Friday 18 December 2020

Christmas Closure dates

 Christmas Eve Closure


Just a reminder that we will be closing nursery on Christmas Eve at 1 pm. Any parents that are late picking up their child will be charged a late collection fee. 

We will be returning back to nursery on the 4th January. 
 

All staff would like to wish you a Happy Christmas and New Year. 


Thankyou Parents

 A big Thank you for all the lovely cards and gifts to the staff for Christmas. 

We really appreciate your kindness, and all staff would like to say a Massive Thank you to you all. 


A delicious cake for the staff to enjoy from a parent, Mmmmm 😋  




Homemade chicken and rice made for all the staff from another
 lovely parent.


Christmas Fun Activities in Pre school

 

The children enjoyed a variety of different activities during the month of December.
  • Playdough Christmas Tree




  • Pretend snowball fight using newspaper

Pass the parcel at the party




  • Making reindeer food for Santa's reindeer's.




Bread Christmas tree decorations


Charlie got up to lots of mischief every night at nursery.


Information

 

Dear Parents,

Over the Christmas period Nursery still has a responsibility (given us by Public Health England) to notify families if a child or member of staff tests positive for COVID19.

If your child develops symptoms or has a positive test that indicates they would have been infectious whilst still at Nursery, you must notify Tracy Ellett even if Nursery is closed. Tracy will then notify anyone who would be a close contact of the infected person. These arrangements remain in place until the 30th December to allow time for test results to be returned.

Please only contact Tracy on her work email, t.ellett@stmarysblackburn.ac.uk , this will be checked once a day in the mornings. Please use the subject line “COVID URGENT”. Tracy will contact you if you need to be notified as a close contact and are required to isolate

We have all come so far with our efforts to keep safe this year, please continue to take care of yourselves and your families at this time

 

Regards

Wednesday 16 December 2020

Goodbye and Good Luck

We are saying Goodbye to Rukhsar who will be leaving us on the 24th December. Rukhsar has a new job at a Children's Centre in Blackburn with Darwen. 

Rukhsar has worked at St Mary's Nursery for eight years and will be greatly missed by all staff and children. 

Good Luck for the future Rukhsar.



Tuesday 15 December 2020

BWD Help Hub

 Our local COVID Winter Grant scheme

 

What is it? 

BwD has recently received a government grant to support families and children and other vulnerable adults through the winter period to access food, support with utility bills and other essentials to help keep people warm and fed.  The Council and partners in the VCFS have been working together at pace to develop a programme of support that can help our most vulnerable residents access much needed support. The programme will run between 1st December and 31st March. 


Who is it for?
 

The grant is primarily for families with children under 19 as of 31st March 2021 who may not meet the threshold for benefits but have been affected directly by the pandemic through job losses, furlough, taking time off work unpaid to care for children who are isolating etc and for those who are eligible for free school meals, healthy start vouchers, young people not in education or training.  Some support for other vulnerable adults is also available where appropriate.  

 

What is available and where? 

There are three elements of the grant scheme: 

 

1.      Support to access food – we have boosted the capacity of Blackburn Foodbank and Darwen Food Larder to support families who are in food crisis.  We have also issued a number of small grants for extra community food support across Blackburn and Darwen.   

 

2.      Support with utility bills – we have three local organisations supporting residents who may be struggling to pay fuel and water bills over winter.  United Utilities are also partnering with us to help the most vulnerable with their water bills. 

 

3.      Support with essential items – support is available to replace broken washers, cookers, fridges and freezers, for boiler servicing and repairs and where families are struggling to afford essential toiletries, sanitary products, warm clothing and blankets. 

 

Who are we working with? 

Blackburn Foodbank, Darwen Food Larder, Care Network, BwD Healthy Living, Rummage Rescuers, Jubilee Tower Credit Union, United Utilities, Community Business Partners, Community Centres in BwD 

(Small Grants awards can be announced next week)  

 

How do I refer/signpost families or individuals for support? 

The BwD Help Hub is the central point of contact for the Winter Grant Scheme.  There is an online referral for our partners to complete (will require you to sign up if you have not done so previously) which will go straight through to our Community Connectors and Engagement and Integration Officers.  They will pick the referral up and signpost on to the appropriate service for the relevant support. People can self-refer by telephoning the Help Hub (01254 588111) between 9-5 pm or anytime via the online form if they prefer.   

 

Monday 7 December 2020

Reminder

Please could we remind you that we require your £1.00 contribution asap for us to get all the Christmas party food, prizes etc. 

Thank you 



Friday 4 December 2020

Update on children's clothing

Dear all parents....


As of the week commencing the 7th December we will be sending all children's wet and dirty clothes home to be washed. Please check your child's bags daily for dirty clothes, and ensure there is enough spare clothes in their bags for them to get changed. 

Thank you.

Kind Regards. 

Return of the elf

Welcome back Charlie the Elf....


Charlie has returned back to nursery from the North Pole to keep an eye on the children, and get up to some mischief whilst he is here 😄


 Charlie came with a letter from Santa explaining what his job is and why he is here. 


The children were excited to see Charlie, and will be looking for him each day.

Wednesday 25 November 2020

Bird watching


 

Hoopla

Intent: Next step: Turn taking/ sharing 

The children helped make the hoopla using a cardboard box and some kitchen roll tubes. 

Impact
COEL: showing high levels of energy and fascination 
PSED: begins to accept the needs of others and can take turns and share resources, sometimes without support from others. 
Pre writing skills: building up the muscles in our shoulders, elbows and wrist





 

Running Races

'Steph, watch how fast I can run' 

Steph suggested a running race, lots of children joined in....

Impact: 
- Physical - Moving and handling - the children did really well negotiating space 
- Communication and language - following directions 
- Characteristic of effective learning - Playing and exploring:  being willing to have a go

 

Tuesday 24 November 2020

Nature Hunt

Can you find: 

A tree

Birds

Spider webs

Rocks 

Mud 

Tree Bark 

Grass

Bugs

INTENT: comment on the natural environment




Impact 

Understanding the world: The world: Can talk about some of the things they have observed such as plants, animals, natural and found objects. 

Physical •Holds pencil between thumb and two fingers, no longer using whole-hand grasp. •Holds pencil near point between first two fingers and thumb and uses it with good control.
 

Maths •Shows awareness of similarities of shapes in the environment. •Uses positional language

PSE: Confident to talk to other children when playing

Monday 23 November 2020

Christmas Celebrations

 

Tuesday 15th December 2020

If your child does not attend on this day you will be informed by a member of staff which party he/she will be invited to. 

AM - 10.00am - 11.30am

PM - 2.00pm - 3.30pm  

DRESS CODE: Party Clothes 

We are asking for £1.00 donation towards party food and prizes. 

Please could you give your £1.00 contribution to a member of staff by Friday 11th December 

_____________________________________________

Thursday 17th December 2020 @ 12noon

 (for children who stay for lunch) 


_______________________________________

Friday 18th December 2020 

Wear a Christmas Jumper or Green/Red Jumper Day



Wednesday 18 November 2020

Obstacle course

During the Autumn Term ROSCO (Robinson Screening of Comprehension) we look at children's understanding of positional language. 

Outside we carried out an obstacle course to develop our knowledge of 'in' 'on' 'over' 'under' 'through' 











The Tweenies have been practicing their balancing skills - walking the plank !!