NEWLETTERS

STEPPING STONES LATEST NEWSLETTER

Dear parents and families ​January 2020

We wish a belated Happy New Year and welcome back to one and all, and a big hello to some new little people.

This term we plan to learn about the weather as we play throughout the winter weeks, including how to keep safe; and dress in suitable clothing to be warm and dry when we play outside; and how to keep ourselves healthy and active, through the ‘Healthy Movers program’. To encourage this, we will be including certain parents to stay and play on Monday 27th January at 9am for half an hour, to share and observe healthy physical activities in action! Letters will be given to participating children shortly.

HEALTH AND SAFETY: with our commitment to promoting healthy lifestyles, we are continuing with the Healthy Early Years program plus the Healthy Mover’s program and promoting the cleaning of our teeth. Further information to follow!

Please would you also cut up any grapes/cherry tomatoes (or similar) that you include in packed lunches to avoid any choking hazards.

We stress the importance of regular attendance at Stepping Stones and ask that you contact us if your child will be absent from the group. 

Please also ensure that we always have your most recent contact numbers in case of an emergency.

We value your contribution to your child’s “Learning Journey”, which is available to you at any time; and look forward to sharing progress and successes with you. We will post information of meetings on the outdoor easel when it is “your turn!”. 

Perhaps you would like to include some WOW stickers for achievements at home. 

Next steps are set for your child, each term – a note of these is also included in your CHILD’S READING DIARY. Our reading scheme is a vital way of keeping in touch with your child’s progress, in every area of development, especially communication and language. For the older children who attend in the mornings, please remember to return diaries with reading books each Friday for your child to choose a new book. For the younger children, please feel free to borrow and change a book for your child, and record this in the register, whenever you would like to do so.

Pupil Premium Update we are continuing to focus on our social skills, managing our feelings, maths, taking turns, sharing and listening to each other: making healthy choices

ALL RELEVANT INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND ON THE WEB SITE: newlynschool.co.uk, select Stepping Stones, or on our Facebook page: SteppingStonesPre-School, Newlyn.

* Kidzone Breakfast Club is held at Stepping Stones and available to 3-11 year old children from 8.15am to the beginning of the school day. Please enquire at Stepping Stones.

*Information about Wraparound care and provision for a parent/toddler group is being discussed with Newlyn School and will be available in the near future.

If you have any ideas that you would like to share with us, please do so, or email us, we would love to hear from you!

Please be aware that the school car park is only available to staff members and people who display a disability badge. Thank you.

Half term will be from Monday 17th to Friday 21st February, returning on Monday 24th 

Keep safe and warm!​Sue and Co

STEPPING STONES LATEST NEWSLETTER

Dear one and all,​​​​​​​​​​November 2019

We hope you had a good half term break and are now ready to CELEBRATE with us throughout this term. We plan to explore colours whilst lighting up the sky for Guy Fawkes night, Divali and Hanukkah; to promote our BRITISH VALUES whilst we remember things and people that are special to us; think about Children in Need; and enjoy the anticipation and preparations for Christmas.

Friday 15th Nov we would like to celebrate Children in need by all of us wearing our pyjamas! We will be making a collection for the cause and a small contribution would be greatly appreciated. THANK YOU to everyone who helped us to raise £75 for Macmillan Cancer Support, a wonderful effort, for a worthy cause!

* If your child was born between 1st September 2015 and 31st August 2016, you must apply for a school place by 15th January 2019. You may do this on line at www.cornwall.gov.uk/admissions

Your child’s Progress updates: Each term your child will have a focused observation,which we would like to share with parents to celebrate success and chat about progress and agree some “next steps”, together. We will post information of meetings on the outdoor easel when it is “your turn!”.

Perhaps you would like to include some WOW stickers for achievements at home. 

