Welcome to the Autumn edition of Building Blocks, the Early Years Education Newsletter from the HOPE Centre in Bromyard. We have updates about what the children at the centre have been doing, and will be doing soon. We’ll also have a look at what’s coming up so that you can put events in your calendar.
Christmas is coming
We are now in the run up to Christmas here in HOPE Early Years Education and preparations are well underway for our Christmas parties and shows.
Our baby, toddler and preschool rooms have some Christmas songs, party food and a visit from Father Christmas. The preschool children also perform a show for parents, carers, grandparents and friends. These parties will all take place in the last week of term 12–16 December.
Our preschool children have been invited to Longlands farm on the Whitbourne Estate once again to perform a Nativity play with the animals in the barn. Children will be invited to dress up as characters from the story of the first Christmas and experience what it might have been like all those years ago!
Dental Health Week: 21–25th November
We’ve been considering our children’s dental health this week. We’ve been learning about how to brush our teeth and how often. We have discussed eating healthy foods and not having too many sweet things to eat. The toddlers have practiced squeezing the toothpaste out of the tube and brushing away the dirt from toys.
The baby room team have made a display of healthy dental practices with the under 2’s and our preschool children will soon be having a visit from a dental nurse. We hope some of those families that use the groups in the week will also be able to join us for this talk.
New Staff in Early Years
Carly Roper has been working with our toddlers (aged 2–3 years) in the Caterpillar Room since the beginning of October this year. She graduated from the University of Worcester with a foundation degree in Early Years. She worked as a key stage 1 teaching assistant for 10 years and moved to a nursery setting in order to widen her knowledge and experience. She started her own childminding business in July 2014, employing a number of assistants until September 2016. She is passionate about teaching and supporting children as the learn about the natural environment and the world around them. She loves to watch chicks hatch and explore the lifecycles of frogs and butterflies with the children. She is currently learning to crochet – a new hobby – and enjoys reading in her spare time.
What’s coming up?
- Preschool parents evening: Thursday 8 December 6–8 pm
- Early Years Christmas Fair: Thursday 8 December 6–9 pm
Term Dates:
- End of term: Friday 16 December 2016
- Holiday Club: 19–23 December 2016
- Bank Holiday: Monday 2 January 2017
- Staff Training Day (no children!) Tuesday 3 January 2017
- Spring term starts: Wednesday 4 January 2017
We would like to wish all families a happy Christmas and peaceful 2017.
– Michelle and team
Are you a parent/grandparent/carer?
Herefordshire Council wants to know how it can support parents, carers, families and children to access information, local support, including community and voluntary groups, health and education services. This review of services will inform the re-design and development of early years services in Herefordshire scheduled for completion in early 2018. The views of parents, carers, families and professionals will enable the council to further develop local services to ensure children and young people get the best possible start in life.
An on-line survey [questionnaire] is available for parents, carers and families. It is hoped that people throughout Herefordshire will complete the survey and offer their views about children and families support services.
