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Taw Pre-school Spring Term 2024

15.03.24

This week our focus topic has been ‘Growing’. We have read books such as, ‘We found a seed’ and ‘Ben plants a butterfly garden’.

Activities this week at pre-school:

  • We have talked about how we grow a flower. We sequenced different pictures of the process of growing a flower eg. digging the compost, planting the seed, watering it.
  • We read ‘We found a seed’ at circle time. The children then planted their own sunflower seed to take home.
  • The children labelled the different parts of a flower. For example, the roots, stem etc. We talked about how the flower grows and then watched sped up videos of different plants and flowers growing.
  • Messy play – The children played with flower petals in the mud kitchen area, mixing them with different natural materials.
  • We experimented with pastels when making a daffodil. The children had real daffodils on the table to look at and talk about. Each child made their own daffodil using a paper plate, green, yellow and orange pastels, tissue paper and glue.
  • Painting with flowers – the children painted lovely pictures using small flowers instead of a paint brush.
  • The children have been playing in our ‘florist’ role play area. This includes a till, pretend flowers, pots, seeds, watering can and trowels. The children pretended to grow and sell flowers to their friends.
  • Flower playdough – They have been playing with green playdough, pots, green lollypops sticks, pictures of flowers, flower biscuit cutters.

 

Next week the topic will be EASTER! Please bring in any books about Easter

Important information

  • Please send in any photos of the children enjoying Easter activities from previous years to share at circle time
  • Honey Farm Trip -Tuesday 26th April – please see details below
  • Send in any WOW moments for the children or photos of experiences from their half term to: pre-school@bishopstawton-primary.org.

Dear Parents/Carers,

On Tuesday 26th March we are planning to take the children in Taw and Codden class on a trip to The Quince Honey Farm. During the visit the children will learn about bees, observe honey being harvested, make a candle, explore the gardens and have a play in the Hive Play Area. The PTFA have kindly offered to subsidise the cost of the trip, so the cost per child will be £10.50, which includes coach travel and entrance to the Honey Farm. Please pay via Eduspot/SchoolMoney.

If your child does not usually attend Pre-School on this day they are welcome to join us but in order to cover staff/child ratios your child must be accompanied with a paying adult. Unfortunately, we do not have capacity on the coach to take additional children/parents so we would ask that you make your own way to The Honey Farm and meet us there. The entrance cost would be £9.50 per child Payable via Eduspot/SchoolMoney. Please speak to a member of EYFS staff if you have any questions regarding this.

We will be departing and returning within usual school hours. Reception children must wear their school T-shirt and jumper, everyone needs to wear warm trousers, footwear that may get muddy (we recommend wellies!), a waterproof coat. We will be eating lunch at The Honey Farm, if you require a school packed lunch there is an option of cheese or ham roll which you are able to book on Eduspot/SchoolMoney, otherwise children may bring their own packed lunch. We request that there are no nuts, sweets or fizzy drinks. All children will need to bring a drink in a refillable drinks bottle. School will provide a snack. If you are meeting us there, please could you bring your child a packed lunch, we ask that you do not book your child a school packed lunch via Eduspot if your child is not attending school that day. If your child wears nappies or is toilet training please ensure that you provide enough nappies/changes of clothes, wipes for the day. Please could your child bring a small named backpack in which to carry their lunch, drink, nappies etc.

To summarise: Your child will need…

• Waterproof coat

• Warm clothes (Reception children – school jumper, own bottoms)

• Shoes that can get muddy (wellies)

• Packed lunch – Either from home or a school lunch booked via Eduspot

• Refillable water bottle

• Nappies, wipes/changes of clothes if required In order for the trip to take place we would be very grateful of parent helpers.

If you do not have a relevant DBS Certificate please speak to a member of EYFS staff who will be able to help you with this. If you do have any issues booking your childs ticket/lunch through Eduspot/SchoolMoney, please do let us know, you can email families@bishopstawton-primary.org and we will be happy to help. Warm Regards The EYFS Team

 

08.03.24

This week our focus topic has been ‘Growing’. We have read books such as, ‘We found a seed’ and ‘Bens plants a butterfly garden’.

