Bingo at Cerne Abbas Village Hall . . . → Read More: newsletter 28/11/11]]>  

• Newsletter – week commencing 28/11/11
• Activities this week include, play dough kitchen, house painting, rice trays, train track, chain links, cd player and nursery rhymes, 5 fat sausages song, rope swing and bubble blowing.
• Committee meeting – Thursday 1^st December 8pm at The Greyhound, Sydling st Nicholas.

Bingo at Cerne Abbas Village Hall – 5.30pm, Saturday 26^th November in aid of Cerne Abbas First School

This week activities include the kitchen role play area to which we have added play dough. We will have opportunities to investigate with our new digital magnifier and take photos with the new children’s camera; all delivered courtesy of Tesco vouchers for schools scheme.

On Monday we . . . → Read More: Autumn term – week 2 newsletter]]> Newsletter – Autumn term 2011, week 2.

This week activities include the kitchen role play area to which we have added play dough. We will have opportunities to investigate with our new digital magnifier and take photos with the new children’s camera; all delivered courtesy of Tesco vouchers for schools scheme.

On Monday we will be visiting the Library van in the morning and making garlic bread in the afternoon.  On Tuesday we will be using the woods for Forest School (as long as we don’t get gales) and practicing our bend and stretch during the afternoon in yoga.  On Thursday we will be lots of opportunity for painting and on Friday we will be using musical instruments to sing along to new as well as favourite songs.

Funding forms will be given out this week (to all children aged three and over) please do complete these and return a.s.a.p.

AGM our AGM is to be held on Monday 19^th of September, 7.30 at The Village Hall. Please do come along; without a continuous stream of volunteers to become the committee we cannot operate.

Morrisons Lets Grow Vouchers are now being given away in stores – please let your friend’s neighbours and colleagues know that we are collecting.

Recommend a Child? – This term sees a reduction in child numbers attending; this is due to a current shortage in the area of children. We are running a targeted marketing campaign and need to ensure we post information to all the families that are out there. Can you please let us know if you know of a family who would benefit from receiving information about the preschool?

Start of term reminders

• Dress for the weather
• Bring a piece of fruit in to share at snack time.
• Label clothing and footwear.
• Let us know of any changes ( an update form will be sent out next week)
• The last day of the half term is Friday October 21^st.

We are writing to let you know of plans for the Sydling Springs Pre-School for 2011-12; and to ask for your help.

Sydling Springs Pre-School 2011-12

Projections show the year group for 2011-12 at Sydling Springs is at present smaller than recent years. Pre-schools like ours operate on a knife-edge in terms . . . → Read More: letter to parents – August 2011]]> Dear Parents

We are writing to let you know of plans for the Sydling Springs Pre-School for 2011-12; and to ask for your help.

Sydling Springs Pre-School 2011-12

Projections show the year group for 2011-12 at Sydling Springs is at present smaller than recent years. Pre-schools like ours operate on a knife-edge in terms of funding – our outgoings of staff salaries and hall rental come to about £2,100 per month from September – and without changes, the income from parents and government will not cover the costs of keeping our pre-school going.

Over the summer, the committee has been looking energetically at ways to grow the pre-school and balance the books, including fundraising, grants and marketing (see later), and some agreed reductions in staff hours. It also became apparent that we currently charge fee-paying children less (£3.40/hr) than the amount we receive from the Council for funded children (around £3.75/hr). From September 2011 we will therefore be bringing the fees into line with the Council’s valuation:

This increase will only go a small way to sustaining the pre-school and, without further effort, will not be enough.

Your help

To retain our vibrant, friendly, local pre-school, with all the benefits of outdoor facilities which enable us uniquely to offer Forest School, the pre-school also needs your help. Other pre-schools locally have closed due to lack of funds. Imagine the inconvenience to you if Sydling Springs suffered the same fate. Without it, the character of the village and surroundings would also change.

The pre-school exists as a result of the efforts of a small group of individuals who make up the staff and the committee. We therefore require both your continued support of our fundraising activities and your involvement.

For the coming academic year we need:

• Fresh volunteers for the Governing Committee to fill key roles including the Chair, Secretary and Fundraising positions.
• Someone who can take a lead or work with Sam to identify and apply for grants.
• Help in marketing our preschool. It is unique and we provide expert childcare, but to be sustainable we want a fuller register of children for the 2011-12 academic year.

Without the active involvement of all our parents, the preschool will not flourish. So, if you have valued the preschool please help keep it going for those who come after you. Please come along to the AGM scheduled for Monday 19 September at 20.00 (venue details will follow), where we will be looking ahead to 2011-12 and seeking nominations to the committee.

If you have any comments, questions or suggestions in the meantime, please also do not hesitate to contact Sam Mercer or any member of the existing committee. We look forward to seeing you next term!

Yours truly

Mike Rose (Chair), Sophia Gallia (Treasurer), Sam Mercer (Play Leader

Barn Dance – finally it has arrived  – lots of dancing, games, food and drink from 7.30 on Saturday !

Sessions for September – We are confirming places with everybody for the forthcoming academic year starting in September. Can you please confirm your sessions via a member of staff.