Newsletter Oct 2019

DEAR PARENTS,

Thank you to all those that attended the AGM & offered their advice, support, time … the pre-school cannot run without you & all your time & effort is invaluable: any help contributed to support our events ultimately, & most importantly, benefits each & every child at pre-school. Congratulations to our newly elected Chair, Heather Staunton, & thank you again to all those who have offered to support her.

This will be my last newsletter as Supervisor/Boss, but I have no doubt I will be called upon to cover for one of Mr Bains’ ‘sickies’ or coming in because after over 40 years at the pre-school … it’s a hard habit to break. Mrs Perkins will be the new Manager & Miss Hill the Deputy Manager. I know I leave you in the hands of a team with the passion, organisation, commitment & ability to carry on giving children the wish to learn, something it has been my privilege to give, for so, so, so very long.

“So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, adieu.”

Maria Hill (Supervisor)

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Tues 15th Oct – visit to Gurudwara – details below

Thurs 17th Oct – Committee Meeting – 9.30am in the rear, small hall at pre-school. Everyone one is welcome. We will be officially announcing our new pre-school committee for 2019/20 & beginning to make plans for our Christmas activities & events.

Mon 21st to Fri 25th Oct – half-term break

Mon 28th Oct – pre-school re-opens

Tues 29th Oct – seasonal dress up day – children can come into pre-school wearing “seasonal” dress up: simply wearing autumn colours or their favourite Halloween outfit. All we ask is that you bring a donation for Medway Foodbank. More details soon.

Tues 5th Nov – School photographs – We will be taking individual & sibling photos. Please let us know in advance if you would like your child’s photo taken with their younger sibling/s. This is open to all pre-school children (am & pm). If your child does not usually attend on a Tues but you would still like their photo taken, please speak to Vicky in the office for an appointment time.

Thurs 7th Nov – staff training – pre-school closed

Thurs 14th Nov – Parent Consultations – a letter will be sent out before the half-term break, allowing you time to make an appointment with your child’s keyworker.

Fri 15th Nov – Children in Need day – Children can come into pre-school wearing something spotty! We will be selling Pudsey ears & wristbands, & sending any donations collected to Children In Need.

? Nov – Christmas Shop –date tbc.

Tues 26th Nov – Xmas Play dress rehearsal

Sat 7th Dec – Breakfast with Santa

Tues 10th Dec – Xmas Play (am children)

Thurs 12th Dec – Xmas party (am & pm children) & end of term.

Fri 13th December – staff only

Mon 6th Jan 2020 – Spring term begins – pm children only

Tues 7th Jan – am children return

GURUDWARA/SIKH TEMPLE VISIT.
We will be visiting the Sikh temple, Medway Towns Gurudwara Sabha, at 1-5 Lankester Park Road, Rochester Kent, ME1 3QU. Just up past Kidzone on Rochester Maidstone Road. Please note that THE MORNING SESSION WILL START AT THE TEMPLE AND NOT AT THE PRE-SCHOOL.
All children, parents/carers welcome: those children that don’t normally attend Tuesday am & any afternoon children are welcome, but only with an accompanying parent/carer. Everyone is encouraged to meet at the temple by 9:30. There is ample parking.
The staff will be there to meet you from 9:15. The visit will last about 45 mins & we aim to arrive back at pre-school around 11:15 (with the children that usually attend Tuesday am) after which the pre-school day continues as normal.
Please ensure the children are suitably dressed for the walk back and please ensure you bring their lunch boxes with you to the temple – these will be brought back to school by a member of staff.
No alcohol or tobacco is allowed on the temple premises & visitors are required to remove their shoes & cover their heads once inside: clean head scarves will be provided for the children and adults. If you require any more information, please don’t hesitate to speak to a member of staff.

LAST MONTH WE: contributed to this term’s theme of ‘Around the World’ with photos & lots & lots & lots of talk about our holidays: filled a bag with things that made us special & amazing & unique, from chocolate to family photos; ‘Google mapped’ our homes & went for a walk looking out for numbers & mini-beasts & collecting nature items, learned about bees & made honey flapjacks: celebrated Grandparents’ Day by welcoming grandparents in to show us their childhood toys; rang the imaginary doorbell to the kitchen role-play; & continued learning how to care (for one another & ourselves) & share (toys & resources), walk (not run) talk (not shout).

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING WITH EASYFUNDRAISING

Fundraise whilst you shop online for your Xmas presents. NO COST, NO CATCH. RAISE FREE DONATIONS FOR US EVERY TIME YOU SHOP ONLINE @ easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/stlukesrochester/
Collect free donations for us every time you buy something online.
Join
It’s easy to get started.
Shop
From travel to toasters, every time you shop, do it the easyfundraising way.
Collect
Help out when you check out – it doesn’t cost you a penny extra. You can make a big difference on everything from groceries to getaways. For example, get up to half price off in the Debenhams Autumn sale and raise up to a 3% donation when you do so … raise a donation of 2.5% when you shop with John Lewis & Partners. THANK YOU.

WATER BOTTLES
As part of our Healthy Eating ethos we sell water bottles for the children printed with the St. Luke’s teddy logo. These cost just £1.50 each. All bottles are marked with the child’s name & children are encouraged to take a drink at any time. Bottles are refilled when running low. The bottles need to be collected at the end of each session, washed at home & returned to pre-school at the beginning of the next session. Lastly, a reminder that the bottles should be filled with water only please (no squash).

LUNCHBOX RULES
Please ensure grapes & cocktail sausages are cut in half, as they can be a choking hazard in children under 5 & please no products containing nuts (INCLUDING NUTELLA, NAKD BARS, ETC) due to allergies: although your child may not be affected by nuts, some of those that they interact with may be.
To be healthy it’s very important to eat a balanced diet: more details & some ideas about what to put in your child’s lunchbox, in the booklets & boards in the lobby & @ NHS Change4Life website

WORRIED ABOUT A CHILD IN MEDWAY?
If you are concerned that a child or young person living in Medway is suffering from harm, please use the following contact details for Medway Council’s ‘First Response Service’
tel: 01634 334466
24 hour emergency number 03000 419191
Alternative telephone numbers and information if concerned about a child.
NSPCC 0808 800 5000 email: help@nspcc.org.uk
www.nspcc.org.uk/what-you-can-do/report-abuse
Child Line 08001111 childline.org.uk
Medway Police 01622 690690
LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer) 01634 331065 or 01634 331307 or 01634 336204 Leaflet about the LADO and ‘Referral Form’ attached.
Useful contact details and information
Non-emergency number 101
Emergency number 999
www.medwayscp.org.uk/mscb/info/5/mscb-1/34/worried-child

WHISTLE BLOWING
(Expressing concern about a member of staff)
If you are concerned about a child at the pre-school and/or feel uncomfortable about how a staff or committee member acts or speaks with the children, you must follow the procedures the pre-school has in place and tell the DSL (Designated Safeguarding Lead) Wendy Perkins. If you feel unhappy speaking to her, then speak to the Deputy DSL, Pal Bains, or the Committee Chairperson, Heather Staunton.
If you are unhappy with the response you receive, you must contact both Medway’s First Response Service, as above
and then contact Ofsted tel 0300 1234666 email: whistleblowing@ofsted.gov.uk

Keep in touch
tel: 01634 819809
email :office@stlukespre-school.co.uk
Website www.stlukespre-school.co.uk – The ‘Calendar’ feature is now activated; it has the ‘Dates for your diary’ & if you click on the event date, all the details (when, where & what) about the event.