About chicken pox - and also a reminder of key dates coming up

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Firstly, as you probably know we have lots of cases of chicken pox at the nursery. Chicken pox is not a serious illness, but it can be uncomfortable for children. Some recommended ways to help your child include:

• use paracetamol (Calpol) to relieve pain and keep the temperature down
• warm baths every few hours (without any soap or bubble bath) can be soothing; so can calamine lotion
• ice lollies help if your child has a sore throat and if she or he is reluctant to drink
• antihistamine helps if the spots are especially itchy
• keeping your child’s nails short reduces the risk of excessive scratching

There has been conflicting information about judging when your child is ready to return to nursery. The Health Protection Agency recommends that children can return to school or nursery once the blisters have fully crusted over, this usually happens 5-7 days after the first scab appears. After the last scab has burst and crusted, children are no longer considered infectious.

If you know you are pregnant, or it’s possible you could be pregnant – it’s no problem if you have had chicken pox before. But if you haven’t had it, or you’re not sure, then please make an appointment to see your GP as chicken pox can be dangerous in pregnancy for you and the unborn child.

Important dates

Half term

Monday 28th May – Friday 1st June (inclusive). We remain open if you have an extended day/year place – please check in the office or with your key person if you are not sure.

Nursery picnic and funday

Saturday 16th June from 12pm-2pm. Fun…food…stalls – we hope you can come and join in with the fun. If you’d like to help out or run a stall – please speak to Jan or Julian. We are raising money to support our community kitchen project.

Development morning - 19th June

If you have a core day place, then we are closed in the morning but open from 1pm as usual. If you have a morning-only place then we are closed. Extended day/year places – open as usual.

End of term – Friday 20th July

Closure for the extended day/year service: Friday August 17th

Start of the autumn term (all children): Wednesday 5th September

Parent conference – Saturday 29th September from 11am-2pm

Last year we had a really successful parent conference. Parents gave their views and suggestions on lots of important issues and this has directly informed some of the changes introduced during the year. Please come and have your say about Kate Greenaway.