Dear parents and carers
Staffing update
Hayley Just to remind you that Wednesday 23rd July is not only the last day of school term, but also Hayley’s last day with us. Hayley came as a temporary teacher when Sanchia left at the end of December. She has done a fantastic job here at Kate Greenaway, and we would like to wish her well in her new post as a Reception Teacher. Our new assistant head, Michele, starts in September.
Erin, our temporary nursery education worker with the Community Service Team, is also finishing at the end of this term.
Liz I am pleased to tell you that Liz has been appointed as our additional Family Support and Outreach Worker. She will start this in September, and will continue to work full time at Kate Greenaway in her new role. I will let you know who is replacing Liz in the nursery team as soon as possible.
Jan I’m sure you’ll join me in congratulating Jan on achieving the new National Professional Qualification in Integrated Centre Leadership.
Kate Greenaway Summer Scheme
This year we are putting on a summer scheme for all children up to five years old living in the neighbourhood. We also have an advance notice flyer for our Community Services next term. You are very welcome to use any of our Community Services.
Yours sincerely
Julian Grenier
Dates for 2008-2009
As we are coming near to the end of term, here are the term and closure dates for the year ahead.
Last day of summer term (for children with termtime places)
Wednesday 23rd July
Last day of the extended nursery provision
Friday August 15th
Closure for staff training and development
Monday and Tuesday 1st and 2nd September
First day of winter term (all children)
Wednesday September 3rd 2008
Half term (for children with termtime places)
Monday-Friday 27th-31st October 2008
Last day of winter term (for children with termtime places)
Friday 19th December 2008
Last day of extended nursery
Tuesday 23rd December 2008
First day of spring term (all children)
Monday 5th January 2009
Closure for training and development
Friday 13th January 2009
Half term (for children with termtime places)
Monday-Friday 16th-20th February 2009
End of spring term (for children with termtime places)
Friday 3rd April 2009
Start of summer term (for children with termtime places)
Monday 20th April 2009
Closure for training and development
Thursday and Friday 21st and 22nd May
Half term (for children with termtime places)
Monday-Friday 25th-29th May 2009
Last day of term (for children with termtime places)
Monday 20th July 2009
Last day of extended nursery
Friday August 14th 2009
This list does not include dates for:
Bank holidays
Development mornings
Review Days
We will distribute those dates at the start of next term
Friday, 18 July 2008
Tuesday, 24 June 2008
Summer Fun Day
Dear Parents
Our Summer Fun Day – 4 July, 2008, 4-6pm
This is just a quick note to let you know about our Kate Greenaway Annual Summer Fun DAay. This will be in the garden on Friday 4 July from 4-6pm. As well as lovely food there will be face painting and activities for the children, and information stalls. We are having a cake stall (baked by the children) and dairy/gluten free cakes, too. There will also be a massive Jack and the Beanstalk corner and storytelling, and lots more …
We hope you will all come and enjoy yourselves, so if you collect your child early in the afternoon please stay on, and if your child stays on after 3.30 please come early if you can for the barbecue.
We’ve had a couple of offers from parents to run stalls; if you would like to do a stall, or like to help out generally, that would be very welcome. Please speak to Dawn, or to me.
Looking forward to seeing you all on July 4th.
Yours sincerely
Julian Grenier
Our Summer Fun Day – 4 July, 2008, 4-6pm
This is just a quick note to let you know about our Kate Greenaway Annual Summer Fun DAay. This will be in the garden on Friday 4 July from 4-6pm. As well as lovely food there will be face painting and activities for the children, and information stalls. We are having a cake stall (baked by the children) and dairy/gluten free cakes, too. There will also be a massive Jack and the Beanstalk corner and storytelling, and lots more …
We hope you will all come and enjoy yourselves, so if you collect your child early in the afternoon please stay on, and if your child stays on after 3.30 please come early if you can for the barbecue.
We’ve had a couple of offers from parents to run stalls; if you would like to do a stall, or like to help out generally, that would be very welcome. Please speak to Dawn, or to me.
Looking forward to seeing you all on July 4th.
