January Newsletter

2013-01-09 21:53:12

Download the full document here.

Dear parents,

Welcome back, we hope you all had an enjoyable Christmas and New Year and would like to thank everyone for their gifts, they were very much appreciated.

We kindly ask that all fees are paid promptly on the first day of the week that your child attends, and remind you that you also need to sign the payment sheet on the day that payment is made. All snack monies should also be paid during the first week of term. Due to the high number of children in attendance and the need to meet CSSIW adult -child ratios, it is essential that all fees are kept up to date to enable playgroup to pay extra staffing costs. Fees MUST also be paid when your child is absent. We are very happy to inform you that a new member of staff Mrs Sally Morris who currently works in Ysgol Llanddulas breakfast club will be joining us this term for 3 mornings per week.

We have been selected to take part in the local HSPSS programme. A brief outline of the scheme is given below.

'Healthy and Sustainable Pre-School Scheme'

Conwy

Actively Promoting Health and Well-being within the Pre-School Setting

Introduction

What is the Healthy Pre-School Scheme?

The 'Healthy and Sustainable Pre-School Scheme' (HSPSS) was launched by Welsh Government in September, 2011 and encourages the development of health promoting pre-school settings in all 22 local authority areas in Wales. It aims to actively promote and protect all aspects of health: physical, emotional, mental and social as well as the well-being of the whole preschool setting community.

The scheme is an extension of the successful 'Welsh Network of Healthy School Schemes' and also has its origin in the 'Eco-Schools' initiative which encourages pupils to engage with environmental and sustainable development issues. In Conwy, all schools are actively involved in the Healthy Schools Scheme.

The Healthy Pre-School Scheme is currently being introduced into pre-school settings across Conwy County Borough. It is designed to recognise and build upon the good work that is already being done within pre-school settings in terms of promoting health and well-being. The scheme is made up of 7 health aspects, all of which need to be addressed in phases.

The HSPSS National Award Criteria is a document that sets out actions required to achieve sustainable improvements in health and well-being. The National Award Criteria focuses on 7 aspects of health all of which need to be covered throughout a setting's involvement in the scheme. The 7 aspects of health identified by the HSPSS National Award Criteria are:

1. Nutrition and Oral Health - settings will be able to provide evidence of a whole setting approach in the promotion of healthy eating and good oral health

2. Physical Activity / Active Play - Settings will support and promote the development and access of play & activity opportunities and experiences for the children

3. Mental and Emotional Health, Wellbeing and Relationships - settings will support and promote the Mental and Emotional Health of the whole setting, as well as developing the Wellbeing and Relationships within the setting

4. Environment - settings will encourage the whole setting to engage with environmental and sustainable development issues

5. Safety - settings will support and promote the development of safety

6. Hygiene - settings will support and promote the development of hygiene

7. Workplace Health and Wellbeing - Settings will demonstrate a commitment to the health and wellbeing of all staff

Each setting is required to work through the 7 health aspects in phases, with one health aspect being addressed in the first phase before addressing further health aspects in the second and subsequent phases.

We do hope that you will work with us to help us to achieve this award. Staff have been busy over the holiday period developing a Healthy Lunch-Box policy, which we have attached to this newsletter, please try whenever possible to adhere to the suggested guidelines. There is also an immunisation questionnaire attached that we kindly ask that you fill in and return to playgroup as soon as possible.

We will be trialling a new lunch time system this term, where all Nursery children who attend Playgroup for lunch, will be accompanied by 2 members of staff to the dining room in the main school to eat their packed lunch or if you prefer you may purchase a school meal for them. If you do decide that you wish to purchase a school meal then payments MUST be paid directly to the school every Monday morning. Payments should be made in a clearly labelled envelope and placed in the black letter box next to the school hall entrance door. Please inform playgroup staff if your child is having a school meal, as it will save us time when we are searching for lunchboxes !!! We feel that by integrating the children with the older children in the main school for their lunch will encourage independence and help to make the transition easier for them when they start full=time school.

We apologise that we cannot offer this facility to playgroup children, due to limited space in the dining hall, but feel that it will be beneficial to them to have quality time sat eating their lunch alongside staff in a quiet relaxed atmosphere. They too will have the opportunity to visit the main dining room when they begin in the Nursery class in September.

If anyone needs any further information on the HSPSS or the new lunchtime system please speak to any member of staff. We thank you for your co-operation.