New website launch and new email addresses
Welcome to our first newsletter issued through our new website. We hope everything is clear and easily accessible. Can you please take this opportunity to have a look around and see everything that is available. If you find anything that isn't working such as a link or download or if there are any suggestions for improvements or changes, please let Michelle know. As a result of this change, we will now have new email addresses as follows
Michelle - info@acorntooaknurseryandpreschool.co.uk
Billing - finance@acorntooaknurseryandpreschool.co.uk (this is the same)
The old emails will continue to work for the time being but will gradually be phased out over the next couple of weeks.
Staff change
Some sad news - Becca has decided that she needs a change in her career so she has left our nursery. Becca was one of our first staff members when we opened so it is incredibly sad that she will no longer be working with us. She will be missed by the children and staff - we wish her all the best for the future.
Red Nose Day 19th March 2021
Thank you for all your donations so far. We will be doing lots of exciting things during the week as follows
Monday 15 March – *Fancy dress day (anything
you want)
Tuesday 16 March – Cake sale.
(children and staff will make/bring in the cakes to sell)
Wednesday 17 March - *Crazy Hair day
(Show your creative side with crazy hair day)
Thursday 18 March –*PJ Day. (Pyjama day for
all)
Friday 19 March (Red nose Day) – *wear Red
(anything red)
*Please bring a donation for red nose day on
the dressing up days*
World Book Day 4th March 2021
Everyone enjoyed dressing up and looked fantastic in their outfits. Each bubble had a book they have been discussing this week. Pictures are available to see on Facebook and Instagram. Thanks to all parents for your hard work in making the children look amazing.
Parent Questionnaire
Please can you take the time to read and complete the attached form. We are keen to hear about all the things we do well but also any areas you think we could improve. Any comments or suggestions will be gratefully appreciated.
Baby Marta Day
On Monday 1st March, it was Baby Marta Day which is a holiday traditionally celebrated in Bulgaria. . Martenitsas, usually in the form of a wrist band, small yarn dolls, or tassels, are created by combining red and white coloured threads and are worn on that day and throughout March.
Lizzi's mum very kindly brought in wristbands for all the children and staff in Orange bubble to celebrate.
If your family has any special days you celebrate throughout the year, please do let us know as we will be happy to share the information with the children and staff.
Communication
During this current lockdown we will endeavour to send out a short narrative of your bubble’s day via WhatsApp as feedback to help you be more aware of your child’s day at nursery. Collection is having to be more brief than usual due to COVID-19 measures that have been put in place. If you have any comments or suggestions about other methods we can communicate effectively with you, please let us know.
Out of hours contact
Please can you note that all the management team at Acorn to Oak can be contacted between 9am-6pm, Monday to Friday with the nursery open from 7.30am-6pm. If you send an email or text outside of this time, please do not automatically expect a reply as it is most likely your query will be dealt with during the next working day. However, if you have an urgent issue such as reporting a Covid-19 case, please send your text or call as normal and someone will get back to you quickly.
Bills
All invoices are now being sent via our new automated billing system. You will receive your bill via email around 30th of each month and they will be due for payment by the 10th of the new month. These dates are due to Covid-19 which means we need to wait to the end of the current month in case any sessions need to be adjusted. The dates will return back to the earlier ones as we ease out of the pandemic in the coming months. Please remember that we will be implementing our late payment charge of £50 if you do not pay in full by the due date. If you have any questions or queries relating to bills, please contact Michelle.
Late Collections
Please advise the Nursery and Pre-School immediately if you will be arriving later than your contracted time to pick up your child. It is the parents’ responsibility to ensure that children are picked up no later than 6pm. If you are not able to pick up your child by 6pm, alternate arrangements must be made. Please remember our staff work incredibly long days, mostly 7.30am-6pm, and at least 2 members of staff need to be onsite at all times to stay behind if you are late, whilst having to manage their own homes and families after hours.
Please notify the Nursery and Pre-School if an unauthorised person will be picking up your child. Verbal or written permission must be received before we will release a child to anyone who is not authorised on the registration form. They must bring photographic I.D. plus a photograph to be kept on file and a password will be used.
‘Out of hours’ late collection fees
As part of our terms and conditions we reserve the right to impose late collection charges as required, as detailed below:
£1 per minute as stated in your contract.
Anything after 7.00pm will be charged at a flat rate of £75.00.
Please note that the nursery needs to always operate to a minimum of two members of staff being on site at any one time and hence to fee structure.
‘In hours’ late collection and early drop offs
If you are going to be late collecting your child at the end your session, we will need to impose an additional sessional cost as a result of the extra time the child is with us. This will be discussed with you at the time on collection by the Manager/Deputy Manager.
We still request that the Nursery is notified in advance and an estimated collection time is provided so we can manage our child:staff ratios as well as manage staff breaks, lunches and finish times accordingly.
Please also do not try to drop your child at the nursery before the start of your session time as we will not be able to allow your child in until the official start time of their session. This is again to manage child:staff ratios and minimise disruption for children already at the nursery.
Term Dates
Please find the latest term dates below for 2021
Spring term - 4th January-2nd April
Easter holidays - 5th April-16th April
Summer term - 19th April-16th July
May half term - 31st May-4th June
Summer holidays - 19th July-3rd September
Winter term - 6th September-17th December
October half term - 25th-29th October
Bank holidays - nursery closed
2nd April, 5th April, 3rd May, 31st May, 30th August
Polite Notice
Acorn to Oak Nursery and Preschool will not tolerate any form of offensive behaviour towards our staff.
Bullying takes many forms. It can be physical, verbal or emotional, but is always a repeated behaviour that makes others feel uncomfortable. We have a duty of care to our staff and they have a right to carry out their work without feeling harassed or intimidated.
Shouting, being aggressive, sarcastic and swearing at nursery staff is not acceptable under any circumstances and parents/ visitors who are abusive may be removed from the parent / visitor list. Please remember we are here to help you and look after your children during very difficult and uncertain times. Your cooperation in essential.
Many thanks
The Acorn to Oak Team.