1. Newsletter April 2015 Contacts During sessions: - 01604 785123 Out of hours : - 07941 182487 Email: - info@bizzy-bears.com Newsletter www.bizzy-bears.com Summer Term This half term we will be engaging in rhyming activities. Rhyming promotes language development and phonics. Over the next few weeks we will be sending information home on how families can all get involved. Information regarding our themes and planned activities are displayed on the notice board in the corridor. Please also see our ‘Today we......’ board in the corridor for details of daily activities that have taken place. Children are welcome to bring in items relating to our themes. Three and four Year old Early Education Entitlement and EYPP If your child’s third birthday is before March 31 st 2015 they will be eligible for 15 hours/six sessions (depending on spaces) of free funding(not including lunch club) Parents/carers will need to complete a Parent/carer contract which will be issued week beginning 20 th April and will need to be completed by 23 rd April. You will need to provide your child’s birth certificate (if applying for the first time) and a current utility bill (no older than 3 months) displaying your postcode. If you are eligible to certain benefits your child may qualify for EYPP a supplement which is paid directly to Bizzy Bears to improve outcomes for all children. To find out if you are eligible please visit the on line eligibility checker at: www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/EYPP If you are found to be eligible you will be given a reference number which you will need to include on your Parent carer contract. Staffing We are very pleased to welcome Colleen back to Bizzy Bears after her recent illness and subsequent stay in hospital, she has made a good recovery and will be back with us from Monday 13 th April. We have also taken on a temporary member of staff, Suzanne Parnell due to numbers increasing and to cover any staff absence/courses. Suzanne is a qualified Nursery Nurse with over 20 years experience. She will be with us until July. She will be working on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons and providing staff cover. We would also like to congratulate Catherine on gaining her NVQ Level 3 Diploma in childcare. Catherine joined us in September 2013 after being a parent helper and now works part time as a Pre school Practitioner and provides staff cover.

2. Dates for your diary Monday 4 th May – Bank holiday Pre school closed Wednesday 13 th May 9.30am-Parents voice coffee morning Friday 22 nd May – Pre school closes for half term Monday 1 st June – New term starts Tuesday 9 th June – Summer trip- West Lodge Farm centre Tuesday 21 st July- Pre school leavers celebration and fun day all invited and last day of term. Policies We have reviewed our Child Protection, No smoking, Special Educational needs and Disabilities and Behaviour management policies this month. Our policies and procedures are available to parents and carers and are located in the changing rooms and on our website. Summer Trip Tuesday 9 th June 2015 This year our summer trip is to West Lodge Farm near Desborough, Kettering. We have visited this farm in the past and always enjoyed our visit. There is lots to do; animals to feed, cuddle corner, tractor rides, play park and den building! We would like to travel by coach to make the trip inclusive to all our families. Costs will be £9.00 per child, under 1’s £5.50 (cost of coach travel) adults £10.00. We have subsidised the cost of the trip using commision raised from sale of the kids klub DVD’S by £100. If any parent/carer would like to set up a payment plan for the trip, please let us know. We will have payment plans available from April 13 th. More information will follow w/b 20 th April. Parents Voice 13 th May Rachel and Laura will be holding a coffee Morning on Wednesday 13th May at 9.30am and welcome all parents and carers. We would like to hear your ideas and views on our proposed on line learning journals to record the children’s development, we will also be giving an update on our planned outdoor area and would welcome your ideas. We welcome parents/carers to contribute their ideas and views about all aspects of our provision. So please come along and join us. Two year old Early learning funding If you are a parent/carer of a 2 year old and receive certain benefits you could be entitled to 15 hours/six sessions of free early learning (not including lunch club) from April 2015 a maximum of 570 hours per year(depending on spaces). To find out if you are eligible please go to www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/2yearfunding. If you are eligible you will be given a reference number which you will need to give to us to apply for the funding. Parents/carers will need to complete a Parent/carer contract which will be issued week beginning 20 th April and will need to be completed by 23 rd April. To claim funding for this summer term April – July we will need to receive your reference number, a copy of your child’s birth certificate and a utility bill displaying your current postcode which is no older than 3 months by headcount day which is 23 rd April.www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/2yearfunding