Yours sincerely
Julian Grenier
Thursday, 31 January 2008
Letter to parents, 31 January 2008
Dear parents and carers
Ofsted report Our Ofsted report has now been published and you should have a copy. If you have not got it – please ask Marie or Louise. It’s a very positive report that reflects well on the hard work that the staff and the governing body have done to develop high standards of nursery education at Kate Greenaway. As a staff, we continue to feel very fortunate to have such an engaged and committed group of parents. Thank you for all your support.
School travel plan I have tried to speak to as many parents as possible about our School Travel Plan. This piece of work is about finding out how families come to Kate Greenaway, and to look at whether there are any improvements to the local environment that would encourage children and parents to walk, cycle or use public transport to get to the nursery. If you have any ideas about this, I would really like to hear them.
So far 28 parents have answered the survey questions. 19 parents walk all the way from home with their children, 2 children come by bike, 5 by car, and 2 by bus.
Parents have made the following comments about walking/cycling to Kate Greenaway:
· Drivers going along Copenhagen Street need to slow down
· Need and extra Pelican Crossing near the path into York Way Court
· Cyclists go through red lights and cycle too fast near children
· Signs telling drivers to be aware of children on Copenhagen Street and in the estate would help
· There is a lot of dog mess on the pavements which young children can step in
· Walking in would be good for my fitness, but when it’s raining…
· Pavements are uneven and children end up falling over and hurting themselves
· We need more and better bike lanes
· The 274 bus service is not regular enough
· Roadworks mean that pavements are closed off or narrowed down so much you can’t get a buggy through – e.g. on York Way between Kings Cross and Copenhagen Street.
Please let me know your views. When the travel plan is written we will then be asking parents to consider what changes we should ask Transport for London to make. There is funding for this work.
Julian Grenier
Ofsted report Our Ofsted report has now been published and you should have a copy. If you have not got it – please ask Marie or Louise. It’s a very positive report that reflects well on the hard work that the staff and the governing body have done to develop high standards of nursery education at Kate Greenaway. As a staff, we continue to feel very fortunate to have such an engaged and committed group of parents. Thank you for all your support.
School travel plan I have tried to speak to as many parents as possible about our School Travel Plan. This piece of work is about finding out how families come to Kate Greenaway, and to look at whether there are any improvements to the local environment that would encourage children and parents to walk, cycle or use public transport to get to the nursery. If you have any ideas about this, I would really like to hear them.
So far 28 parents have answered the survey questions. 19 parents walk all the way from home with their children, 2 children come by bike, 5 by car, and 2 by bus.
Parents have made the following comments about walking/cycling to Kate Greenaway:
· Drivers going along Copenhagen Street need to slow down
· Need and extra Pelican Crossing near the path into York Way Court
· Cyclists go through red lights and cycle too fast near children
· Signs telling drivers to be aware of children on Copenhagen Street and in the estate would help
· There is a lot of dog mess on the pavements which young children can step in
· Walking in would be good for my fitness, but when it’s raining…
· Pavements are uneven and children end up falling over and hurting themselves
· We need more and better bike lanes
· The 274 bus service is not regular enough
· Roadworks mean that pavements are closed off or narrowed down so much you can’t get a buggy through – e.g. on York Way between Kings Cross and Copenhagen Street.
Please let me know your views. When the travel plan is written we will then be asking parents to consider what changes we should ask Transport for London to make. There is funding for this work.
Julian Grenier
Tuesday, 27 November 2007
Letter, November 27th: dates, building works
Dear parents and carers
Changes to dates and arrangements
I am writing to give you the following updates:
End of the building project We had been hoping to get the front entrance back this week. However it now looks like it will be next week when the internal works are completed. In the meantime, please continue to use the temporary garden entrance.
Cancellation of International Evening We had planned our usual evening celebration for families for next Thursday, 6th December. However because of the problems with the building works, we have no guarantee that we will have the entrance and the spaces we need. With regret, this event has now been cancelled – but we plan to organise a replacement in the new year.
