Termly Newsletter

BANKFIELD PRE-SCHOOL
1 Duchy Road
Harrogate
North Yorkshire
HG1 2EY

Head of Pre-School: Mrs A. Collings                                       Tel: (01423) 537030

September 2009

AUTUMN TERM NEWSLETTER 2009

Dear Parents

My staff and I would like to offer a very warm welcome to all families new and returning. We trust you have enjoyed a good summer break and are looking forward to the new term ahead. We have recharged our batteries and are ready to begin a busy and exciting term.

We have many new children, some of whom we know from older siblings and some new to Bankfield. We hope you soon feel part of Bankfield life and we look forward to meeting new children and families. The first few weeks can sometimes prove unsettling for some little people as they spend time away from mummy. However, children do always settle and, with lots of TLC and cuddles from my wonderful staff, we soon see little characters emerging. Children are curious by nature and have a natural yearning to explore and discover their new environment so they quickly become distracted and tears are forgotten.

This is always a busy term with lots of fun activities planned for the coming months.
This term also sees the start of our new Before School and After School clubs which will take place in the next door building. The new Headmistress of Harrogate Ladies’ College, Mrs Rhiannon Wilkinson, will be living with her family in another College property on York Road. The adjacent building will now be part of Bankfield’s expansion plans.

In January 2010 we hope to open more minors sessions to offer further flexibility to parents. This will ensure a choice of sessions each day. Major sessions will be more flexible as we will be able to accommodate three year olds each session and over lunchtime if required. I must stress at this point that there will be no more children in each session, in fact most probably less so children will still receive the high quality care and education from the Bankfield team.

The sessions format will remain exactly the same from 9 am - 12 pm and 1 - 4 pm; before and after school is offered as an extra arrangement as is lunch club. The extra space will enable us to enlarge the kitchen and bathroom facilities to provide outstanding facilities shared by both buildings.

For those parents who do not wish to take up any of the extended hours options Bankfield will remain the same. As for parking which seems to be the main objection from the local residents, the flexible drop-off and pick-up times will actually alleviate some of the busiest times outside Bankfield as there will be less cars around at 9.00 am and 12 noon.

I will of course keep you posted regarding all these future developments. We look forward to showing off our new premises as we have great plans for the new rooms.

This term we are going to allocate key workers to minors only. Major children will continue to build their learning journey but with more emphasis on what they are learning and how they need to be moving forward. There is a big push from the powers that be to ensure all children have opportunities to move forward in all areas of learning. Bankfield has always done this; it is not new to us but the ways in which we must document, record and evidence it needs to impress Ofsted and Independent Inspectors. Therefore we will not be making the big observations of children at play, but making more evaluations on their learning and smaller observations on their play, both of which will enable us to plot their development and identify their next steps and interests. We are always looking for ways to improve and at the same time comply with all the government standards for Early Years. At Bankfield we always provide more that which is expected as well as keeping our own principles and vision for the very young for whom we care. This is why we received the Highly Effective Setting Award two years running. We aim to keep improving whilst ensuring the traditional values that Bankfield holds so important.

During the summer break Miss Bourke became Mrs Cryer at a beautiful ceremony at Bishop Thornton C of E Church. She looked radiant and a happy day was enjoyed by all. She would like to say a huge thank you to all those families who contributed to her wedding present.

I am delighted to announce the safe arrival of Ava-Rose. Miss Roberts gave birth to a 6lb 6oz baby girl on 29th August. Both mum and baby are doing well. We look forward to seeing them both at Bankfield very soon.

We look forward to an exciting autumn term with lots to celebrate and new experiences.

With very kind regards

Yours sincerely

(Mrs) A Collings
Head of Pre-School