Activities this week at pre-school:

  • We have been talking about how we grow flowers. The children have listened to lots of books about planting seeds and what they need to help them grow.
  • The children have been playing in our ‘florist’ role play area. This includes a till, pretend flowers, pots, seeds, watering can and trowels. The children pretended to grow and sell flowers to their friends.
  • Flower playdough – They have been playing with green playdough, pots, green lollypops sticks, pictures of flowers, flower biscuit cutters.
  • The children have been making mother’s day cards and cupcakes this week.
  • The children created a flower picture using cupcake cases, green lollypop sticks, green pipe cleaners, cut out pieces of flowers etc.
  • We celebrated world book day – The children loved dressing up as their favourite book character! They had a cookie and milk in the afternoon and we read the stories the children brought in.
  • Messy tray – The children acted out planting and growing a flower by playing with compost, pots, rakes, trowels, seeds etc.

 

Next week the topic will continue to be Spring and Growing. Please bring in any books about plants, flowers, growing etc.

Important information

  • Every Tuesday the children will be taking part in outdoor learning so please can you send you child in with warm clothes that you don’t mind them getting messy in. 
  • Friday 15th March - Comic Relief Day.
     
    Children can dress in CRAZY clothes - any colour you like, mismatched, just CRAZY!
    There will also be a cake sale.  We would appreciate donations of cakes on Friday morning.
    There will be a table set up in the hall for cake donations.
    Please make a donation of at least £1.50 to the justgiving page below, please do not bring cash into school.  This donation will include your dress up and a cake at breaktime.
    Donations can be made via the justgiving page linked below:
  • Honey Farm Trip -Tuesday 26th April – please see details below
  • Send in any WOW moments for the children or photos of experiences from their half term to: pre-school@bishopstawton-primary.org.

 

Dear Parents/Carers,

On Tuesday 26th March we are planning to take the children in Taw and Codden class on a trip to The Quince Honey Farm. During the visit the children will learn about bees, observe honey being harvested, make a candle, explore the gardens and have a play in the Hive Play Area. The PTFA have kindly offered to subsidise the cost of the trip, so the cost per child will be £10.50, which includes coach travel and entrance to the Honey Farm. Please pay via Eduspot/SchoolMoney.

If your child does not usually attend Pre-School on this day they are welcome to join us but in order to cover staff/child ratios your child must be accompanied with a paying adult. Unfortunately, we do not have capacity on the coach to take additional children/parents so we would ask that you make your own way to The Honey Farm and meet us there. The entrance cost would be £9.50 per child Payable via Eduspot/SchoolMoney. Please speak to a member of EYFS staff if you have any questions regarding this.

We will be departing and returning within usual school hours. Reception children must wear their school T-shirt and jumper, everyone needs to wear warm trousers, footwear that may get muddy (we recommend wellies!), a waterproof coat. We will be eating lunch at The Honey Farm, if you require a school packed lunch there is an option of cheese or ham roll which you are able to book on Eduspot/SchoolMoney, otherwise children may bring their own packed lunch. We request that there are no nuts, sweets or fizzy drinks. All children will need to bring a drink in a refillable drinks bottle. School will provide a snack. If you are meeting us there, please could you bring your child a packed lunch, we ask that you do not book your child a school packed lunch via Eduspot if your child is not attending school that day. If your child wears nappies or is toilet training please ensure that you provide enough nappies/changes of clothes, wipes for the day. Please could your child bring a small named backpack in which to carry their lunch, drink, nappies etc.

To summarise: Your child will need…

• Waterproof coat

• Warm clothes (Reception children – school jumper, own bottoms)

• Shoes that can get muddy (wellies)

• Packed lunch – Either from home or a school lunch booked via Eduspot

• Refillable water bottle

• Nappies, wipes/changes of clothes if required In order for the trip to take place we would be very grateful of parent helpers.

If you do not have a relevant DBS Certificate please speak to a member of EYFS staff who will be able to help you with this. If you do have any issues booking your childs ticket/lunch through Eduspot/SchoolMoney, please do let us know, you can email families@bishopstawton-primary.org and we will be happy to help. Warm Regards The EYFS Team. 