HEALTH AND SAFETY:

With our commitment to promoting healthy lifestyles, we are continuing with the Healthy Early Years program and will introduce two new initiatives: Healthy Movers and Brighter Smiles tooth care. We hope that you will become involved:

Please would you also cut up any grapes/cherry tomatoes (or similar) that you include in packed lunches to avoid any choking hazards.

ATTENDANCE: It is an Ofsted requirement to report poor attendance for funded children

**It is always necessary to keep us informed of absence by phone or email

Pupil Premium funding: This year we have decided to focus on our social skills, - relationships, taking turns and listening to each other; keeping healthy and making healthy choices.

30 hour funding requests need to be with us by 6thDecember for us to check eligibility before next term please

We will post our Christmas program of dates on the outdoor easel, Provisional dates are: 

13/12 Christmas Jumper day and Christmas Fayre for Stepping Stones children and families/friends

18/12 Children’s Christmas lunch for the morning children...exciting times ahead!

This term finishes on Thursday 19th December returning on Monday 06/01/20

There is a possibility that there may be an ‘After School Provision’ for children aged 3-11 years, beginning in January 2020. Please enquire at Stepping Stones.

Many thanks,

Sue and Co​

STEPPING STONES LATEST NEWSLETTER

Dear parents, ​17th September 2019

We welcome you back to Stepping Stones after the summer break, and a big hello to lots of new little people. This half term we will be thinking about our Favourite stories, such as Goldilocks and the three bears, The three little pigs, The Gruffalo, Prince and Princess stories, Kipper the dog, Fergus the farmyard dog and any others that we fancy! During the term we will be talking about our Grandparents, and celebrating National Grandparents Day, with a coffee morning in aid of MacMillan nursing - further details will be posted on the daily easel.

THE SAFETY OF YOUR CHILDREN is hugely important to us all; therefore PLEASE KEEP GATES LOCKED AT ALL TIMES AND ADHERE TO OUR NO SMOKING OR USE OF MOBILE PHONES POLICIES WITHIN OUR AREA

We value your contribution to your child’s “Learning Journey”, which is available to you at any time; and look forward to sharing progress and successes with you. We will post information of meetings on the outdoor easel when it is “your turn!”. 

Perhaps you would like to include some WOW stickers for achievements at home. 

Reading book scheme: The sharing of the reading books that we offer is another vital way of keeping in touch with children’s progress, especially in the development of language and communication. We will exchange books with our older children each Friday for them to take home and share with you throughout the week, and at the beginning of each week for the younger children. New books will be placed in your child’s pigeon hole with any other correspondence for your collection. Please feel free to make a comment about your child’s ‘reading’ experience in the diary.

HEALTH AND SAFETY: Please would you also cut up any grapes/cherry tomatoes (or similar) that you include in packed lunches to avoid any choking hazards. With our commitment to promoting healthy lifestyles, we ask that the daily drink that you provide for your child to access for themselves at any time is “water”. We also provide a choice of milk or water with each mid session snack. As we return to school, so does the problem of HEAD LICE! Please remember to check your child’s hair regularly, and if you need advice, please ask. Using a ‘Nitty Gritty comb’ on damp, conditioned hair, will keep them away!

We hope to complete our commitment to renew our Heathy Years status this term, and embark upon another program, namely ‘Healthy Movers!’

We stress the importance of regular attendance at Stepping Stones- this we have to monitor and record, and ask that you contact us if your child is unwell, thus will be absent from the group. Please ensure that we have your most recent contact numbers, in case of any emergency.    

Information for the parents of our older children:

If your child was born between 1st September 2015 and 31st August 2016, you must apply for a school place by 15th January 2020. You may do this on line at www.cornwall.gov.uk/admissions            

All Funding information can be found at: www.supportincornwall.org.uk/childcare or 08005878191

Or www.cornwallfisdirectory.org.uk

In certain cases, according to individual family circumstances, some parents may claim additional funding for the group called Pupil Premium, which is claimed via the Early Years funding application. Last term we were able to use this funding to arrange several visits around our local environment, to treasure some real life experiences, and promote healthy lifestyles and make successful transition sessions into school  to know more about this, or if you have any ideas to share, please chat with the staff.