Development Morning We are still going ahead with staff training on Wednesday 5th December but the nursery will remain open for all children as usual. We are trying to minimise the disruption for families.
With apologies for all the changes!
Julian Grenier
Changes to dates and arrangements
I am writing to give you the following updates:
End of the building project We had been hoping to get the front entrance back this week. However it now looks like it will be next week when the internal works are completed. In the meantime, please continue to use the temporary garden entrance.
Cancellation of International Evening We had planned our usual evening celebration for families for next Thursday, 6th December. However because of the problems with the building works, we have no guarantee that we will have the entrance and the spaces we need. With regret, this event has now been cancelled – but we plan to organise a replacement in the new year.
Development Morning We are still going ahead with staff training on Wednesday 5th December but the nursery will remain open for all children as usual. We are trying to minimise the disruption for families.
With apologies for all the changes!
Julian Grenier
Wednesday, 14 November 2007
Flexible childcare
Dear parents and carers
Consultation on providing more flexible childcare
If you would like to respond to this by email then please copy the following text, paste into an email, write in your replies and send to marie.mason@islington.gov.uk
We are currently considering whether it would be helpful to parents if we offered some more flexibility in the places we offer. If there is enough interest then we will aim to pilot this as a scheme, starting in January 2008.
Please note that at the moment it is not certain that we will go ahead, as it depends on some funding and staffing issues being sorted out.
This scheme will only apply to parents and carers whose children have a core day place and who receive more than £545.34 through the Child Tax Credit scheme. We are planning to offer parents and carers the opportunity to book the following additional hours:
8am-9am
£2.50
Termtime only
3.30pm-5pm
£3.75
Termtime only
Lunchtime (11.45am-1pm)
£3.10 + cost of lunch
Termtime only
1 hour booking (minimum of 2 consecutive hours per day)
£2.50
School holidays only
All bookings would be subject to their being an available place – we cannot go over our registered numbers of children at any time.
If you are interested please could you fill out the form on the other side of this letter and return it to Marie. This is just so that we can get an idea of the level of interest – there would be no obligation for you to take up on the scheme because you had shown interest.
Julian Grenier
FEEDBACK FORM
First, please check that you would be eligible for this scheme:
• Your child has a morning/afternoon/core day place
• You receive £545.34 per year, or more, through the Child Tax Credit scheme
Please could you answer the following questions, which will help us to see if there is enough demand for the scheme:
How old is your child?
Would you be interested in having additional hours through this scheme for your child?
Please tick which sessions you would be most likely to want (tick as many as apply):
8am-9am (only if your child normally starts at 9am)
Lunch time
3.30pm-5pm
Sessions in school holidays
Are there other ways where a more flexible offer could better meet your needs? Any other comments?
Consultation on providing more flexible childcare
If you would like to respond to this by email then please copy the following text, paste into an email, write in your replies and send to marie.mason@islington.gov.uk
We are currently considering whether it would be helpful to parents if we offered some more flexibility in the places we offer. If there is enough interest then we will aim to pilot this as a scheme, starting in January 2008.
Please note that at the moment it is not certain that we will go ahead, as it depends on some funding and staffing issues being sorted out.
This scheme will only apply to parents and carers whose children have a core day place and who receive more than £545.34 through the Child Tax Credit scheme. We are planning to offer parents and carers the opportunity to book the following additional hours:
8am-9am
£2.50
Termtime only
3.30pm-5pm
£3.75
Termtime only
Lunchtime (11.45am-1pm)
£3.10 + cost of lunch
Termtime only
1 hour booking (minimum of 2 consecutive hours per day)
£2.50
School holidays only
All bookings would be subject to their being an available place – we cannot go over our registered numbers of children at any time.
If you are interested please could you fill out the form on the other side of this letter and return it to Marie. This is just so that we can get an idea of the level of interest – there would be no obligation for you to take up on the scheme because you had shown interest.
Julian Grenier
FEEDBACK FORM
First, please check that you would be eligible for this scheme:
• Your child has a morning/afternoon/core day place
• You receive £545.34 per year, or more, through the Child Tax Credit scheme
Please could you answer the following questions, which will help us to see if there is enough demand for the scheme:
How old is your child?