01.03.24

This week our focus topic has been ‘Chinese New Year!’. We have read books such as, ‘Busy Chinese New Year, The Great Race, Maisy’s first Chinese New Year and Peppa’s Chinese New Year’.

Activities this week at pre-school:

  • Messy mark making tray – The children played with red rice, bowls, spoons, paintbrushes etc.
  • Sensory tray – The children played with spaghetti for pretend noodles. They moved it between different red bowls and cups.
  • We talked about Mother’s day and the children made a card to take home. The children decorated them using different patterned cupcake cases to make a flower.
  • Watched some videos of Chinese New Year parades and celebrations. The children had a go at doing their own Lion Dance.
  • Chinese food tasting – The children tried foods such as rice, noodles, prawn crackers and fortune cookies.
  • Chinese restaurant role play area – The children played with pretend noodles, dumplings, spring rolls etc. They had Chinese patterned bowls, chopsticks etc.
  • We talked about it being the ‘Year of the Dragon’. The children decorated a dragon using a paper plate, pretend eyes, red feathers, red pipe cleaners, red tissue paper etc.
  • Some of the children cut out and decorated a Chinese lantern to take home.
  • Playdough table – The children played with red playdough with pretend gold coins. We talked about how red symbolises luck within Chinese New Year celebrations and people gift each other coins in envelopes.
  • The children fished out gold coins in the water tray using nets.
  • In the sand tray the children could act out and retell ‘The Great Race story’ by using the different animals in the tray.

Next week the topic will be Spring and Growing. Please bring in any books about plants, flowers, growing etc.

 

Important information

  • World Book Day – On Thursday the 7th March we are celebrating world book day.

To celebrate world book day, we are:

  • The children are invited to wear a costume or outfit based on their favourite book character.
  • Change a wooden spoon into a book character.
  • Children to bring in their favourite book to share with their friends.

 

Children who don’t attend on a Thursday are welcome to dress up all week and bring in their favourite book. The school council would also like you to donate any good quality books (for children), in preparation for a book sale they will be holding before the end of term - watch this space for a date!  The proceeds of this will go towards buying new up-to-date books for classroom bookcases.  Please bring into school anytime next week.

 

  • Every Tuesday the children will be taking part in outdoor learning so please can you send you child in with warm clothes that you don’t mind them getting messy in. 
  • Honey Farm Trip -Tuesday 26th April – please see details below
  • Stay and Play Tuesday 5th March 9am – 10am.
  • Send in any WOW moments for the children or photos of experiences from their half term to: pre-school@bishopstawton-primary.org.

 

Dear Parents/Carers,

On Tuesday 26th March we are planning to take the children in Taw and Codden class on a trip to The Quince Honey Farm. During the visit the children will learn about bees, observe honey being harvested, make a candle, explore the gardens and have a play in the Hive Play Area. The PTFA have kindly offered to subsidise the cost of the trip, so the cost per child will be £10.50, which includes coach travel and entrance to the Honey Farm. Please pay via Eduspot/SchoolMoney.

If your child does not usually attend Pre-School on this day they are welcome to join us but in order to cover staff/child ratios your child must be accompanied with a paying adult. Unfortunately, we do not have capacity on the coach to take additional children/parents so we would ask that you make your own way to The Honey Farm and meet us there. The entrance cost would be £9.50 per child Payable via Eduspot/SchoolMoney. Please speak to a member of EYFS staff if you have any questions regarding this.

We will be departing and returning within usual school hours. Reception children must wear their school T-shirt and jumper, everyone needs to wear warm trousers, footwear that may get muddy (we recommend wellies!), a waterproof coat. We will be eating lunch at The Honey Farm, if you require a school packed lunch there is an option of cheese or ham roll which you are able to book on Eduspot/SchoolMoney, otherwise children may bring their own packed lunch. We request that there are no nuts, sweets or fizzy drinks. All children will need to bring a drink in a refillable drinks bottle. School will provide a snack. If you are meeting us there, please could you bring your child a packed lunch, we ask that you do not book your child a school packed lunch via Eduspot if your child is not attending school that day. If your child wears nappies or is toilet training please ensure that you provide enough nappies/changes of clothes, wipes for the day. Please could your child bring a small named backpack in which to carry their lunch, drink, nappies etc.

