Newsletters
Newsletter Archive
Below you are able to select and download Newsletters from the past academic year.
Interim Newsletter: March 2020
Interim Newsletter: November 2019
Newsletter – Autumn Term 2020
We hope you all had a wonderful summer. Welcome back to our older children and a very warm welcome to all our new little Rascals.
A newsletter will be issued at the beginning of each term containing lots of useful information. However, there will also be regular updates written on our notice board situated outside each morning. We will be posting updates, together with copies of letters that are sent home and newsletters on our website. Our website calendar is also updated regularly with important dates and events. We also post regular reminders and useful information on our facebook page www.facebook.com/RascalsPreSchoolPlaygroup so please feel free to LIKE us for regular updates and information in your newsfeed. This should enable you to have access to all the information you need when you need it.
Staffing:
Tracey - Manager &Treasurer
Hayley - Supervisor (Senco / Inco)
Claire - Supervisor (Senco/Inco)
Claire B - Senior Assistant
Sam - Senior Assistant
Volunteers: Julie
Term Dates:
Autumn Term 2020
Term begins: Monday 7th September 2020
Term ends: Friday 18th December 2020
Half Term Week: 26th October – 30th October
Spring Term 2021
Term begins: Monday 4th January 2021
Term ends: Friday 1st April 2021
Half Term Week: 15th February – 19th February
Summer Term 2021
Term begins: Monday 19th April 2021
Term ends: Friday 23rd July 2021
Half Term Week: 31st May – 4th June
Bank Holiday: Monday 3rd May
Rascals may have to close on occasional days through the year. We will always give you as much notice as possible of such closures.
Parent consultations
Parent consultations will not be able to go ahead in their usual format this term, due to the current Covid situation. However, we will be arranging for the journals to be sent home during the second half of this term so you can see what your child has been up to. If at any time you wish to speak with your key person, please either let Tracey know at the door or email us to request a call.
Six Weeks In
We will be sending out a ‘Six Weeks In’ form giving a general overview of how your child has settled, their progress and what they have been enjoying at Rascals. There will be a comments section for you to add any questions or concerns you may have regarding their progress. This will be sent out week beginning
19th October.
Children in Need
This year we will be supporting Children in Need on Friday 13th November. A collection tin will be available for your donations. We would suggest a donation of £1 but of course will be happy to pass on whatever contributions we receive. Further information will be sent nearer the time.
Christmas
Unfortunately, with the current Covid situation we are unable to begin planning our traditional nativity performance. However, we are in discussions with Reverend Bob Sneddon to plan and produce something a little different this year. We won’t spoil the surprise just yet but will let you know what we are planning nearer the time.
Rascals facebook group
Please ensure that you have joined our Rascals private Facebook group by clicking on the link below:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/146062360093618
This is a private page and can only be used by current parents/carers of children attending Rascals during this academic year. It is a great way to communicate with other families and may help you all to become more familiar with each other as we realise this can be difficult when dropping off and collecting children. You can follow our public facebook group for regular updates and reminders throughout the term.
Please bear in mind that this group is intended to be used for the purpose mentioned above and we would ask that any issues, concerns or worries you have about Rascals are not discussed within this group but be brought directly to us as usual so that we can address any such issues immediately.
You can also visit our general Rascals facebook page which is available for everyone to follow. This can be found by following this link: https://www.facebook.com/RascalsPreSchoolPlaygroup
REMINDERS
Outside:
We will continue to spend as much time outside as possible this term regardless of the weather. Please make sure your child wears suitable clothing for the weather each day. As the weather gets colder and wetter it will be important to send your child to playgroup with more than one set of spare clothes as they will most definitely get dirty at some point! Please also ensure that you don’t send them to playgroup in their best clothes or coat as the children need to feel free to explore and play.
If the weather is warm and sunny please ensure you apply sun cream to your child before you bring them to playgroup as it does get very hot in the garden.
PLEASE make sure you write your child’s name clearly and visibly on all of their belongings to avoid any confusion. Some children do enjoy taking their shoes and socks off whilst playing indoors so it would be helpful if you could clearly name their shoes
Changing bags:
Please ensure that your child’s bag is named clearly on the outside as some children do have similar bags and it is difficult for them to tell us which is theirs.
