Duffield Preschool
Newsletter September - October 2024
Term Dates:
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Start date: 9th September 2024 to 25th October 2024 Autumn Term 2: 4th Nov 2024 to 20th Dec 2024
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Spring Term 1: 6 January 2025
Preschool AGM – to be held in January 2025
Inset Days – 4th, 5th and 6th September
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Welcome back to everyone after the summer break and a warm welcome to our new children and their families.
New Parents:
What to bring: A change of clothes, nappies and wipes (if needed) in the blue book bag only. Favourite toy/comforter from home. Please label or name all clothing; coats, hats, scarves, wellington boots …..
Start and end of session: Staff will be ready to meet child/ren at the door at 9.00 and 12.30 pm and to send them out at 12.00 or 3.30pm.
Passwords: Please make sure that all members of the family know your chosen password.
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A snack and drink are provided during the morning and afternoon sessions and water is always available.
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Contact Number Duffield Preschool: 07955168892 – Please add our number as one of your contacts as we will always phone if children are upset or don’t settle.
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The planning sheet printed at the back of this newsletter gives you more details of the topic of the week as well as the number, shape and colour of the week including a few other details.
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Lunches: Please remember that we are a Nut Free preschool, no nuts please (including spreads like Nutella and peanut butter). Could grapes and small tomatoes please be cut in half as they are a choking hazard.
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Payment of fees: Just a reminder that fees are payable within one week of the receipt of the invoice we would be grateful if you can stick to this deadline as it creates a great deal of extra admin checking the bank account. Of course, if there is an issue at any point then please speak to one of the staff.​​
Names in Coats, gloves and Water bottles please, please, please: Lots of the children have lovely coats or more than one and we are battling to match up coats to children, as well as water bottles, please help!!! Thank you so much
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Funding changes – As some of you are aware from April 2024 parents of 2 year olds will be able to claim funding for 15 hours of child care each week. (Income dependant) We are pleased that the government have set a funding rate of £7.21 per hour. However, this will have an impact on those who will still be paying for their child’s sessions. Currently we charge £18.00 per session if we stayed in line with the funding rate we would need to increase fees to £21.63 per session. In order to stagger this increase our committee has decided that existing 2 year olds would are unfunded after April will be charged £19.50 moving to £21.63 in September.
The funding rate for 3 &4 year olds has also increased so from April we will now be charging £5.00 per additional hour instead of the current £4.80 per hour. If you have any questions with regards to funding, please speak to Clare.
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Jewellery: No jewellery except for religious or cultural reasons. Thank you
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SAFEGUARDING
Safeguarding is given the highest priority at Duffield Pre-School. There may be times when adults are concerned about children in the community. If so, then you can contact DCC's Child Protection Department on 01629 533190, the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000 or come directly and speak to Clare or Colleen as Designated Safeguarding Lead. If you have any safeguarding concerns about a child, please use the Preschool email address duffield.preschool@hotmail.co.uk Please do not ignore concerns; child protection is everyone's responsibility.
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Collection of Children: Could you please let us know if someone different is going/likely to be picking up your child. Could you please ensure that everybody around your child knows you PASSWORD.
Our phone number is 07955 16 88 92. Thank you.
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Payment of fees: Just a reminder that fees are payable within one week of the receipt of the invoice we would be grateful if you can stick to this deadline as it creates a great deal of extra admin checking the bank account. Of course, if there is an issue at any point then please speak to one of the staff.
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Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DuffieldPreSchool/
Website: https://www.duffieldpreschool.co.uk/
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If you have any queries or concerns please don’t hesitate to approach a staff member.
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From all of us at Duffield Preschool