Autumn Newsletter
We would like to extend a warm welcome to the children and families who have joined us recently. We hope you will quickly begin to feel a sense of belonging within this community and will play your part in ensuring it’s continued success. The team here at Thornlaw strive to ensure that we provide the same standard of care which we would expect for our own children and grandchildren, ensuring your time here with us at Thornlaw Nursery is happy and productive.
STAFFING UPDATE
There have been some changes to our staff team recently, Linda our Team Leader has now returned after Maternity leave and Lauren who was acting team leader has now moved on to another nursery we wish her well.
UPDATED STAFF TEAM
Claire Morrison Head of Nursery
Linda Norwood Child Development Team Leader
Kimberley McConville Lead Practitioner Attainment
Nicola Fahey Child Development Officer (Part Time) (Red group)
Ronda Cheng Child Development Officer (Part Time) (Red group)
Christina McDermott Child Development Officer (Red group)
Judith Yuile Child Development Officer (Part Time) (Yellow Group)
Helen Conway Child Development Officer (Yellow group)
Gail Brannigan Child Development Officer (Green group)
Lyndsey Watson Child Development Officer (Green group)
Stephanie Collins Child Development Officer (Purple group)
Rebbekah Gallacher Child Development Officer (Purple group)
Marie Stuart Child Development Officer (Blue group)
Laura McKinnon Child Development Officer (Blue group)
Basharat Hanif Support for Learning Worker
Joanna MacDonald Support for Learning Worker (Maternity leave)
Kiren Singh Support for Learning Worker
Jane Gunn Clerical Support Assistant
David Adam Janitor
Michelle McLeod Day Assistant
UPCOMING HOLIDAYS
December - Christmas and New Year
- Schools close at 2.30 pm on Friday, 20 December 2024
- Monday, 23 December 2024 - Friday, 3 January 2025 (Christmas holidays)
January
- Schools return on Monday, 6 January 2025
February mid-term break
- Monday, 17 February 2025
- Tuesday, 18 February 2025
- Wednesday, 19 February 2025 (In-service day)
NURSERY FUND RAISING
As you will all be aware, the children recently voted for where they would like to go for their summer end of year trip. The votes have now been counted and the winner is ‘Heads of Ayr farm park’. The trip has now been provisionally booked for 11th June 2025 at a cost of £4212. Please note that each child must be accompanied by their own parent / carer. A packed lunch will be provided by nursery for each child and their accompanying adult. If you would like to provide your own packed lunch then you can. More information will follow as we get closer to the summer.
We will now begin to raise funds in order to pay for our summer trip. Our first fund raising event will be a sponsored ‘Danceathon’ on Tuesday 19th November at 10.30-11.15 and 13.30-14.15. Parents are invited to come along and participate with their child.
We will also be selling football cards in order to raise funds for our trip, if anyone is interested in selling a football card, cards are available from Jane at reception.
Nursery will also be collecting empty juice cans in order to raise funds. There is now a red collection box in the nursery main foyer where you can drop off your empty cans. Please note cans must not be crushed. Collections will then be taken to Lidl and exchanged for cash. This also supports our efforts to recycle as we are an ECO nursery.
If you have any suggestions on fund raising ideas, we’d love to hear them. Please speak to a member of staff and share your ideas.
Christmas Donations 
We are also looking to raise funds for our Christmas parties and to ensure all our children receive a special gift from Santa. Each year we do this by having a Christmas raffle. We are currently looking for raffle donations. Festive food items for hampers or any unwanted gifts would be greatly appreciated. If you know of any local businesses that would be happy to donate a gift or voucher, please speak to Linda Norwood, Team Leader.
TOY FUND
Toy Fund is a voluntary suggested contribution of £2 per week, however you may pay more or less if you wish. Toy Fund helps us provide extras that we wouldn’t normally be able to do such as outings, celebrations and gifts, all children benefit from the toy fund, so please try to contribute when you can. If we have no Toy Fund then we will be unable to continue with seasonal shows or seasonal / birthday treats for the children and outings, there will be no baking or cooking activities.
Toy fund can be paid weekly on a Tuesday in nursery to Jane Gunn, Clerical Support Assistant or by bank transfer, please speak to Jane Gunn, Clerical Support Assistant if you wish to pay via bank transfer.
Toy Fund contributions are banked each week and the books and receipts are always available for inspection. The toy fund is audited annually according to the council’s financial regulations.
PARENTS GROUP
We are looking for volunteers to join our parents’ group. Our parents’ group help in areas such as raising nursery funds, helping to plan nursery events, give suggestions as to what kind of parent partnership events would be useful for parents and being part of our self-evaluation processes, ensuring we provide the best possible quality care and education for our young people whilst supporting families.
Our next meeting will be on Friday 22nd November at 10.30am, refreshments will be provided, hope to see you there.
HOME LEARNING
Our home learning programmes will begin this term. Pre-school children will be involved in our ‘Play Along Maths’ programme, all parents of Pre-school children will receive a letter with details.
All children will choose a book from our lending library, you are encouraged to read the book at home with your child. You will keep the book at home for one week, and then return it to nursery, enabling your child to choose a new book.
All children will begin to receive a ‘Science Bear’ home. We have six ‘Science Bears’, so your child will not have a ‘Science Bear’ every week, but will receive their turn at some point during the nursery year.
Each home learning link will have an evaluation form, we encourage you to complete this as your feedback allows nursery staff to evaluate progress in learning and the impact of our home learning link, making improvements where needed.
THINK EQUAL
We are excited to announce our new programme ??
At Thornlaw Nursery School we have signed up to the ‘Think Equal’ Early Years Programme, which is based around social and emotional learning. Think Equal is year-long programme, which all pre-school children will have the opportunity to take part in. A letter with more information has been placed in ALL pre-school children’s trays.
