News - Summer 2010
Hopefully all
our parents and carers are aware of the improvements which are on
going around the whole of the Nursery building. New windows and
doors have recently fitted and vast changes and improvements have
been made to the adjoining building which previously was occupied
by Janet and Ken. The house has been an on going project for most
of this year and is almost ready for our team of staff and children
to use. The baby and crèche age groups will be using the
house as it will act as an extension to the lower age range of our
Nursery.
Parents may
remember entering a competition in May/June this year. This was
to help us find and establish a name for our new building. Thank
you to all our families for taking part. After much consideration,
Janet decided to call our new project WILLOW HOUSE! This has a link
to our original name of Pine Lodge.
We will be inviting all parents, carers and families to share an
open day for Willow House in the very near future, a date will be
advised shortly. We are excited to share our new unit with everyone!
***STOP PRESS***
Wednesday 4th August we welcomed our Inspector from Ofsted to conduct
her variation inspection, and after 1.5hrs of
looking, watching, listening and viewing all of our setting, she
made the judgement of "one of the loveliest settings she has
seen" and gave a full approval to all requests.
She felt that we offered a very wide variety of services, resources,
and though our garden was superb. She did comment that what we have
done in Willow House was extremely homely, beautifully decorated,
and a pleasure to be in, and was confident that all the babies,
children, and staff will thoroughly enjoy being in there. After
hearing all my plans, and new services over coming weeks, she said
Ofsted would have to invent a fourth category for us" Outstandingly
Outstanding !" Hooray !!!
We have further
equipment and resources yet to arrive for this unit, but it is operational,
with ongoing new fitments arriving by the week. Our open days for
Willow House will be on two afternoons/early evenings of the 23rd
and 26th August, when we will be opening the whole nursery and Allstars
at the same time for all visitors and prospective families to see
the setting from 0-12 years.
Maternity
Leave
Parents and carers will be aware that we currently have staff taking
or about to begin maternity leave.
We are sure you will join us in congratulating; Helen our Allstars
Inclusion Co- coordinator gave birth to twins, a baby girl and boy,
Jenny Lowe our Supervisor from Nursery gave birth to a baby boy
and Helen our Supervisor from the Baby room gave birth to a little
girl. All mum's and babies are healthy and well.
At the beginning of August, Jennifer, our early years professional
from pre-school and Emma williams, our personal assistant will begin
their maternity leave. At October half term, Emma Hughes, our morning
supervisor from all stars, begins her maternity leave. We will no
doubt be informed of developments. We wish all our staff and babies
well from the future.
Staffing
As we progress towards our September term and the children
begin to visit their new rooms ready for moving on, Pine Lodge has
been recruiting staff to cover maternity leave and new staff to
support additional children enrolled.. We would like to introduce
parents to and welcome the new members of our team ; Nicola Marsh,
is currently working in our
Baby room as Supervisor as a level 5 practitioner, supporting Sam
and others whilst Helen is on maternity leave.
Gemma Simpkins, joined our team in May and has been working in Creche,
as level 3 practitioner. Kim Vyse, recently started with us in the
Pre-school
room to support and lead whilst Jennifer is on maternity leave.
Kim is a senior practitioner working at level 5/6 and will remain
with us after Jennifers return.
Nicola Williams, who will be joining our team in August, will be
based in Creche as a level 3 practitioner. Tara White and Loren
Pass have joined our Allstars teams supporting at the Haslington
and Wheelock before and After School Clubs. From September our teams
will consist of the following key worker members of staff;
Baby room; Supervisors, Samantha Manson and Nicola Marsh
with Kayleigh Cork supporting.
Creche; Anwen Davies, Nicola Williams, Kayleigh Cork ,
and Supervisor Michelle Price
Nursery 2-3's; Gemma Simpkins, KerryAnne Rushton, Kerry
Gorley and Supervisor Emma Simpson
3+; Emma Buckley and Supervising Claire Broomhall
Pre-school; Leading the team is Kim Vyse and Supervising
and supporting both rooms and staff is Sarah Lawton.
Our
All-Stars Clubs
Our Allstars Before & After School / Holiday Clubs
at Mablins Lane School and Pine Lodge have been busy throughout
the Summer holidays. Trips and Activities have been planned and
children are enjoying joining us whilst school are closed for Summer.
Places can still be booked for the remainder of the holidays and
any future bookings can be
made by contacting the Clubs themselves or the office. As parents
will be aware Karla Brown our afternoon Supervisor at Allstars Haslington
left our company in June this year and Sheila Alban retired from
our company. We will sadly miss Karla and Sheila and wish them well
for the future.
Our Allstars teams for the new school term at Haslington, Mablins
Lane and Wheelock will consist of;
Emma Sheridan Supervising before and after school at Haslington
with Antony Kelly training as Assistant Supervisor both guided by
Ann Falconer. Debbie Taylor Wilkin Supervising at Mablins with Emma
Cliff assisting before and after school. Carol Allen based at Wheelock
with Tara and Loren, with Clare Broomhall, Jenny Betley, Leanne
Burkhill, Rebecca Drury, Ana Viera, Kayleigh Cork and Kim Walker
assisting Haslington and Mablins Lane clubs.
We still have availability at our Allstars Clubs during the summer
holidays and term time if any parents are looking for sessions.
Children are welcome to come and join our activities and spend time
with friends and staff for full day sessions or half days.
Kitchen
Information
Parents
may be aware that Annette who worked in our kitchen left us at the
end of the school term in July. Annette was keen to spend the holidays
with her son. We have two new Chefs joining us in our kitchen we
hope you will join us in welcoming Julie Evans and Emma Mitchell.
Both Chefs will be reviewing and changing our menu's over
the coming weeks and beginning to focus on the opening of Willow
House .They will be looking at how the routine will change for preparing
and providing meals to the Nursery building and the Baby Unit.
On the subject of meals, we would like to ask for parents views
and opinions on the use of beef on our Menu's. In the past beef
has not been used in any dishes or meals for many years, however
we are considering options cooking with beef and would be grateful
for parents input on this topic. I feel that perhaps now would be
a good time to reintroduce beef to our Menu, but will be led by
your thoughts and comments.
Swimming lessons
Parents may
or may not be aware that the swimming pool which we currently use
at the MMU in Alsager is due to close at the end of the month, with
a great deal of upheaval for many children and families. There is
no alternative for any of the users of this pool at the present
time, and I am continuing to research all the alternative local
pools to be able to continue with our regular weekly sessions. I
will advise parents as soon as I am able to about this, but presently
we may
have to be prepared to halt swimming sessions until further notice.
Our
wild garden and mini pond
We have continued to sow seeds in the wild garden,
which was very successful earlier in the year. I hope the next winter
does not impede the progress. Our pond is also very healthy with
new water creatures and plants to enjoy by all the children.
Impact Surfacing
Thank you to all parents who offered their thoughts
on the impact surfacing. We have feedback on that research, which
was to keep it. We have also had the environmental report which
states that the matting is fit for purpose and in no way harmful.
