February 2011 continued

Food
As we have several new children at Head Start, this seemed a good opportunity to remind you of the arrangements. Children have a snack mid-morning and afternoon when they are offered a choice of milk or water plus a variety of different foods including fruit, vegetables, bread sticks, breads amongst others. Although we provide the majority, we do ask parents to send in one item a week, which helps to subsidise and give more options. Children have access to water at all times of the day.

For children staying for lunch, we are able to warm up pre-cooked meals as we possess a microwave. A lot of parents are now picking up this option and sending in prepared food. There is a Packed Lunch Policy which can be read on our website, www.headstart-nurseryschool.com but if you would like a hard copy, please ask a member of staff. Ofsted inspectors do actually consider what a child is eating during the day at school and will mark down a setting, if it considers that children are being provided with unhealthy food items such as chocolates, sweets, cakes, biscuits etc. We realise that it is about parental and the child’s choice, but we would be criticized for not ensuring that we were advising you on healthy options. Please take this into consideration as we are expecting an Ofsted inspection this year. All this may change when the new Education Bill is introduced, expected around September this year.

Child Protection
At a recent training course, it was suggested that leaving a child in a car whilst dropping off or collecting a sibling at a nursery could raise issues around the safety of the child which would need to be reported. There are of course occasions when this could be deemed necessary, the child is asleep, there is a torrential downpour but in general you are welcome to bring siblings into the setting at these times.

Ramsey Children’s Centre
There is a new programme for the Spring Term and I have been asked to highlight these for you. Monday 11.30 a.m.—12.15 p.m. from 28th February for 5 weeks, Listen and Learn, a fun interactive session for children aged 2—3 to help develop listening and attention skills. Monday from 1.30 p.m.—2.15 p.m. starting on 28th February for 5 weeks, Sound Awareness, again for children aged 2—3 to develop speech sounds. Friday 1.30 p.m.—2.30 p.m. starting 4th March for 5 weeks, Baby Massage. Saturday 26th March from 9.00—10.30, Save a Child’s Life, a basic first aid session. On Tuesday 8th March a speech therapist will attend the Stay & Play session from 10.00—11.30 a.m. to offer advice. All these sessions are free and a crèche is provided for some. Contact 01487 814812. Posters are being displayed in the entrance lobby of all the opportunities at the Children’s Centre.

Rainbow Surgery
There is a committee who meet every month for an hour to discuss improvements for the Surgery and Community Room. They are looking for some new blood to join them, so if you would be interested can you enquire at the reception.

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt
Just to let you know that a performance of this is taking place at the Broadway Theatre, Peterborough on 25th and 26th March. As this will be the theme of our spring concert, you may like to take your child along to see it. There is also going to be a performance of the Gruaffalo’s Child later in the year, so it may be worth while going on their website and finding out about their programme.

Adela Costello
Head Teacher