To summarise: Your child will need…

• Waterproof coat

• Warm clothes (Reception children – school jumper, own bottoms)

• Shoes that can get muddy (wellies)

• Packed lunch – Either from home or a school lunch booked via Eduspot

• Refillable water bottle

• Nappies, wipes/changes of clothes if required In order for the trip to take place we would be very grateful of parent helpers.

If you do not have a relevant DBS Certificate please speak to a member of EYFS staff who will be able to help you with this. If you do have any issues booking your childs ticket/lunch through Eduspot/SchoolMoney, please do let us know, you can email families@bishopstawton-primary.org and we will be happy to help. Warm Regards The EYFS Team

 

23.02.24

This week our focus topic has been ‘Chinese New Year!’. We have read books such as, ‘Busy Chinese New Year, The Great Race, Maisy’s first Chinese New Year and Peppa’s Chinese New Year’.

Activities this week at pre-school:

  • Chinese food tasting – The children tried foods such as rice, noodles, prawn crackers and fortune cookies.
  • Chinese restaurant role play area – The children played with pretend noodles, dumplings, spring rolls etc. They had Chinese patterned bowls, chopsticks etc.
  • We talked about it being the ‘Year of the Dragon’. The children decorated dragon puppets using patterned card, tissue paper etc.
  • Some of the children cut out and decorated a Chinese lantern to take home.
  • Playdough table – The children played with red playdough with pretend gold coins. We talked about how red symbolises luck within Chinese New Year celebrations and people gift each other coins in envelopes.
  • The children fished out gold coins in the water tray using nets.
  • In the sand tray the children could act out and retell ‘The Great Race story’ by using the different animals in the tray.
  • We acted out the story of ‘The Great Race’ and the children focused on counting from 1-10 using the animals from the story. Each child had an animal and they lined up in order from 1st to 12th.

Important information

  • Every Tuesday the children will be taking part in outdoor learning so please can you send you child in with warm clothes that you don’t mind them getting messy in.
  • Honeyfarm Trip - Tuesday 26th April - please see information below 
  • Stay and Play Tuesday 5th March 9am – 10am.
  • Send in any WOW moments for the children or photos of experiences from their half term to: pre-school@bishopstawton-primary.org.
 
Dear Parents/Carers,
 
On Tuesday 26th March we are planning to take the children in Taw and Codden class on a trip to The Quince Honey Farm. During the visit the children will learn about bees, observe honey being harvested, make a candle, explore the gardens and have a play in the Hive Play Area. The PTFA have kindly offered to subsidise the cost of the trip, so the cost per child will be £10.50, which includes coach travel and entrance to the Honey Farm. Please pay via Eduspot/SchoolMoney.
 
If your child does not usually attend Pre-School on this day they are welcome to join us but in order to cover staff/child ratios your child must be accompanied with a paying adult. Unfortunately, we do not have capacity on the coach to take additional children/parents so we would ask that you make your own way to The Honey Farm and meet us there. The entrance cost would be £9.50 per child Payable via Eduspot/SchoolMoney. Please speak to a member of EYFS staff if you have any questions regarding this.
 
