Issue 2 2013

We are able to spot miniscule changes in behaviour, for whatever reason. As we operate a key-worker system we spend quality time with our key groups and observe them in their play and learning. The fear is that we may miss vital information if staff ratios are cut which may result in serious implications for the child. We, as practitioners, do not want to compromise childrens outcomes, or indeed, put their safety at risk by taking on more children. In addition to this we can only provide a full range of opportunities for our children if we have the right amount of time to give the necessary love and care to them. We fear that the well-being, health, safety, and education of our youngest, and most vulnerable children will be under threat if we change the ratios as proposed. Dummies and Talking Babies like to suck, so dummies can help to soothe at bedtime or when your baby is tired and cross. But extended use of a dummy can create problems with your childs speech. It is advisable to try and wean your child away from dummies when they are around 12 months. You could maybe make a clean break by throwing the dummy away over a weekend, or at a time when you have support. Most babies and toddlers will fret for no more than 2-3 days. If your toddler is still using a dummy, always ask him to take it out before you talk to each other. Never dip the dummy in anything sweet as this can cause tooth decay. Did You Know ! Dummies prevent babies from babblingan important step in learning to talk, so only use them at set times, like bedtime. Always use the dummy as a last resort. Remember With my dummy I can hum. Without my dummy I can Smile, blow bubbles, pull faces, hum, sing, babble, chatter, and . Learn to speak CLEARLY ! * * * We would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to (and welcome) our new staff at Bronte Nursery. Danielle Braybrook has joined our Pre-school room as the new Room Leader; Alison Fry has joined Blue Room as a Practitioner and Sarah Chadwick has joined Blue Room as the new the new Room Leader.
Sarah Chadwick Danielle Braybrook

Welcome to our latest Newsletter. We hope you find it informative and helpful. Februarys festivals were enjoyed by all the children. Please feel free to browse over our display board in the hallway where you will find information about the festivals and events currently being covered in March. These include Comic Relief, St Davids Day, World Book Day, Easter, Mothers Day, and the Holi Festival.

Our New Festival & Events Board

Early Years Sector Fears Change In Staff-To-Child Ratios Early Years Professionals are braced for an imminent Government announcement on changes to the Child and staff ratios in Childcare settings. Many settings say they will keep the current ratios even if regulations are relaxed. With the Governments childcare commission expected to report in a matter of days, Practitioners believe Government will not allocate additional money towards cutting childcare costs, but will instead introduce a ratio change, enabling child carers to be paid more for looking after more children. Ofsteds National Director for Education, Sue Gregory, says that the work force should be trained to a higher degree and that pay should then be higher. This is all fine in terms of staff qualifications and higher salaries but what of the quality of care that the children would receive if the ratios change? In addition to this the salaries have to be funded from somewhere, so where will these funds come from? Childcare minister, Elizabeth Truss, expresses support for increasing ratios. In fact, Truss has proposed replicating childcare ratios used in the Netherlands, where child-minders can care for 5 children under the age of 5, or 3 babies under the age of 1, this compares to 3 and 1 in the UK. There is growing concern that if the government does go down this route it would not achieve the reduction in childcare costs that the commission set out to address since the majority of practitioners would simply choose not to change their staff-to-child ratios. From the practitioners point of view there are many issues relating to the proposed ratio changes. For example, from a safeguarding and child protection perspective, we deem the childrens well-being as paramount. Daily observations reveal to us how a child is developing, even how a child is feeling.

Sadly, we are saying goodbye to Rachel Parker who is leaving Pre-school Room to further her career. We wish her all the very best of luck in her new job.

Bronte Holiday Club will be up and running each weekday from Tuesday April 2nd through to Friday the 19th April. If you would like to book a place for any of your children please collect a booking form from the nursery office. This month, we decided to award Employee of the Month to two members of staff, Ana Zekouki and Nicola Galea, who have shown a considerable amount of commitment to the Nursery and flexibility within their roles as Practitioners.

They have participated in cooking and looked at various recipes. The children then made their own sandwiches to eat at tea-time and chose carefully what they wanted to put in as fillings. They have joined in with music and movement, practising mini exercises and dancing the conga as they did. They also experienced the song bags of The Animal Boogie and Puff the Magic Dragon. Toddlers The children in Toddler Room celebrated Valentines Day and Chinese New Year by making some very colourful cards and th lanterns. On the 7 of March we celebrated World Book Day and the children in Toddlers and throughout the nursery were invited to all dress up as their favourite book character.

Ana Zekouki

Nicola Galea

As you are already aware, the staff work very closely with your children to ensure their every need is met on a daily basis. The time has come to discuss and share with you your childrens progress in the form of a parent/child consultation. Your childs Unique Story will enlighten you on their progress and achievements over the past 3 months. * * * th The Nursery will be closed on Friday 29 March and st Monday 1 April due to the Easter holiday. Birthdays Happy Birthday wishes from February are sent to: Jovan 11th, Bruno 15th, Zoe 14th, Alessia 14th, Alyssa 15th, Franklin 18th, Aditya 14th, Kanisha 16th, Dara 17th, Oliver,20th, Georgina 22nd, Maximillion 26th, Sofia 27th and in March we send them to Nieve 1st, Josie 2nd, Alexander 3rd, Leon 6th, th th th th th Sahib 10 , Oskar 16 , Maya 18 , Reece 20 , Samuel 26 , th Joshveer 30 . st February staff birthdays included Sophie and Shelly on the 1 th and 4 respectively. Hellos and Goodbyes We would like to say a very warm welcome to the following children and their parents:Armaan, Harrison and Isabelle, who have joined Blue Room; Zyanne, James and Ezekiel, who have recently joined Purple Room; Jasveer and Aistis who have joined Yellow Room and Mohina and Sophie who have joined the Green Room. Pre-Schoolers News The Children in Pre-school have been extremely busy celebrating the many colourful festivals we are lucky enough to learn about at Bronte Nursery. This included making valentine cards, celebrating Chinese New Year and making Mothers Day cards using a variety of textures, fabrics and paint to create their images. Much excitement was had in the Ball Pool Room whilst outings included a visit to the library and a walk to Woodlands Park to have a

Toddlers Dancing

Toddler Room children now have a self-registration board which helps to promote both identity and independence. This is very important to the unique child. In addition to all the above, the children have been experiencing Indian music and dance, and creating a Sea Life display. Measurement has been a mini topic covered in Toddler Room this month, along with the concept of big and small.
Sticking for sea life theme

Blue Room The children in Blue Room made lovely Valentine cards and used marbling ink to create an Easter display full of bunnies and Easter eggs. The children went in to town during their walks and visited the shops. The new topic in Blue Room is Treasure Baskets. Please feel free to view the planning board in the room to find out more about what the children will be doing. Treasure Baskets contain a wide variety of items made from different natural materials for children to touch. Messy play included use of shaving foam, pasta and rice, and some painting. The children also made delicious chocolate brownies and were introduced to new action rhymes and songs through group activities. Purple Room The children in Purple Room celebrated St st Davids Day on the 1 of March by planting some daffodils in little pots to take home for their mummies. They also created a beautiful Spring display with bunnies, flowers, chicks - and a Painting plant pots in Purple Room Maypole. The children enjoyed making cornflake cakes and mothers day cards, as well as playing with pasta, gloop, paint and shaving foam. PLEASE REMEMBER TO LOOK AT OUR NOTICE BOARDS FOR LATEST NEWS.

Chinese New Year

picnic! The children were also pro-active in creating a wonderful space to play - by painting items of their furniture to brighten up their room!