We wanted to bring to your attention that parents and bubbles can now access home testing. Our staff will now also have access to the testing. We hope this may interest you as it will help with the control of the virus in our setting, ensuring children and staff are as safe as possible.

Testing is for adults only, unless your child is showing symptoms where you will need to book a PCR test at a test centre.

Please see below the information from the government:

Government announces that households and bubbles of children and staff of nurseries will get rapid lateral flow tests

The Department for Education has recently updated guidance initially just for schools and colleges, to allow households and bubbles of children and staff in nurseries and preschools to access regular asymptomatic home test kits.

This means that all nursery staff, and anyone in the household, childcare or support bubble of nursery children and nursery staff can now access the rapid lateral flow test.

Anyone who is a member of a household or childcare bubble of a child or staff member at a nursery can get a twice-weekly test:

• through their employer if they offer testing to employees
• at a local test site
• by collecting a home test kit from a test site
• by ordering a home test kit online

https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests

You only have to report a positive result to Pre School, however the government ask that you log your result online after each test.

Swanwick Pre school term dates

Spring Term

4th January 2021 – 12th February 2021

22nd February 2021 – 1^st April 2021

Summer Term

19^h April 2021 – 28^th May 2021

7th June 2021 – 21^st July 2021

Reports will be presented in July

Autumn Term

6th September 2021 – 22^nd October 2021

1^st November 2021 – Christmas break up date to be confirmed.

There will be an opportunity to talk to your child’s key person in October

Good morning,

We would like to remind you that today is our last day of term. 

If your child tests positive for Covid over the holiday please inform Pre School on Swanwick.pre.school@googlemail.com .

For the first six days after term ends, if a child tests positive for Covid, having developed symptoms within 48 hours of being in school, the school is asked to assist in identifying close contacts and advising self-isolation, as the individual may have been infectious whilst in school. 

Don’t forget we have our Quiz Night on Thursday 18^th February by Zoom. The last quiz was really enjoyable!  Email treasurer.swanwickpreschool@gmail.com to book your place.

We would like to thank you all for your support through this half term, through challenging times. 

We would like to wish you all are safe and relaxing half term and we look forward to seeing you back at Pre School on Monday 22^nd February.

 Spring Term Two

Themes/Special Days

 Spring

St David’s Day

World Book Day

Mother's Day

St Patrick’s Day

Red Nose Day

Holi Festival of Colour

Easter

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

Self confidence & Self Awareness

We will be learning about sharing, turn taking and making new friends.

We will be encouraging self help skills such as putting their own coat on.

Communication and Language

 Understanding

 We will provide opportunities for children to talk about what they see, hear, think and feel.

 We will talk to children about what they have been doing and help them to reflect upon and explain events

Physical Development

 Health and Self Care

 We will support children's growing independence and talk about the importance of hand washing.

 We will encourage children to notice changes in their body after exercise.

Literacy

Writing

We will encourage the children to make marks in different ways both inside and outside.

We will support children in recognising and writing their own name

Mathematics

Shape, Space and Measure

We will use descriptive words such as big and little in everyday play situations and through books and stories.

We will encourage children to talk about the shapes they see and use.

Understanding the World

The World 

We will be learning about different parts of the body as well as looking at the difference between children and adults.

We will look closely at similarities and differences.

Expressive arts and design

 Being Imaginative

We will observe and encourage children's make-believe play to gain an understanding of their interests.

We will carefully support children who are less confident.

How can you help your child?

Talk to your child about what happens at school, ask them questions and encourage them to ask you questions.

Talk to your child about road safety eg red man means stop

Talk to your child about the importance of hand washing

 Remember: staff are always available for a chat or advice about your child.

Spring Term One 2021

This term we will be learning about Winter, Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year

Please send your children in warm coats, hats and suitable footwear as lots of activities are planned for outdoors.

Personal, Social and Emotional Development: Making relationships

We will be welcoming many new children.  

We will be focusing on:

•  getting the children to understand and follow new routines. 
•  making relationships through shared experiences 
• forming good relationships with peers

Communication and Language: Listening and Attention

We will be encouraging children to:

• learn each others’ names
• recognise sounds
• anticipate phrases in rhymes

Physical: Moving and Handling

We will be encouraging independence. 

Physical exercise will take place daily.

Literacy: Reading

We will be filling in missing words in rhymes eg Humpty Dumpty sat on a .........

We will be discussing characters in books and predicting outcomes

Mathematics: Numbers

We will be counting objects and comparing quantities.