Would you be interested in having additional hours through this scheme for your child?
Please tick which sessions you would be most likely to want (tick as many as apply):
8am-9am (only if your child normally starts at 9am)
Lunch time
3.30pm-5pm
Sessions in school holidays
Are there other ways where a more flexible offer could better meet your needs? Any other comments?
Letter to all parents: building works, Ofsted, dates
Dear parents and carers
Building works at Kate Greenaway
What can I say…apart from the fact that the works are continuing to over-run. I’m sorry for the disruption this is causing, and I can assure you that everything possible is being done to ensure that the works are completed as quickly as possible.
I am pleased to say that we now have the full nursery area back in use, and that in general the nursery education and care we are offering to the children remains very good, despite the circumstances, thanks to the hard work and commitment of the staff team.
Headlice
We have a few cases of headlice at the moment. Please see the earlier blog entry for advice and information. Please check your child’s hair every day, so that we can all get on top of this.
Ofsted report
We have now had our official letter from Ofsted, following their visit on 12th October. It is a real tribute to the whole staff team that we got a second “Outstanding” grade for our work.
Nice though this is, we feel that there is still a lot to do and we continue to value feedback from parents – letting us know what you think we do well, and also what we should improve. I hope you’ll read the whole letter, but here are some of our best bits…
• Children revel in the wonderful outdoor learning environment, the garden experiences are of an exemplary standard
• Babies…are an integral part of this family environment, enjoying their diverse activities and the older children who often watch and encourage them
• Resources are exciting and encourage children to be active and independent learners
• Those with learning difficulties and disabilities are fully integrated and included
• There is clear strategic vision and practical management and leadership which strives to reach the whole community in imaginative ways.
Nursery dates
Please can I remind you of the following dates:
Monday 26th November Nursery closed for all children
Training and development for staff
Wednesday 5th December Development morning
Children with morning-only places have no nursery.
Children with core day places have a 1pm-3.30pm place (no morning).
We are open for children with extended day places as usual.
Thursday 6th December International Evening from 4pm-6.30pm More details soon!
Wednesday 19th December Last day of the Islington school term
Friday 21st December Last day of the extended nursery provision
Wednesday 2nd January 2008 Extended nursery re-starts
Thursday 3rd January First day of Islington school term
Monday February 18th-Friday February 22nd Islington school half term
Friday 21st and Monday 24th March Nursery closed for all children
Good Friday and Easter Monday bank holidays
Friday 4th April Last day of the Islington school term
Monday 21st April First day of Islington school term
Monday 5th May Nursery closed for all children
May Day bank holiday
Monday 26th May-Friday 30th May Islington school half term
Monday 2nd and Tuesday 3rd June Nursery closed for all children
Training and development for staff
Wednesday 23rd July Last day of the Islington school term
Friday 15th August Last day of the extended nursery provision
Building works at Kate Greenaway
What can I say…apart from the fact that the works are continuing to over-run. I’m sorry for the disruption this is causing, and I can assure you that everything possible is being done to ensure that the works are completed as quickly as possible.
I am pleased to say that we now have the full nursery area back in use, and that in general the nursery education and care we are offering to the children remains very good, despite the circumstances, thanks to the hard work and commitment of the staff team.
Headlice
We have a few cases of headlice at the moment. Please see the earlier blog entry for advice and information. Please check your child’s hair every day, so that we can all get on top of this.
Ofsted report
We have now had our official letter from Ofsted, following their visit on 12th October. It is a real tribute to the whole staff team that we got a second “Outstanding” grade for our work.
Nice though this is, we feel that there is still a lot to do and we continue to value feedback from parents – letting us know what you think we do well, and also what we should improve. I hope you’ll read the whole letter, but here are some of our best bits…
• Children revel in the wonderful outdoor learning environment, the garden experiences are of an exemplary standard
• Babies…are an integral part of this family environment, enjoying their diverse activities and the older children who often watch and encourage them
• Resources are exciting and encourage children to be active and independent learners
• Those with learning difficulties and disabilities are fully integrated and included
• There is clear strategic vision and practical management and leadership which strives to reach the whole community in imaginative ways.
