Nursery News - December 2006

Ofstead Inspection
Our inspection took place during 28 and 29 September. The full report is available on the internet www.ofsted.gov.uk quoting our postcode: DL16 7DA.
The judgement of the report was that the standards of care and nursery education were strong with a ‘good’ rating throughout. Certain quotes are: ‘space is very well organised’, ‘exceptional use of indoors and outdoors’, ‘teaching and learning is good’, ‘observations are used most effectively to inform planning’, ‘behaviour is exceptionally good’, ‘very good organisation of circle time’, ‘partnership with parents is outstanding’, ‘children are fully integrated into the group’, ‘documentation very well maintained’, ‘staff’s training has had a very positive impact on practice’. Several copies of the full report are available to view in the entrance.

Shoe Box Appeal
We would like to thank all parents and children for the fantastic response to our Shoe Box Appeal. We were able to give around 45 filled boxes to Rev Gary Norman at St Paul’s Church.
Thank you for making a child somewhere in the world have a Christmas.

Music Sessions With Sue Hill
(From The Sage, Gateshead)
We are delighted to welcome Sue to Rainbow she will be taking interactive music sessions within each of our rooms on Tuesday 12 @ 1pm and Tuesday 19 December @9.30am. Parents are welcome to join us for these occasions.

Visit To Santa
The children in Rainbow Room will be visiting Santa in his Grotto at Spennymoor Town Hall on Wednesday 13 December at 1.30pm and Thursday 14 December at 9.30am. We would like as many parents as possible to walk with us. Education only children can meet us at the Town Hall.

Nativity Concerts
These will take place on Wednesday 13 (AM), Thursday 14 (PM) and Friday 15 (AM) December they will last approximately ½ hour. The concerts involve Rainbow Room children. Entrance will be by TICKET ONLY, this is to prevent overcrowding. Please note there are 2 morning concerts and 1 afternoon.

Christmas Raffle
We will be selling raffle tickets during the week of the concerts. It will be drawn at the concert on Friday 15 December.
Any donations will be gratefully received. Thank you.

Christmas Parties
Children in Sunbeams and Rainbow rooms will be having their parties on Wednesday and Thursday December 20 and 21. We would be grateful for any donations of party food, lists will be made available. Staff will let you know which party day your child should attend.

Christmas Dinner
Everyone will be having a full Christmas dinner, with all the trimmings, on Tuesday 19 December freshly prepared by our cook, Lesley.

Festive Foods
We will be serving mince pies and fruit punch to parents during the afternoons of Thursday 21 and Friday 22.

Christmas Closure
We will be closing on Friday 22 December and reopening on Tuesday 2 January.

Children In Need
Thank you to everyone who contributed  we are delighted to tell you that we raised £135.

Parents Forum/Get Together
The next date for the forum is Tuesday 27 February 2007 @ 7pm.

Payment Of Fees
Due to increasing banking charges for the handling of cash and cheques we would prefer more parents to pay by Standing Order. By standing order money is transferred from your bank account to Rainbow’s account.

Uniforms
Don’t forget further orders can be sent for so please give any forms, with payment, to Karen. The next order will be sent in January.

Parent Helpers
We would like to remind all parents that you are very welcome to come and help in your child’s room, just arrange a convenient time with the staff.

Parking
Although we have outdoor lights, please can everyone take care parking especially at the end of the day, in the dark, when it is rather busy. Our children in nursery are little so please watch out for them.

Finally, best wishes to you all for a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from all the staff at Rainbow.