Welcome back to the Summer Term at Little Explorers – I hope you all had a lovely Easter and enjoyed the holidays. This term we welcome three new children and their families to our preschool – please be assured that your child will be given the utmost support from their keyworker and all staff.

• Please be mindful of any current/changing government guidelines when waiting outside the preschool buildings

• In the morning please wait with your child outside – a member of the team will greet them at 9.30 and lead them into the hall 

• At 12.30 your child will be brought outside to you

• Children and staff will wash their hands on entering the hall and throughout the morning

• Please DO NOT send your child to preschool if they are displaying Covid-19 symptoms

• If your child develops Covid-19 symptoms while at preschool they will remain with a member of staff in a well ventilated area and you will be asked to collect them

Topic - We have planned a range of activities to offer the children this term based on the topic 'MINIBEASTS'. We will continue to focus on a number and colour each week and, as always, your help in reinforcing these with your child at home is much appreciated. Please find dates and details in your paper newsletter.

Snack time – We continue to offer the children a choice of drinks at snacktime. The choices are milk, water or very diluted sugar free apple or orange squash. Snacks include crackers, cheese, breadsticks, rice-cakes, plain biscuits, fruit and vegetables and will be alternated on a regular basis. This is priced at 30p per session and is invoiced termly. Please let a member of the team know if your child has an allergy or intolerance to certain ingredients.

Rules for fun – We continue to promote our simple rules for children to support their personal, social and emotional development – in particular, focussing on the feelings of others. We are very aware that the children in our care are at varying stages of development and we do not expect children to be able to follow the rules all the time. However they do provide a guideline for desirable behaviour when at Little Explorers.

Fees – Government funding is available for all children from the term after their third birthday and for some two year olds if parents meet certain criteria. For children not in receipt of funding, our current fees are £20.00 per session. Prompt payment of fees is much appreciated and I would remind parents and carers that any absences due to sickness or holidays must still be paid for.

Show and tell – We would love children to bring in items they have found or things they have made at home. These items will be kept as safe as possible and will be shared under adult supervision at circle time. 

Bradley Bear – Everyone will get the chance to take Bradley Bear home for lots of adventures. Send us some pictures of what Bradley has been up to and we will publish them on our Facebook page.

• Please ensure your child has a named plastic bottle of WATER each day. A crate will be provided for the bottles and children may help themselves to a drink throughout the morning. May I remind parents and carers that due to allergies within the setting only water may be provided.

• Please be aware that the member of staff taking the register is not ideally placed to take any messages as their main concern is to monitor arrivals and departures of the children in our care and prevent any children from leaving the building unattended. Whenever possible please speak to a staff member inside the hall. Your cooperation in this matter is much appreciated.

• When dressing your child for preschool please bear in mind that some of our activities are very ‘hands-on’ and although aprons are provided children can still get messy!

• Please ensure that your child has a NAMED bag containing a change of clothing - this may be required if your child has a toileting ‘accident’ whilst at preschool. The bag should also contain nappies and wipes for changing.

• Please be aware that Little Explorers Preschool cannot be responsible for any injury occurring as a result of children wearing earrings or other jewellery during the session. If earrings must be worn, please ensure that they are stud earrings. 

• If your child is unwell please do not send them to preschool and if they are suffering from diarrhoea or vomiting they should not return to preschool until 48 hours after their last bout of illness.