18th May 2009

Parents as First Teachers

Are you looking for some information or advice about

· Toilet training?
· Dealing with Tantrums?
· Sleep?
· Bilingualism?
· Managing fussy eating?
· Dental health?
· What might come next in your child’s development (3’s and under)?

Any family using any service at Kate Greenaway Nursery School and Children’s Centre can pick up advice on any of the above topics from the Parents as First Teachers programme (PAFT).

We currently have three staff trained to offer advice and information from PAFT (Jan, Dawn and Liz) and Kara, Kulwinder, Eileen, Yussef, Sadia and Fatema will be joining us soon. The programme includes clear information sheets on these popular topics for parents (and many more) and also information on what to expect at each stage of development for children from birth to three.

There are two ways to pick up some information or discuss a parenting issue with us, either come along to the PAFT stay and play group on Thursday between 10 and 12 (you don’t have to have your child with you if they are in nursery) or simply ask one of us to arrange a time to meet with you.

For more information contact Jan.

More information about PAFT is available here.

Reminder about dates

We are closed for all children on Thursday and Friday this week, for staff training and development.

School half term is Monday 25th-Friday 29th May inclusive. Children with extended day/year place continue to attend during this week - but don’t forget that
Monday 25th May is a Bank Holiday.

If you are not sure about anything please ask your key person.

12th May 2009

Starting school

If your child is four years old before 31st August 2009, then you will have been notified of your primary school place by Islington. If you have not, or you have any questions or problems with school admissions, please let Julian or Michele know.

Transition to primary school is a really important step for all children. This is how we work with schools to support the children:

• The school will arrange a time for your child to visit, see the classroom, playground, dining hall etc and usually meet the classteacher. Please let us know if your child is visiting her or his school: then your key person can talk to your child in nursery about it.
• We encourage the reception teacher and/or teaching assistant to come and visit the children here at Kate Greenaway, too.
• If your child has special educational needs, we will arrange a transition meeting between our staff and the school staff.
• We will complete an end of nursery report, which you contribute to, and which is then sent to the primary school.
• We will give your child’s Profile Book to you, and we encourage you to share this with the reception teacher.

Asthma in childhood

We are running an Information Morning here at Kate Greenaway on Thursday May 14th from 10am-12pm with a specialist asthma nurse. You can find out about the best ways to administer medication, advice on exercise for asthmatic children, and how to spot the signs that your child’s asthma is getting worse and needs medical attention.

Anyone who has worried about their child’s breathing or had to take their child to A&E knows how distressing this can be, so if this affects you please come along on Thursday.

5th May 2009

Swine Flu Alert

I am sure you are aware of the current alert about swine flu, and you will be receiving information from the government about this during this week.

There is currently no need for nurseries, schools etc to close or to take any special actions. The best thing we can all do is to follow basic hygiene precautions, including:

• Covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, using a tissue when possible
• Disposing of dirty tissues promptly and carefully
• Maintaining good basic hygiene, for example washing hands frequently with soap and water to reduce the spread of the virus from your hands to face or to other people
• Cleaning hard surfaces (e.g. door handles) frequently using a normal cleaning product
• Making sure children follow this advice

If your child shows flu symptoms, please keep him or her off nursery until better and either contact your GP by phone for advice or contact NHS Direct.

Please do not take your child to the GP surgery unless you are advised to do so. For up to date, local advice contact Islington council.

Swine Flu Information from central government is available on 0880 1 513 513 and here.

African Bag Gardens at Kate Greenaway

In the community team we are having a go at creating some African Bag Gardens this year. We got the idea (and the sacks!) from Send a Cow, a charity that supports people in some African countries to grow food in small spaces. We have been planting seeds for radishes, rocket, beans and sunflowers with lots of families who attend stay and play groups at the Centre and we plan to transfer them to our bag gardens very soon.

Check out bag gardens from Send a Cow and then check out our gardens! If anyone has a supply of smallish rocks (about half a brick size) to help us make the sacks stable please let Jan know.

Thank you!