Nursery dates
Please can I remind you of the following dates:
Monday 26th November Nursery closed for all children
Training and development for staff
Wednesday 5th December Development morning
Children with morning-only places have no nursery.
Children with core day places have a 1pm-3.30pm place (no morning).
We are open for children with extended day places as usual.
Thursday 6th December International Evening from 4pm-6.30pm More details soon!
Wednesday 19th December Last day of the Islington school term
Friday 21st December Last day of the extended nursery provision
Wednesday 2nd January 2008 Extended nursery re-starts
Thursday 3rd January First day of Islington school term
Monday February 18th-Friday February 22nd Islington school half term
Friday 21st and Monday 24th March Nursery closed for all children
Good Friday and Easter Monday bank holidays
Friday 4th April Last day of the Islington school term
Monday 21st April First day of Islington school term
Monday 5th May Nursery closed for all children
May Day bank holiday
Monday 26th May-Friday 30th May Islington school half term
Monday 2nd and Tuesday 3rd June Nursery closed for all children
Training and development for staff
Wednesday 23rd July Last day of the Islington school term
Friday 15th August Last day of the extended nursery provision
Wednesday, 19 September 2007
Outbreak of measles
Dear Parents
I am writing to inform you that a number of children within Islington have been diagnosed with measles over the last few weeks. Measles is a highly infectious illness. Children with measles are usually quite ill and in some circumstances complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis, can develop. Professionals working with young children are concerned to prevent any more cases or a large outbreak occurring.
Children who have received the full course of the MMR vaccine (two doses, the first one at one year of age and the second one before school entry) are protected; however, there are still many children who have not yet been immunised or have not received the two doses and could therefore catch measles.
MMR immunisation is the safest way for parents to protect their children against measles, mumps and rubella, which are diseases that can be serious for babies, young children and their families. Not all children respond adequately to a single dose of vaccine, so to ensure protection children need to receive two doses of MMR. Children who were not immunised before starting school can be protected by receiving MMR at any age
For an appointment to discuss MMR vaccination or to bring your child for MMR or any other childhood immunisation, please contact your GP, Practice Nurse, Health Visitor or School Nurse. You can also obtain additional information from:
• NHS Direct by calling 0845 46 47 and asking them to send you a “MMR parent pack” (free of charge)
• The internet at www.mmrthefacts.nhs.uk
If you suspect your child has measles infection it is important you consult your GP. If your GP confirms that measles is the most likely cause of illness you must inform the school and your child should remain away from school for 5 days from the onset of the rash.
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter.
Yours sincerely
Julian Grenier
I am writing to inform you that a number of children within Islington have been diagnosed with measles over the last few weeks. Measles is a highly infectious illness. Children with measles are usually quite ill and in some circumstances complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis, can develop. Professionals working with young children are concerned to prevent any more cases or a large outbreak occurring.
Children who have received the full course of the MMR vaccine (two doses, the first one at one year of age and the second one before school entry) are protected; however, there are still many children who have not yet been immunised or have not received the two doses and could therefore catch measles.
MMR immunisation is the safest way for parents to protect their children against measles, mumps and rubella, which are diseases that can be serious for babies, young children and their families. Not all children respond adequately to a single dose of vaccine, so to ensure protection children need to receive two doses of MMR. Children who were not immunised before starting school can be protected by receiving MMR at any age
For an appointment to discuss MMR vaccination or to bring your child for MMR or any other childhood immunisation, please contact your GP, Practice Nurse, Health Visitor or School Nurse. You can also obtain additional information from:
• NHS Direct by calling 0845 46 47 and asking them to send you a “MMR parent pack” (free of charge)
• The internet at www.mmrthefacts.nhs.uk
If you suspect your child has measles infection it is important you consult your GP. If your GP confirms that measles is the most likely cause of illness you must inform the school and your child should remain away from school for 5 days from the onset of the rash.
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter.
Yours sincerely
Julian Grenier
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