We will sing counting songs and rhymes using fingers to represent numbers

Understanding the World: People and Communities

We will be talking about the environment and children's experiences

Expressive Arts and Design: Exploring and using media and materials

We will create sounds, talk about texture and move to music

How can you help your child?

Talk to your child about what happens at Pre-school, ask them questions and encourage them to ask you questions.

Talk to your child about road safety  eg the red man means stop

Count objects on the way to school eg “How many red cars can you see?”

Sing songs the children are learning at Pre-school

Encourage children to put their own coats on

Remember: Staff are always available for a chat or advice about your child

Pre School Open to Children

Further to the announcement made by Boris Johnson this evening, we write to confirm that in line with government guidelines we will be remaining open.

We will be following our updated risk assessment in line with the government guidelines that have been updated.

However we must reinforce that guidance sent out recently must be adhered to in relation to self isolating and if your child, or a member of the household, is showing symptoms .

If you wish to discuss your child's attendance please email Swanwick.pre.school@googlemail.com.

If your child lives in Derbyshire and was born between 1 September 2016 and 31 August 2017 you need to apply to Derbyshire County Council for a primary school place for them.  The closing date for applications is 15 January 2021.

Guidance for parents is available at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/admissions.

If your child has an Education Health Care Plan contact the county council's SEND Central Team on 01629 536531 or 01629 536547.

 AUTUMN TERM TWO 2020

 Bonfire

Poppy Day

Children in Need

St Andrew’s Day

Diwali

Hannukah

                                                          FACE COVERINGS

Due to the increased transmission in the community of Covid-19 we have taken the decision that all staff will now wear visors at drop off and pick up times to ensure their safety and yours.

Could we please ask that all parents wear face coverings when approaching the gate to help protect staff and other Pre School families.

We would just like to remind you that in order to adhere to social distancing that only one parent may drop off and collect their child from Pre School.

Thank you for your continued support in helping keep Pre School Covid secure.

Dear Pre-School Member,

Annual General Meeting 2020 and recruitment of new committee members

As a parent/carer of a child at Swanwick Pre-School, you automatically become a member of Swanwick Pre-School, which is a charitable organisation and you are also entitled to act as a director by joining the committee.

With this letter you have the notice of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and a proxy form if you cannot attend. The AGM will take place on Thursday 1st October 2020 by Zoom. This year due to Covid-19 restrictions we are unable to hold a physical meeting due to social distancing guidelines. We are required to hold an AGM each year and to appoint the committee to run Pre-School for the year.

We are committee run and parent/carer involvement is crucial to our continued existence and success. Volunteering for your Pre-School offers an ideal opportunity for you to become actively and practically involved in your child’s early years, make a difference to how your Pre-School is managed, meet other parents and the satisfaction of giving something back to your local community. Research shows clear benefits for children when parents become actively involved in their child’s learning and development from an early age. Current committee members have said that being a director at pre-school has helped them to develop their skills including, problem solving, financial planning, event planning and the opportunity to meet new like-minded people.

Ultimately we need your help to keep Swanwick Pre-School open. The 2018/19 academic year was financially extremely challenging due to unforeseen ceiling repair costs of £17,000. The committee however did a fantastic job and raised £12,000 in seven months. The 2019/20 academic year was equally challenging due to Covid-19 and resulted in a big reduction in fundraising activity. We now need new committee members to assist with fundraising and to manage the pre-school over the next academic year. Sadly a number of local pre-schools have recently closed due to a lack of funding and insufficient committee members to run the pre-school.

The role of the committee is to fulfil two roles and we welcome anyone who feels that they have the skills to contribute towards these:

(1) To manage the Pre School

(2) To fundraise

If you would like to join the committee please complete the attached nomination form and return it to Pre School no later than Friday 25th September 2020. At the AGM the new committee will be appointed. From the committee the positions of Chair, Vice Chair and Secretary will be filled.

If you are elected onto the Pre-School Committee you will become a director of the charitable company. In order for us to operate we have to have a minimum of five committee members, but realistically we need ten for effective governance. Unfortunately, if we do not have a committee then we cannot continue, so please do come along and support us.

If you would like further details on being a committee member, please email Alison Pickering on treasurer.swanwickpreschool@gmail.com and she can answer any questions or put you in touch with member of the committee who would be happy to speak to you via phone or video call. We also have a pack containing all the information. 

Please see attached the notice of the AGM, a nomination form to become a committee member and a proxy vote.

Yours faithfully,

Swanwick Pre-School Committee