We will be departing and returning within usual school hours. Reception children must wear their school T-shirt and jumper, everyone needs to wear warm trousers, footwear that may get muddy (we recommend wellies!), a waterproof coat. We will be eating lunch at The Honey Farm, if you require a school packed lunch there is an option of cheese or ham roll which you are able to book on Eduspot/SchoolMoney, otherwise children may bring their own packed lunch. We request that there are no nuts, sweets or fizzy drinks. All children will need to bring a drink in a refillable drinks bottle. School will provide a snack. If you are meeting us there, please could you bring your child a packed lunch, we ask that you do not book your child a school packed lunch via Eduspot if your child is not attending school that day. If your child wears nappies or is toilet training please ensure that you provide enough nappies/changes of clothes, wipes for the day. Please could your child bring a small named backpack in which to carry their lunch, drink, nappies etc. To summarise: Your child will need…
• Waterproof coat
• Warm clothes (Reception children – school jumper, own bottoms)
• Shoes that can get muddy (wellies)
• Packed lunch – Either from home or a school lunch booked via Eduspot
• Refillable water bottle
• Nappies, wipes/changes of clothes if required In order for the trip to take place we would be very grateful of parent helpers. If you do not have a relevant DBS Certificate please speak to a member of EYFS staff who will be able to help you with this. If you do have any issues booking your childs ticket/lunch through Eduspot/SchoolMoney, please do let us know, you can email families@bishopstawton-primary.org and we will be happy to help.
 
Warm Regards The EYFS Team
 

09.02.24

This week we have covered lots of different topics!  

Activities this week at pre-school:

  • We read the story of ‘The Three Billy Goats Gruff’. The children made a story map. They cut out the different characters, bridge and river from the story. We talked about prepositions e.g. the troll lives underneath the bridge.
  • Pancake Day – We read Mr wolf’s pancakes during circle time on Thursday. The children played with a pancake day themed sensory messy tray. They played with ‘pancake playdough’, milk bottles, bags of flour, cornflour, wooden spoons and rolling pins. The children squeezed some lemons to make their own lemon juice. We then had pancakes for snack where the children could cover them in the lemon juice and sugar.
  • Valentine’s Day – We have been talking about valentine’s day and doing something kind for the people we love. The children played with red playdough, heart shaped cookie cutters and cupcake moulds. Each of the children made and decorated a valentine’s day card for someone they love. They decorated a heart using red and pink tissue paper, heart themed craft paper, sequins etc.
  • Maths activity – The children lined up with pretend pancakes labelled with numbers 1-10. We sang ’10 crispy pancakes’ and the children tried to recognise the numerals and count back from 10.

Important information

  • We are off for Half term from the 12th -18th February. We hope everyone has a lovely half term.
  • Every Tuesday the children will be taking part in outdoor learning so please can you send you child in with warm clothes that you don’t mind them getting messy in. 
  • After half term our focus topic will be ‘Chinese New Year’. Please bring in any books about this topic you have.
  • Send in any WOW moments for the children or photos of experiences from their half term to: pre-school@bishopstawton-primary.org.

02.02.24

This week our topic has been Traditional Tales. We have been reading different versions of the story ‘The three billy goats gruff’.

Activities this week at pre-school:

  • We read the story and acted it out during circle time.
  • The children played with our bridge building role play area. They made a bridge for the three billy goats using foam bricks, wooden planks, pretend screws etc. They then used a large piece of blue material for the water and the fake grass cut out for the meadow.
  • The children made boats for the goats as an alternative way for them to cross the river. We used cardboard, plastic etc. The children then tested their boats in the water tray.
  • We have been practising using prepositional language when telling the story. For example – under, on top, beside etc.
  • In the mud kitchen area, the children played with green healthy grass from the story, along with salad leaves.
  • Sand pit – different words from the story, small wooden blocks and small bridges, goats etc.
  • Water tray – blue water, wooden plank along the top for a bridge and boats to transport the goats.
  • The children planted some grass seeds and put them in different locations around the pre-school. We will watch and see which area was the best for growing. We talked about the grass from the story.

Important information

  • Every Tuesday the children will be taking part in outdoor learning so please can you send you child in with warm clothes that you don’t mind them getting messy in. 
  • Next week our focus story will be ‘The three billy goats gruff’. Please bring in any versions of the three billy goats gruff you might have.
  • Send in any WOW moments for the children or photos of experiences to: pre-school@bishopstawton-primary.org. We will also be sending paper copy of wow moments home. 

26.01.24

This week our topic has been Traditional Tales. We have been reading different versions of the story ‘The three little pigs’.