We are also making provision for a limited amount of 30 hours of funded childcare for families who meet different criteria.

HAVE YOU LOOKED AT THE WEB SITE: newlynschool.co.uk, select Stepping Stones, or on our Facebook page: SteppingStonesPre-School, Newlyn?? Where you can find all relevant information about us, Healthy tips and further provision:

AND ‘READING HEROES’, a national campaign: www.cornwall.gov.uk/realheroesread 

https://www.supportincornwall.org.uk/kb5/cornwall/directory/advice.page?id=CPo9Y3PL20Y

* Kidzone Breakfast Club is held at Stepping Stones and available to 3-11 year old children from 8.15am to the beginning of the school day. Please enquire at Stepping Stones for further information.

If you have any ideas that you would like to share with us, please do so, or email us, we would love to hear from you!

Half term will be from Monday 21st October to Monday 28th October, inclusive, returning on Tuesday 29thOctober, until then we hope to share a fun filled Autumn!​​

Sue and Co

STEPPING STONES LATEST NEWSLETTER

Dear one and all,​ June 2019

We are now into our second theme for the summer term, namely 

“Oh! I do like to be beside the seaside!” during which we will enjoy our learning in the great outdoors, in the tree house and pretend that the sand area is a beach, where we can build St Michael’s Mount, create our own waterfalls, chase our own shadows, and get messy in the mud kitchen!! 

For the children leaving at the end of this term and starting school:

Your child’s Learning and Development Summary will be ready for your comments at the beginning of July. These need to be completed by you and returned a.s.a.p for us to enclose in the Learning Journey, which will be presented to you at the Graduation Service, which will be at School hall on 

Friday 19th July at 9.15am, with light refreshments afterwards at Stepping Stones.

We are also collecting the completed admission forms (which were handed out at the school intake meeting)for the Foundation class, and have school sweatshirts if you wish to try them on your child, for size.

We are planning a special visit for our Graduating children possibly on 12th July ….further details will follow.These children are also invited for school lunch or packed lunch in the school hall on 21st and 28thJune...further details will be written on the daily easel.

HEALTH AND SAFETY: is hugely important to us all…….

Please help us to continue to keep safe by locking doors and gates, and adhering to our 

sun safe procedure, a copy is displayed on the noticeboard and web site www.newlynschool.co.uk

HEALTHY EARLY YEARS:

There will be an open afternoon on Friday 5th July (same day as the school fayre) during which we plan to make a presentation of healthy eating to share suggestions with you.

Please would you also cut up any grapes/cherry tomatoes (or similar) that you include in packed lunches to avoid any choking hazards.

** We are required to record attendance; therefore it is vital that you contact us if your child is absent due to sickness, or any other reason

** IF YOU ARE ENTITLED TO 30 HOURS OF FUNDING NEXT TERM, PLEASE GIVE US YOUR CODE BY MID JULY-information can be found on www.supportincornwall.org.uk/childcare  

If you have any further ideas that you would like to share with us electronically, please see our Facebook: Stepping Stones Preschool, Newlyn; email us at: steppingstones@newlyn.cornwall.sch.uk

or log onto the web site www.newlynschool.co.uk (search Stepping Stones) where you can read all about us, including Newlyn Nippers and Tiddlers and the Kidzone breakfast club  

The last day of term will be Wednesday 24th July.

Many thanks,                    Sue and Co

Thank you!

Sue and Co

STEPPING STONES LATEST NEWSLETTER

Dear parents,​​​May 2019

We hope you all enjoyed the Spring break, and welcome you back to Stepping Stones. This term we hope to be enjoying some lovely weather, exploring and investigating “all creatures GREAT and small” which will include, among other things, animals in the jungle and on the farm; the life cycles of frogs, butterflies, birds and creepy crawlies!

