The Sun has well and truly welcomed us back for the summer term! We are hoping to spend more time outside this term. Therefore could you ensure your child has a sunhat and sun cream? As applying sun cream is so time consuming please ensure your child comes to school with it already applied. We would also appreciate any spare clothes you may have to donate, such as t-shirts, skirts, trousers and socks as water play can be rather damp!

This term the children have been exploring Transport. So far we have looked at vehicles on the road, transport in the air such as hot air balloons, aeroplanes and helicopters. In creative space the children have really enjoyed the helicopter and plenty of role play has taken place, to spark their imaginations. In the next few weeks we shall be looking at transport on water, trains and cars & lorries. Show box will echo the theme; please see the white board for details.

The transition from Snack time to Snack bar went very smoothly. The children seemed to accept the change immediately and enjoy having the choice of when they wish to have their snack. They are still offered a choice of 2 snacks, a cup of water or cold milk (for the summer months)

Free flow was introduced recently which means that the children have the choice of both rooms throughout the session. They are encouraged to choose activities they wish to do, when they want to do them. They have access to a wide range of toys and activities. The session still offers Music and Song time, story time, circle games and small group activities – i.e. board games. As the weather is improving we shall have extra activities outdoors, sand and water trays, parachute games, painting, drawing and ring games.

Just outside pre-school Lesley has planted a herb garden for us which we are going to use as a sensory experience for the children. Also Lesley and Sarah have been busy planting up the troughs outside pre-school and adding baskets to the trellis.

We hope you enjoyed reading your child’s Record of Achievement folder over the break, if you have any queries or concerns then please speak to your child’s Key Worker. Thank you for all of the Self-registration photographs. If you would like Pre-school to provide a photograph then please ask and we will be happy to do so.

A Big Thank you to everyone who has been collecting Active kids’ vouchers from Sainsbury’s and are very pleased to have already collected over 600! This is fantastic and with a month to go we are aiming to collect 1000 vouchers to enable us to purchase some streamers, pom-poms, beanbags and hedgehog stones all to use outdoors.

On Friday July 13^th we are planning a pre-school fun day from 9.30am-12noon and would like to invite every pre-school child to attend so that they can enjoy the morning’s activities. These will include running races, obstacle races, egg and spoon races and a wheelathon, where any mode of transport can be used as long as it has wheels, such as bikes, scooters, tricycles and the pre-school equipment will also be available. We are aiming for the children to be sponsored per event they take part in, more information nearer the time.

Refreshments will be provided by pre-school and afterwards there will be a teddy bears picnic on the school field where the Leavers Presentation will take place for all our children who are off to Big School in September. All these children will receive a present from pre-school.

Diane, Steph, Tracy and Lesley have been very busy in the last few weeks and would like to thank everyone who baked cakes, sold raffle tickets and donated raffle prizes for our Easter fundraisers, we raised more than £240 over the 3 events, the cake stall, the raffle and the Easter fayre.

On Sunday April 29^th Pre-school ran a tea and coffee stall with children’s activities outside St Peter’s Church whilst the French Market was taking place. The weather was superb and this seemed to bring out the crowds. We had a very productive day, raising £650! Our biggest amount in a single day. We had a lot of support from the Ladies of the church, who gallantly washed up for us for 6 hours! The event was so successful we have been asked to repeat it at a later date and we will also be providing the teas at the Country Fayre on July 8^th.

Pre-school is now listed on everyclick.com a search engine that gives 50% of its revenue to charity. Using everyclick.com as your search engine does not cost you or us any money, but every time you use it you raise money for us. Please start raising money for us whenever you search the web. Just go to http://www.everyclick.com/uk/stockbridge-preschool/290267/0 you can then click on the links in the top right hand corner to either set it as your home page or add it too your favourites.

Fund-raising is a vital part of Pre-School and enables us to buy the treats that the Children enjoy and to update, renew and provide extra equipment. Do come in and see what your money and support has bought the children. The dressing up mirror and box are very well used and were purchased using money raised at Christmas.

The Next Pre-School Committee meeting is Thursday 17^th May, 8pm at Pre-school. Everyone is welcome.

Charlotte Grace has been pre-school treasurer for 4 years and sadly now needs to hand over as her Son goes to Big School. We need someone to work alongside Charlotte this term to learn the ropes. If you are interested please speak to Charlotte or Lesley. This could be a shared position, so please let us know if you are interested. We would like to Thank Charlotte for all her work over the last 4 years.

We would like to organise a special day out somewhere local, if anyone has any ideas, we would love to hear any suggestions.

Thursday 17^th May – Pre-School Committee meeting 8pm Pre-school.

Monday 28^th May – Friday 1^st June – Half term

Saturday 7^th July – Stockbridge Country Fayre

Friday 13^th July – Pre-School Fun Day

Friday 20^th July – End of Summer Term

Monday 3^rd September – Autumn Term Starts.

Monday 22^nd - 26^th October – Half term

Wednesday 12^th December – End of Autumn Term

Please could you sign the enclosed form and return to pre-school

I give permission for _____________________________________________________________ to have a plaster administered for a small cut.

Signed _____________________________________________________________ (Parent/Guardian)

May 2007