Dear Parents / Carers
We are delighted to finally announce that we received an amazing ‘OUTSTANDING’ grading from our recent OFSTED visit .. we are so very proud of this achievement and thank you for all your wonderful comments which you shared with the Inspector!! We have attached our report, if you would like to have a read through.
Playhouse Activities This Week – This week, it was Road safety week and we’ve been learning about crossing the road. We created some traffic lights; the children’s knowledge was fantastic. We’ve been busy collecting and raking all the autumn leaves that have fallen, and we’ve been admiring the amazing colours. We’ve been learning our Christmas songs; we will be sending them home so please have fun and practice together. The children have enjoyed ordering different sized objects .. all of the children were fantastic at it! We have been playing lots of turn taking games, ring games and ball games too. Today, the children really enjoyed the dance session with Poppy! We have also been talking about ‘Children in Need’, and we’ve had lots of Pudsey activities! There were lots of spots in the Playhouse today.
Forest School – In Forest school this week we read Spikes Best Nest and talked about how we can look after the birds during winter. We made them a cosy nest with play dough and leaves, sticks and herbs so they smell nice! Then we threaded Cheerios onto pipe cleaners to make bird feeders. They wanted to take them home so if you see the birds eating them, we would love to see your photos!
Playhouse Activities Next Week – The children have been very interested in shopping so next week we will enjoy our own shop role play in the playhouse! We will go on a number treasure hunt around the garden, and we’ll link this to ordering numbers.
Home activity – This week’s home activity is called ‘logo’s and there are lots of ideas on Tapestry. This activity is all about early reading skills and recognising different styles of print in the environment, this also links into our shop role play.
Christmas Church Visit – On Wednesday 8th December at 2.00pm we will be taking the Preschool children to visit St Botolph’s church for our Christmas Church service with Rev’d Gary. To ensure we are COVID safe and to protect our families this Christmas, this will be for Preschool children only, sorry no parents, grandparents or friends for this visit.
Reminder: Christmas Party – Our Playhouse Christmas Party is being held on Friday 17th December from 12.00pm – 2.15pm, the last day of this Autumn Term. Our party will include games, dancing, and a visit from Santa. If your child doesn’t normally attend on a Friday afternoon, you are welcome to book them in for this afternoon session, please let us know by Monday 22nd November 2021.
Reminder: Playhouse Christmas Carols – Our Playhouse Christmas Carols will be held via Zoom this year to be COVID safe, on Wednesday 15th December at 10.00am. It will last approximately 15 minutes. This is a small selection of Christmas songs the children will share and bring some Christmas spirit. Please let us know if you or any family and friends would like to join us, please confirm by Monday 29th November 2021 to give us time to set up this event. We will send you an invite to the Carols nearer the time but please do not pass this on .. any invitations must be issued from the Playhouse to ensure we are compliant with our safeguarding procedures. Many thanks for your help.
Any help? – Please do not hesitate to speak to staff if you have any concerns or would just like a catch up, we are always available.
Books – Books make great presents! Our local Scholastic books lady, Tammy Fitzjohn, is very kindly donating 10% of all sales to Helpston Playhouse and Out of School Club! Christmas is fast approaching, and it’s always an excellent time to buy lovely books as presents. Tammy will be displaying a select number of books next week for parents to browse in the Playhouse garden – details to follow. Please follow this link to browse and to make any purchases by 30th November 2021: https://book-parties.scholastic.co.uk/party/helpston-preschool
Nearly New Sale – Thank you for your amazing support and for Rachel & Alexa for arranging the sale! The Nearly New Sales raised an amazing £115.00 for the Playhouse!
Committee – Christmas Raffle – Here is a message from our committee: We are currently organising a Christmas raffle, if any parents/careers work for businesses, own a business or know of a business that would be willing to donate a raffle prize, please get in touch. We would be incredibly grateful.
Committee – Amazon – If you use Amazon for any of you shopping, please consider helping us by shopping on AmazonSmile at https://smile.amazon.co.uk/ch/1024507-0. For every eligible purchase Amazon donates to Helpston Playhouse & Under Fives Pre-School, at no cost to you.
Maddy’s Challenge – On 18th December 2021 Maddy Bunn is hoping to complete a 25km walk from Putney Bridge to Tower Bridge in London, crossing 15 bridges, to raise money for Alzheimer’s Research UK. Maddy sadly lost her grandma to Dementia last December and wanted to mark the occasion and so that, in her words ‘another family doesn’t have to go what we went through’. We’ve attached a link to Maddy’s Just Giving page if you would like to support Maddy.
Maddy’s 25km Thames path walk
Barnado’s Christmas Appeal – Our Early Years Team from Peterborough City Council have started their Christmas Gift Appeal for vulnerable children and families living across Peterborough and South Fenland (March, Chatteris & Whittlesey). We know this year is looking even tougher on families than even last year and they aim to ensure every child and their siblings referred to the Early Tears Team receive Christmas gifts. Distribution of gifts will start from Monday 13th December. Please take a look at the attached poster or Visit Barnardo’s Child & Family Centre Wish List at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/C5O9223R5Q3H/ref=hz_ls_biz_ex
Have a lovely weekend and stay safe!
Kind regards
The Playhouse Team