor coats and a pair wellingtons for participating in outdoor play. Scarves hats and gloves will be advisable once the weather becomes milder.

Nursery Fee Payment Reminder

Quite a few payments are coming in after 1^st of the month. Just a reminder that all payments must reach our bank account before the 1^st of each month this includes all childcare vouchers, Tax Free Childcare Payments and Bank Transfers. Any parents paying by SLC with need to pay their monthly top up amount by 1^st also. Please note that payments usually take 3-4 business days to reach our account.

Any payments received after 1^st of the month will incur a £20 late payment charge and continued failure to pay will be charged at a daily rate of 8% of the outstanding balance.