Activities this week at pre-school:

  • We read and acted out the original story of ‘The three little pigs’.
  • Making ‘The big bad wolf’ – The children cut out the face of the big bad wolf. They then decorated it using brown crayons, pens, tissue paper, card, eyes and teeth.
  • Decorating a large brick house using red paint and rectangle shaped sponges. They also added real straw and sticks.
  • Sensory/messy tray: The children played with cornflour mixed together with cocoa powder to make it brown. We added the three pigs from the story and some grass.
  • Maths activity: The children had to match each pig to the correct brick house. Each house had a number of dots from 1-10, the children then matched the corresponding numeral.
  • The children painted pictures with materials from the three little pigs story for example, sticks, straw bricks etc.
  • Playing in the ‘The Three Little Pigs Construction Site’. The children had high vis jackets, hard hats, foam bricks, real pipes, pretend screws and building tools.
  • Building a house for The Three Little Pigs’ on the playdough table. They had small building blocks for bricks, mini sticks and straw. The children used the playdough to stick the resources together when making a house.
  • Different versions of lots of classic fairy tale books to read in the quiet area.
  • We talked about why the 3RD little pigs house stayed up even when the wolf tried to blow it down. The children used paper straws to see which materials could be blown away by the big bad wolf and which materials wouldn’t move.
  • Tuff tray – The children tried to make houses with real sticks, straw and blocks.

 

Important information

  • You are invited to attend our Stay and Play morning on Tuesday 30th January 8.45am-10.00am. There will be a snack and story at the end of the session.
  • Every Tuesday the children will be taking part in outdoor learning so please can you send you child in with warm clothes that you don’t mind them getting messy in. 
  • Next week our focus story will be ‘The three billy goats gruff’. Please bring in any versions of the three billy goats gruff you might have.
  • Send in any WOW moments for the children or photos of experiences to: pre-school@bishopstawton-primary.org. We will also be sending paper copy of wow moments home. 

 

New Two year old funding

Dear Parents,

The new entitlements for eligible working parents with 2 year old children will start from April 2024. It is important that if you have a child who will be 2 years old before 31st March 2024 that you apply to HMRC (Childcare Service) in good time. It is your responsibility to check if you are entitled, make an application, and reconfirm every 3 months. Please set-up or visit your Gateway Account immediately to apply.

Please note that you may not be able to apply for the 2-year-old funding for working parents immediately if you have a Tax Free Childcare (TFC) account. We have been advised that you will be able to apply when you receive your TFC reconfirmation reminder.

If you have recently reconfirmed your TFC and not made an application, please ensure that you are due to reconfirm again in March before the deadline.

It is important that you allow time for any queries with new applications or reconfirmations to avoid delays. Any codes issued by HMRC in April 2024 will not be funded in Summer 2024. A code with an ‘eligible from’ date of 1st April 2024 will not be funded until Autumn 2024 and only then if you reconfirm by 31st August 2024.

The dates of your code are important, and you must reconfirm every 3 months to confirm eligibility and continue to access your funded childcare!

If you have a previous application for an older sibling, please check the eligibility dates of any new codes as the reconfirmation dates can be aligned to the previous child which could mean you need to reapply before the normal 3-month reconfirmation period.

If you have a code for an older sibling that needs to be reconfirmed, this should also be completed now, and if you are unsure, it is your responsibility to log into your Gateway Account and check. If you are newly eligible or are given a new code at reconfirmation, you need to take your 11-digit code to your provider who will complete a verification check and then confirm your funded space.

When eligibility ends, children can continue to access their entitlement in the Grace Period. However, new children, who are 2 or 3 before 31st March, or start at a new setting from April, cannot start to use this funding in the Grace Period if they are no longer eligible.

If the Grace period does not apply, or your Grace period ends, the entitlement will also end. If you continue to use childcare, you will be charged.

If you are making a new Gateway account with HMRC, you will be asked if you would like to register for Tax Free Childcare. If you do register, your Tax Credits may be stopped, and it can take several weeks to reapply and for Tax Credits to be reinstated.

If you have problems accessing the system or completing your check, please call the HMRC Helpdesk on 0300 1234 097 (your provider and Devon County Council cannot assist with new applications or reconfirmations).