HEALTH AND SAFETY:

Please help us to continue to keep safe by locking doors and gates, and adhering to our 

sun safe procedure, a copy is displayed on the noticeboard and web site www.newlynschool.co.uk

We have sun hats readily available for your child to wear. 

HEALTHY EARLY YEARS: with our commitment to promoting healthy lifestyles, we are continuing upon a Healthy Early Years program and hope that you will become involved:

Please would you also cut up any grapes/cherry tomatoes (or similar) that you include in packed lunches to avoid any choking hazards.

** We are required to record attendance; therefore it is vital that you contact us if your child is absent due to sickness, or any other reason

Your child’s Progress 

All “Learning Journeys” are available for you to read at any time, please ask if you would like to share it. Next steps have been set for your child, for this term – a note of these will also be included in your CHILD’S READING DIARY. Our reading scheme is a vital way of keeping in touch with your child’s progress, in every area of development, especially communication and language. If you haven’t presented this diary for some time PLEASE CHECK FOR IT AT HOME.

Pupil Premium Update we are continuing to focus on our social skills, whilst promoting healthy lifestyles and choices, including healthy eating, portion sizes, checking salt and sugar content in the foods that we eat, and dental care. This term we will also focus on how to prepare for “transition”- the next big step in your child’s life.

There will be a meeting for parents of children starting Newlyn School in September later this term

If you have any further ideas that you would like to share with us electronically, please see our Facebook: Stepping Stones Preschool, Newlyn; email us at: steppingstones@newlyn.cornwall.sch.uk

or log onto the web site www.newlynschool.co.uk (search Stepping Stones) where you can read all about us,including Newlyn Nippers and Tiddlers and the Kidzone breakfast club  

The end of this half term will be from 

Friday 24th May, returning to Stepping Stones on Tuesday 4th June

Thank you!

Sue and Co​

​​​​​​​​​

STEPPING STONES LATEST NEWSLETTER

Dear parents,​March 2019

** UPDATES TO NEWSLETTER OF JANUARY 2019 please ask if you require a duplicate copy:

As we begin another half term, we plan to think about the People who help us, especially on Mothering Sunday, and how we can help others for Comic Relief, before we celebrate Easter together. 

To celebrate World Book Day, we may wear Fancy Dress (any theme) on Thursday 7th March; donations gratefully received will go to Comic Relief…..Last year we held a week of sporty activities, which the children loved, so with our commitment to healthy lifestyles, we will hold some more, from Monday 11th to Comic Relief day on Friday 15th March. 

We will post further details on the daily easel.

Please look at the daily easel for your child’s name, to share his/her learning journey and celebrate progress and achievements

Further provision…spread the word:

Kidzone breakfast club is available to children from the ages of 3-11 at Stepping Stones from 8am until school time, at a cost of £3.00 per child.

Newlyn Nippers and Tiddlers parent and child group is held in the school hall on a Thursday morning from 9.30am, please phone us for details 01736363050, 

or look on Facebook: steppingstonespreschoolnewlyn, 

or the clubs own Facebook page: newlyn nippers and tiddlers

ONLINE SAFETY: you may have seen some distressing news concerning disturbing pop-ups that can appear online, targeting children, particularly one named MOMO. There is a poster on display in the preschool with tops tips for parents, but more useful information on:

www.nationalonlinesafety.com​www.internetmatters.org/advice/0-5/   we have many more links, please ask for details, online safety for our precious children is becoming a huge worry!

Further links for healthy information and support include:

www.supportincornwall.org.uk/kb5/cornwall/directory/family.page?familychannel=4 1

www.elfh.org.uk/programmes/childrens-oral-health/

*** PLEASE WRAP YOUR LITTLE ONES UP WARM IN THIS EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER and encourage them to keep coats on, as some of them see the sunshine and think that summer is here!! And refer to our closure policy if snow becomes a problem. 

The last day of this term will be Friday 5th April, returning after Easter on Tuesday 23rd April

Keep warm, safe, healthy and happy!…..Sue and Co.