Please always check your child’s bag when you get home as used nappies or soiled clothes will be placed in there during the morning if necessary. Unfortunately, we do not have facilities to dispose of soiled nappies on the premises and therefore these will be placed into a nappy sack and put in your child’s bag.
Rascals fees and snack donations:
It is extremely helpful if you could pay your fees/ snack donations via bank transfer, particularly at the present time as it reduces the need for us to handle any money in the setting. However, if you do wish to pay by cash please continue to give any monies due in a clearly labelled envelope as we have found this very helpful in the past. You will receive an email confirming receipt of any cash paid.
If you pay your fees directly into our account please ensure you quote your child’s name as the reference.
Themes:
Occasionally our individual planning incorporates different themes. We will give you advanced notice of when a theme has been planned and would welcome your participation, i.e. chatting with your child at home about the theme. If you have any suggestions for Special Days and or themes, please feel free to let a member of staff know. We are always keen to incorporate the children’s and parents’ ideas into our planning.
Earrings and other jewellery:
For safety reasons we prefer jewellery is not worn at playgroup. We do understand that the jewellery may be of cultural or religious significance and we are happy to make an exception for this. However, this will be at your own risk; as we are unable to take any responsibility for injury, damage or breakages. We would also ask that if your child has their ears pierced please could you ensure they wear plain studs for playgroup.
Personal details:
Please ensure you inform us immediately of any change of details such as mobile phone numbers or other contact details for parents and your emergency contacts. It is essential that our records are kept up to date in case of emergencies.
Food Allergies/ Safety:
At Rascals we have a number of children allergic to dairy products. If you are considering bringing in treats to share for birthdays this may be a consideration to bear in mind.
Please also ensure you chop all grapes length ways before putting them in your child’s lunch. It is extremely dangerous for children to be given grapes whole as it is a serious choking hazard. Please also refrain from putting nuts in your child’s lunch (peanut butter in sandwiches is fine).
Medicines in Playgroup:
Please be advised that any medical products needed at playgroup, MUST be given to a member of staff for us to store in our medical box in the Main Hall and paperwork will need to be completed.
Please could all parents check NO medical products are left in their child’s rucksack on their peg during the course of the morning, as all the children do have free access to their pegs.
Illness:
Please, please DO NOT send your child to playgroup if they are unwell at all including small ‘sniffles’. You will be asked to take them home again. We also ask you NOT to bring your child to Rascals if they have taken any medication in the morning. If they have suffered from diarrhoea or sickness please keep them at home for at least 48 hours after the last episode of sickness or diarrhoea. This also applies to those children who have started a course of antibiotics.
Policies and Procedures:
Our full policy and procedures book is always available to families so please ask a member of staff.
Car Parking and Children’s safety:
Please remember not to use the Tesco or the front church car park, as the church staff and church members require access at all times. Please use the car park on the far side of the church at all times.
Please be aware of small and young children running around in both car parks.
Please ensure your child is fully supervised when waiting to come into playgroup in the morning. We have had
experiences in the past where broken glass or other unsavoury litter has been found discarded on the church grounds and would not like any of the children to injure themselves. We have also recently been made aware of rough sleepers using tents on the church grounds and items of an unsavoury nature have also been found inside. We would therefore suggest that the children are discouraged from running around the church grounds unsupervised.
Rascals occupancy list:
If you have a younger child or you know of someone who would like to put their child on our occupancy list to attend Rascals, please speak to Tracey. We have a list for the next few years so it is important to register children as soon as possible.
Please remember to tell a member of staff if someone different is collecting your child from playgroup. We will not allow your child to go with anyone unless we have your prior permission AND DETAILS ABOUT THAT PERSON. YOU MAY BE ASKED TO PROVIDE A PASSWORD.
We realise this is a lot of information to take in all at once but feel it is useful to provide you with as much detail as possible and hopefully this will answer some of the questions you may have. However, if there is anything you are unsure of or if you just need a bit of advice about something, please do email us or give us a call.
THANK YOU.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO ENJOYING THE autumn TERM WITH YOU ALL.
THE RASCALS TEAM
Rascals mobile: 07546584314
Rascals email: rascalsplaygroup@gmail.com
[PLEASE NOTE: The Rascals mobile phone and email address is constantly monitored by Tracey. During out of hours and particularly over weekends and holidays you may not receive an immediate response. However, if you are contacting us with a matter of urgency a telephone call or voicemail is always the best course of action.]