Devon Early Years are running some online sessions for parents in February to give an overview on what funding is available, how you apply for different funding streams and how your child can access funded time. Please save the links below to join a session that suits you:

Monday 5th February 10.30-11.30 Click here to join the meeting Wednesday 7th February 19.30-20.30 Click here to join the meeting Wednesday 14th February 16.00-17.00 Click here to join the meeting

You may be able to access further help with childcare costs. Please visit the Childcare Choices Website.

19.01.24

This week our topic has been Traditional Tales. We have been reading different versions of the story ‘The three little pigs’.

Activities this week at pre-school:

  • We read and acted out the original story of ‘The three little pigs’.
  • Playing in the ‘The Three Little Pigs Construction Site’. The children had high vis jackets, hard hats, foam bricks, real pipes, pretend screws and building tools.
  • Decorating a pig face with tissue paper, pink crayons, pens and pencils, pink collage paper.
  • Building a house for The Three Little Pigs’ on the playdough table. They had small building blocks for bricks, mini sticks and straw. The children used the playdough to stick the resources together when making a house.
  • Different versions of lots of classic fairy tale books to read in the quiet area.
  • We talked about why the 3RD little pigs house stayed up even when the wolf tried to blow it down. An adult used a blow dryer to see which materials could be blown away by the big bad wolf and which materials wouldn’t move.
  • Making a pig face using a wrap, ham and salad food. The children then ate their creations at snack time.
  • Tuff tray – The children tried to make houses with real sticks, straw and blocks.
  • Outdoor learning – The children went up to the forest school area and collected lots real sticks to build a house like the 2nd little pig.
  • Sensory activity – Building a ‘brick house’ using building blocks and shaving foam for cement.

Important information

  • You are invited to attend our Stay and Play morning on Tuesday 30th January 8.45am-10.00am. There will be a snack and story at the end of the session.
  • Every Tuesday the children will be taking part in outdoor learning so please can you send you child in with warm clothes that you don’t mind them getting messy. 
  • Next week our focus story will be ‘The three little pigs’. Please bring in any versions of the three little pigs you might have.
  • Send in any WOW moments for the children or photos of experiences to: pre-school@bishopstawton-primary.org. We will also be sending paper copy of wow moments home. 

 

New Two year old funding

Dear Parents,

The new entitlements for eligible working parents with 2 year old children will start from April 2024. It is important that if you have a child who will be 2 years old before 31st March 2024 that you apply to HMRC (Childcare Service) in good time. It is your responsibility to check if you are entitled, make an application, and reconfirm every 3 months. Please set-up or visit your Gateway Account immediately to apply.

Please note that you may not be able to apply for the 2-year-old funding for working parents immediately if you have a Tax Free Childcare (TFC) account. We have been advised that you will be able to apply when you receive your TFC reconfirmation reminder.

If you have recently reconfirmed your TFC and not made an application, please ensure that you are due to reconfirm again in March before the deadline.

It is important that you allow time for any queries with new applications or reconfirmations to avoid delays. Any codes issued by HMRC in April 2024 will not be funded in Summer 2024. A code with an ‘eligible from’ date of 1st April 2024 will not be funded until Autumn 2024 and only then if you reconfirm by 31st August 2024.

The dates of your code are important, and you must reconfirm every 3 months to confirm eligibility and continue to access your funded childcare!

If you have a previous application for an older sibling, please check the eligibility dates of any new codes as the reconfirmation dates can be aligned to the previous child which could mean you need to reapply before the normal 3-month reconfirmation period.

If you have a code for an older sibling that needs to be reconfirmed, this should also be completed now, and if you are unsure, it is your responsibility to log into your Gateway Account and check. If you are newly eligible or are given a new code at reconfirmation, you need to take your 11-digit code to your provider who will complete a verification check and then confirm your funded space.

When eligibility ends, children can continue to access their entitlement in the Grace Period. However, new children, who are 2 or 3 before 31st March, or start at a new setting from April, cannot start to use this funding in the Grace Period if they are no longer eligible.

If the Grace period does not apply, or your Grace period ends, the entitlement will also end. If you continue to use childcare, you will be charged.

