Stanhope House Day Nursery

Newsletter Issue 22

Spring 2012

Welcome and a Happy New Year to everyone

We are starting the New Year looking forward to what is to come over the next 12 months.

Celebrating the Olympics with our own Olympic games and the Queens Jubilee just two of our big events.

A parent's survey was sent out to all parents, see what the findings were from your comments and thankyou to all who took part.

If you haven't already you can visit our website to view this newsletter www.stanhopenursery.co.uk

We will also keep you up to date with news and events on our website.

Parents Forum

We are reviewing whether it would work having a parents forum on our website, various points have been brought up, not least the cost of having terms and conditions written and the time to constantly administer and monitor the use of the forum. Other options that have been suggested are to have the nursery on 'facebook'. Philippa is to look into this. Any other suggestions would be welcome, e mail Philippa at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Staff Update

Wasela's contract covering Vicky's maternity leave finished at the end of 2011.

Ellie and Natasha both NVQ Level 3 have been taken on from January 2012.

Congratulations to Leah who has completed and passed her NVQ Level 3.

Sherri has begun her 'Early Years Professional Status' degree at Northampton university.

Becky will be starting her NVQ Level 3 this year.

Photographer

After the success of last year we have arranged for 'Jane Stapleton' to come again this year to take the photographs on Wednesday 7th March.

See notice board for more information.

Parents Survey

Survey results for 2012

Thankyou to all who took part in our survey. 55% completed our survey.

It has given us an insight in to how you feel and what improvements can be made about the service we offer.

Overall you said that we offer an excellent service in all the categories. There were a few minor issues which we will address.

If you wish to see the full report on the results of the survey ask Ruth.

Policy

The policy for this edition is: ADMISSIONS POLICY

Each prospective parent is given the following information: - Fees Form, Application Form and Regulations.

It is the policy of the Nursery that there shall be no discrimination, whether direct or indirect, in the admission of children on the grounds of gender, religion, ethnic origin, cultural origin or disability.

The parents are encouraged to come to the Nursery to look around and to see for themselves whether they would like their child to attend

Then if the parents are happy with the Nursery they fill in the application form and send it back to the Nursery.

This form is then put on the waiting list.

A place cannot be guaranteed and allocation of places is made strictly in order of application.

If a place has become available the next person on the list is offered the place. If they accept the place, a letter of confirmation is sent out asking for a deposit. As soon as the signed letter and the deposit is received by the Nursery then the child's place is secured.

If the person refuses a place then the next on the list is contacted.

The Nursery as in the Regulations will only offer the place twice. If it has been refused the second time then the application is taken off the list.

Even if the sessions available are different from the next person's requirements on the list they will still be offered those sessions.

They will not be taken off the list or lose their place if they refuse, because the sessions offered were not the ones requested.

Early application is advisable particularly for the under twos.

Please note Application forms are now available on our web site:

Holiday dates

Easter Holiday

Nursery is closed Thursday 5th April – Tuesday 10th April (inclusive)

Bank holiday

Nursery is closed Monday 7th May

Monday 4th June

Tuesday 5th June (Queen's Diamond Jubilee)

Topical item - senses

From birth, infants begin to use their senses to explore the world around them. During the first six months of life, an infant will learn to utilize his senses to discover where his body ends and the world begins. So, sensory activities adapted to an infant's abilities will play an important role even in the earliest days of infancy.

Activity fun and games

SENSORY PLAY IDEAS FOR INFANTS

Look for interesting objects that are colourful, boldly patterned, and produce some type of noise. This can be as simple as a cereal box, or as photograph of your own face. At this point, infants love to watch your smiling face and listen to your voice. Introduce your baby to 2 or 3 items every day by individually placing each item approximately 1-foot in front of the infant's face. Allow enough time for them to observe and explore.

As your baby matures and is able to follow movement with their eyes, you can affix a toy to a string or stick and move it back and forth (and all different directions) approximately three feet in front of the infant.

Playing peek-a-boo with your baby will develop a perceptual understanding of how things continue to exist even though you cannot see them. Peek-a-boo also aids in the development of social interaction. Most infants will squeal with delight upon seeing the return of your face.

Older infants love to make noise. Infants should be provided with musical instruments and materials that will assist them in making noise, such as a rattle or a plastic water bottle filled with rice or beans (depending on your noise tolerance level!). Also, a wooden spoon and a pan to bang on will provide pleasurable play for an infant or toddler.

Find objects of many textures that can be touched by infant's hands and feet. Look for items that are soft, hard, cold, warm, wet, dry, silky, furry, smooth, rough, crinkly, bumpy, etc. Supplying infants with a large variety of tactile materials will enhance their awareness of how objects may be distinguished by feel.

Infants use all their senses simultaneously just as we do. Playing games that combine all or most of the senses will stimulate and nourish the infant's sensory development.

SENSORY IDEAS FOR THE OLDER CHILD - USING THE FIVE MAIN SENSES

The Sense of Touch

Place familiar objects in a cloth bag. Have your child, reach in and describe what they feel.

Is it hard, soft, bumpy, smooth, cold, furry or rough?

The Sense of Sight

Place 4 or 5 familiar objects on a tray. Allow your children to view the objects for one minute and then cover the tray. Ask your child to share with you what they saw. You can also remove one object and see if they can recall the missing item.

The Sense of Taste

Gather up different foods with a variety of flavours. Cover your child's eyes and have them taste the foods one by one. After tasting a food, ask them to describe what they tasted. Was it sour, sweet, fruity, salty?

The Sense of Smell

Blindfold your child and place familiar items in front of them. Through their sense of smell, see how many items they can identify. Good examples: toast, toothpaste, hand lotion, sliced oranges, banana slices, apple juice.

The Sense of Hearing

Fill plastic Easter eggs ¼ full with various objects – coins, rocks, marbles, sand, paper clips, rice, buttons, beans, nuts & bolts, etc. Film canisters may also be used. Make two of each. Have them shake the eggs or film canisters and pick which ones sound alike.

Story time at Stanhope

Lift the flap books are always popular in the baby room Josie and Ellie say. 'Baby touch Playbook' by Ladybird, illustrated by Fiona land, has flaps, sensory textures and a mirror for the children to look at themselves.

Becky says 'Whose tail?' by Sam Lloyd is very popular with the children who enjoy joining in with the animal noises and pointing at the pictures.

'If you're happy and you know it' a sing-a-long action book by Jane Cabrera is currently nursery 2's favourite book Lisa says, with the children joining in with all the actions and noises.

Nursery 3's favourite book at the moment is 'George the dragon and the Princess' by Chris Wormell. This can also be purchased with an accompanying CD. This story is requested every time with the children exclaiming 'It's our favourite because it's got a dragon in it!'

Resources –

We always welcome paper for drawing etc such as listing paper/computer paper. If any parents have waste paper for the children to use for drawing etc. it would be very welcome.

Please make sure there is no confidential information on any waste paper you supply. Thank you.

As usual if anyone wants to contribute to our newsletter, whether it be an amusing anecdote, a serious article, recipes, activities you and your children have enjoyed, a special book or anything else you can think of please pass on to Ruth who will make sure it is included in the next addition.

Parents can also send contributions by e mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.