Kittybrewster Early Learning and Childcare Newsletter November 2020 Contacting school/nursery - Please use the following details to contact us. Nursery mobile(Phone/text): 07741 236510 ​ School phone number: 01224 484451 ​ School email address: [email protected] ​ Returning to Nursery Parents and Carers We have been focusing on children's health and Staff would like to say a huge thank you for all of wellbeing since returning in August. For some the support the Nursery has received since we children this is their first experience in a nursery returned in August. Thank you so much for your setting, and for others, they are returning after a cooperation and understanding. long time away from nursery. Why are we spending so much time outdoors? The children have been learning new routines, such as the use of our handwashing station, and We are SO lucky to have such a fantastic outdoor our new dropping off procedure. The children are space at Kittybrewster that allows us to spend so learning how to be around eachother again after much time outside. We are fortunate to have the a long time apart. We are working on building waterproofs that the school kindly bought for us relationships with both peers and staff. They last year. These allow for all weather outdoor have been using their listening ears to follow learning. instructions and are fantastic at organising themselves into a line or a circle when asked. The The guidance we have been consistently given children have been great at counting how many tells us to maximise the use of our outdoor space boys and girls are in nursery, and remembering as the risk of transmission is much lower our ‘magic number’ for the day. Sometimes this outdoors. number is as high as 20! You can read more about the guidance here: We have been playing lots of games such as Duck Duck Goose, Farmers in the Dell and Musical Covid 19 Early Learning and Childcare Services Statues/Bumps to build relationships and develop our listening skills. Care Inspectorate: Keeping families and children safe in your ELC setting We have been looking after our garden, watering our plants and sweeping up the leaves that are Care Inspectorate: My World Outdoors falling and moving them into our compost pile. We are hoping to have some compost that we Care Inspectorate: Out To Play can use by spring. Outdoor Learning The outdoor tap has again been greatly used We have been making the most of our outdoor since returning. The children have been enjoying area since returning in August. We are outside in using real vegetables in the mud kitchen to create all weathers, rain, snow or shine! We have been some fantastic recipes, and using our loose parts fortunate with the weather this year, however, it to create water channels. Mark making using is starting to change and the days are becoming water and a paintbrush has been fantastic fun! colder and wetter. Please be sure that your child arrives dressed appropriately for outdoor play. Staffing (Lots of thin layers underneath waterproofs are We were sorry to say goodbye to Miss Glennie best). When dressing your child please put on who worked as an Early Years Practitioner in the their own jacket, then waterproof trousers OVER afternoon session. Miss Glennie moved to Moray their jacket, then their waterproof jacket on top - recently so has accepted a post closer to home. this helps to keep their own jacket dry and the children warm. We ask that hats, scarves and As of Monday (9/11/20) Mrs Bremner will be gloves are named where possible. working in the AM session. Miss Ewing will be working in the PM session although will still be Please always bring a bag with a full change of around at AM drop off. clothes (including socks) to nursery for your child. Garden Donations Waterproofs We are continuing to develop our garden. In Our waterproofs have been so well used since we order to do this we are looking for donations of returned to nursery! Some children’s resources such as: waterproofs have been swapped for a bigger size to accommodate having thicker winter jackets ● Compost underneath. ● Tarpaulins ● Outdoor pots We would just like to remind parents: ● Cuttings from shrubs/plants ● The waterproofs are the property of ● Plants Kittybrewster. Your child will be given a ● Loose parts (such as cable reels, set to use during their time at guttering/piping/tubing etc) Kittybrewster Nursery. Waterproofs must ● Natural resources (such as corks, disks of be returned upon leaving the setting/your wood/tree stumps, conkers, acorns and child moving onto Primary 1. pine cones) ● The waterproofs can be used in an evening/weekend, however, please If you, or anyone you know, can provide any of ensure that your child has both the these resources for us please let us know so we dungarees and the jacket for the nursery can organise a COVID-19 safe collection/delivery. session. Thank you! ● If the waterproofs are taken home please DO NOT WASH them as this removes the ​ waterproofing. If you feel the suit needs washed, please speak to a member of nursery staff. Due to Covid we have been unable to let parents into the building to see our nursery setting. We have attached some photos so you can see the layout of our rooms. Our toilet facilities Our changing facilities Aberdeen City Libraries are now partially open to the public for some covid-safety regulated borrowing. Central Library, Airyhall, Bridge of Don, Cove, Dyce, Mastrick and Tillydrone libraries are all open for public browsing Monday to Friday 10 am – 1pm and 2pm – 5pm, and Saturday 10am – 1pm. Browsing numbers are kept low, and face coverings should be worn by adults in the library. Families can once more choose in person which picture books, audio books and DVDs they would like to borrow. .