UPCOMING NURSERY EVENTS
Stay and Play sessions – Play and stay sessions will be offered week beginning 25th November, as detailed below;
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Yellow group
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Monday 25th November
10.30-11.15 / 14.30-15.15
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Red group
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Tuesday 26th November
10.30-11.15 / 14.30-15.15
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Purple group
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Wednesday 27th November
10.30-11.15 / 14.30-15.15
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Green group
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Thursday 28th November
10.30-11.15 / 14.30-15.15
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Blue group
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Friday 29th November
10.30-11.15 / 14.30-15.15
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Parents are invited to join their child in nursery on the days / times as detailed above. We will have a numeracy learning focus on these days.
Parent’s in the Park- Rebbekah is our Outdoor Learning champion and has begun our programme of outdoor learning with a small group of parents and children. Parents who have participated so far have found this fun and informative. Please speak to Rebbekah if you would be keen to participate in future sessions. Otherwise keep an eye out on Learning Journals for more information.
Bookbug sessions – Helen will be offering Bookbug sessions in the new year. Please look out for more information on Learning Journals.
Big Chef / Little Chef – Ronda will be leading our Big Chef / Little Chef sessions. Parents will be invited to come along and make a healthy meal with their child to then take home, along with the ingredients to try at home with the whole family. These sessions will take place on the last Friday of each month. Please keep a look out for details on Learning Journals and on our Parent notice board, located outside Head of Nursery office.
Parents meetings – Parents meetings have scheduled for January. Please look out for individual appointments on Learning Journals.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Thursday 31st October – Halloween parties (If your child would like to dress up, please remember that they still have to play and go to the toilet. Please don’t send your child in a costume which is difficult to remove. If your child’s costume has separate items such as a cauldron or a mask – please make sure these items are named. If your child does not want to dress up don’t worry – some children are not comfortable with it.)
Tuesday 19th November – Sponsored Dance A Thon - 10.30-11.15 & 13.30-14.15
Friday 29th November – Big Chef, Little Chef with Ronda – 14.00
PRE-LOVED CLOTHING RAIL / FOOD DONATIONS
In our corridor you will find a pre-loved clothing rail, you will also find a selection of sanitary products, nappies, wipes and other useful items, please feel free to have a look and take anything that you would have use for.
We also have regular donations of food products, these are normally on display in the nursery corridor, please feel free to take any of the food products you would like.
SICKNESS AND ILLNESS POLICY REMINDER
Children suffering from sickness and diarrhoea must be clear for 48 hours before returning to nursery to reduce the spread of infection. If your child becomes sick or has diarrhoea at nursery, families will be contacted and advised to collect their child and they should remain at home until 48 hours clear of symptoms.
Families will be contacted if children appear unwell or complain of being unwell, for any reason, and unable to cope with nursery.
If your child is unwell at home and is unable to attend nursery, it is important that you let us know as soon as possible.
REMINDERS
Clothing - As part of our curriculum we play outside in all weathers so please make sure your child comes to nursery suitably dressed in a warm coat with appropriate footwear. If possible, could you provide a pair of wellington boots that your child can leave in nursery. It is advisable to bring a change of clothes for your child to leave at nursery. We do not have any spare clothes, so this is essential, as learning can be a messy business. If your child has been sent home with spare nursery clothes, could you please ensure that you return these ASAP.
Children should also have shoes that they can manage to take on and off by themselves, ideally Velcro straps are best.
Children’s Trays – Each child has their own allocated tray, located opposite the Head of Nursery’s office. Please ensure that you check your child’s tray on a daily basis, as you will find important information here.
Home Links – Please remember to return your Play Along Maths, Library books and Science Bears on time, this allows another child and family to experience these.
BRINGING TOYS TO NURSERY
We understand that some children may wish to bring their own toys to nursery, however we would appreciate if you encourage your child not to bring toys to nursery. This can often cause upset for your child when other children want to play with their special toy and toys can often become lost or broken. We are not responsible for any toys that your child brings to nursery. Please speak to a member of staff if you have any concerns regarding this.
Attention all Parents and families
Please refrain from using mobile phones in the nursery.
It is nursery policy that mobile phones are not used within the nursery. This helps to ensure the privacy and respect of the children and families using the nursery. Your child will also be keen to talk to you about their day, and will want to know you are listening to them and able to respond. Please make your calls or texts before or after you enter the building.
Gentle reminder
Dogs are not permitted on the school grounds. Please DO NOT bring dogs onto the school grounds.
NURSERY ARRIVAL AND COLLECTION TIMES
Unless you have been given different instructions from your child’s key worker – sessions are as follows;
MORNING SESSION
08.00-12.30
AFTERNOON SESSION
13.00-17.30
MORNING CHILDREN
Please ensure your child is in nursery no later than 09.15. This ensures that your child’s and other children’s learning is not interrupted.
AFTERNOON CHILDREN
Please ensure your child is in nursery no later than 13.15. This ensures that your child’s and other children’s learning is not interrupted. Please note that the nursery door is not manned between the hours of 13.15 and 14.00, due to staff lunches as such there will NOT be a member of staff available to let you into nursery after 13.15 therefore you must have your child in nursery before 13.15 for their afternoon session.
Collection time is between
15.00-15.30
and
16.30-17.30
WEB PAGE & FACEBOOK
We have our own web page which can be found at www.thornlaw-nursery.glasgow.sch.uk
Facebook - Thornlaw Nursery
CONTACT DETAILS
Nursery contact can be made by telephone, email or in person
Telephone 0141 638 3176
Email -headteacher@thornlaw-nursery.glasgow.sch.uk