If you are making a new Gateway account with HMRC, you will be asked if you would like to register for Tax Free Childcare. If you do register, your Tax Credits may be stopped, and it can take several weeks to reapply and for Tax Credits to be reinstated.

If you have problems accessing the system or completing your check, please call the HMRC Helpdesk on 0300 1234 097 (your provider and Devon County Council cannot assist with new applications or reconfirmations).

Devon Early Years are running some online sessions for parents in February to give an overview on what funding is available, how you apply for different funding streams and how your child can access funded time. Please save the links below to join a session that suits you:

Monday 5th February 10.30-11.30 Click here to join the meeting Wednesday 7th February 19.30-20.30 Click here to join the meeting Wednesday 14th February 16.00-17.00 Click here to join the meeting

You may be able to access further help with childcare costs. Please visit the Childcare Choices Website.

12.01.24

This week our topic has been Traditional Tales. We have been reading different versions of the story ‘Goldilocks and the three bears’.

Activities this week at pre-school:

  • Porridge tasting – The children tasted different flavoured porridge. The children then voted which flavour they liked the best.
  • Goldilocks and the three bears kitchen role play – The children acted out the story in the role play area. They had three different sized bowls, spoons and chairs. There have been teddy bears and a goldilocks puppet in the home corner.
  • We made bear faces using cork boards as the face and loose parts as the facial features. The children used, lollypop sticks, pom poms, buttons etc.
  • The children made a bed for goldilocks out of different objects and materials. We talked about what would make a good bed. They decided if the bed was too hard, too soft or just right.
  • Tasting activity – The children used toast and fruit to make a bear face. They had bananas, raisins etc.
  • Maths activity – The children sorted objects into three categories – small, medium and large. We talked about what other features they had.
  • We acted out the story at circle time using different props – bowls, chairs etc.

Important information

  • You are invited to attend our Stay and Play morning on Tuesday 30th January 8.45am-10.00am. There will be a snack and story at the end of the session.
  • Next week our focus story will be ‘The three little pigs’. Please bring in any versions of the three little pigs you might have.
  • Send in any WOW moments for the children or photos of experiences to: pre-school@bishopstawton-primary.org. We will also be sending paper copy of wow moments home.  

2024 Admissions

Parents/carers will be able to apply for Reception children places online from 15th November 2023 until 15th January 2024. Please note that the Local Authority will no longer send out letters to parents or carers of children inviting them to apply. Please visit: www.devon.gov.uk/educationandfamilies/school-information/apply-for-a-school-place for more details.

 

 

05.01.24

This week our topic has been Traditional Tales. We have been reading different versions of the story ‘Goldilocks and the three bears’. The children have settled well back in to pre-school after the Christmas break.

Activities this week at pre-school:

  • Porridge tasting – The children tasted different flavoured porridge. The children then voted which flavour they liked the best.
  • Goldilocks and the three bears kitchen role play – The children acted out the story in the role play area. They had three different sized bowls, spoons and chairs. There have been teddy bears and a goldilocks puppet in the home corner.
  • The children weighed porridge oats and mini counting bears in the tuff tray. We used language such as ‘heavier, lighter’ etc.
  • In a large tuff tray, the children mixed together porridge oats, salt and sugar to make pretend ‘porridge’ for the bears in the story.
  • Painting bears – Each child used a fork and brown paint to make a bear. They the added eyes, nose and ears to make it look like a bear.
  • Cutting out different pictures/characters from the story and sticking them onto a picture of the ‘Three bears cottage’.
  • Maths activity – We talked about how Daddy bears chair was too hard and Mummy bears chair was too soft. The children then separated lots of different objects into two groups – hard or soft. We used pillows, teddies, bowls, plates etc.
  • We acted out the story at circle time using different props – bowls, chairs etc.

2024 Admissions

Parents/carers will be able to apply for Reception children places online from 15th November 2023 until 15th January 2024. Please note that the Local Authority will no longer send out letters to parents or carers of children inviting them to apply. Please visit: www.devon.gov.uk/educationandfamilies/school-information/apply-for-a-school-place for more details.