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SLEEPY HOLLOW GROUP
Newsletter for our school age wraparound units NEWS FROM AROUND SLEEPY HOLLOW
By the Management Team
We have had a really busy first term of 2019/20
Magic Booking
A new updated version of Magic Booking was launched in September and we are awaiting an update again this month. We published a you tube video showing parents how to use the system . (https://youtu.be/gVKsr8bQ0Ko)
Weekly blog
We have started a new weekly blog which is largely based around our theme for the week. We capture images of whats happening, maybe some good dialogue we have captured with the children and summarise it - all posted on our website. https://www.sleepyhollowgroup.com/category/sleepyh ollowinspired-blog/
Bronagh and Diane also record podcasts for Play - our Way! These can be found on all the main podcast channels including Apple and Spotify.
Menu's
Our January to March menu's are posted on our website as well. We always welcome suggestions and feedback from parents on our menus - feel free to email [email protected] or speak with the unit manager. https://www.sleepyhollowgroup.com/app/uploads/202 0/01/Menu-Jan-to-March-2020.pdf
Play Councillors TAKE A PEEK AT WHAT'S INSIDE: Later this term we will be giving children the opportunity to become play councillors if they wish. Staff list at each site More info will be given out by the Manager and will be posted on our social media sites for those parents who New menu's follow us on those platforms. Childcare strategy
Half Term, Easter and Summer Camps Retirement! Brochures are always on our website. Half term will be up shortly and Easter/Summer will be up in February.
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NEWS FROM AROUND THE COMPANY
Awards
Last term we were delighted to go London for the Nursery World Awards and again were the only company from Ireland to be shortlisted in any category - last year was for team development and this year for Nursery Group of the year. Once again we were delighted to come away as runners up in this category.
We also had the opportunity to meet up and spend the day with June O'Sullivan from London Early Years Foundation and Roger Neugebauer who had flown over from the West Coast of USA. June showed us round some of her settings including those at the House of Commons and Roger accompanied Diane and Bronagh to the awards night.
We were equally delighted to be shortlisted and highly commended in NI's (medium sized category) Family Friendly Employer Awards with Employers for Childcare. A wonderful day out at Galgorm and lovely recognition for our employer related family friendly policies we have for our employees.
Reggio Emilia
As parents will be aware we have a Reggio Emilia Inspired Early Childhood Centre for 0-5 year olds as well as our wraparound school age childcare sites. We are following the Reggio Emilia approach more and more in our school age sites so were delighted when we found ourselves offered the possibility of returning to Reggio Emilia for their smaller winter conference in 2019. We spent a week with the wonderful people behind both the Curiosity Approach and also Fairy Dust Teaching (Follow them both on social media if you can and you will see they are both global influencers of all things early years and childcare so it was an amazing opportunity).
As a result Diane and Bronagh have also featured as speakers in the Fairy Dust Winter Conference which has already been recorded and will be screened in February 2020.
Committee work
As you will see from our social media we place an emphasis on lobbying for our sector in NI. We have been asked to join a Regional cross party working group where we are advocating for both staff in our sector and also for working parents in terms of an urgent need for a childcare strategy. The fourth meeting of this group will meet in February and we are hopeful now that an executive is in place that progress may be made in 2020 as this has been included in a programme for Government.
Diane also chairs the employers forum for Early Years, Playwork and Childminders as well as sitting on the Regional Workforce Grouping with senior civil servants from the Departments of Education and Health.
Bronagh sits on the Childcare for All Campaign lobbying on behalf of working parents.
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Retirement
We would like to announce the retirement of our Managing Director - Nikolai Koplewsky (snr) from 31 December 2019. Nikolai will still be taking an active role and interest in the company for the foreseeable future but in a back seat role and on an as and when required basis. We have been preparing for his retirement for a couple of years by bringing Bronagh on the Board of Directors as well as appointing a head of Admin role last year, promoting Dee to Regional Manager and bringing Rachel on board as an Area Manager. So its been a build up or a slow down depending on how you view it - but we all take this opportunity to thank him for all of his endeavours over his 20 years with the Company.
Staff Team 2020
As innovate and flexible employers we have our own training programme for staff and also endeavour to accomodate staff requests in terms of flexibility of employment such as term time only contracts or to allow for attending courses
Therefore whilst we normally have a dedicated manager per site sometimes our assistant playworkers will move between sites to accomodate flexiblity. However we are the largest childcare provider in NI and you will see staff changes from time to time as staff move on to university as well as staff who move to work closer to home in another of our facilities or even progress to the ranks of unit management. During holidays staff also move more frequently as units join together in link with our shared play holiday camps.
The senior management team is as follows.
Directors : Diane & Bronagh Regional Manager for NI : Dee Area Manager : Rachel Finance Manager : Pauline Head of Admin : Denise Head of Early Childhood Centre : Karen
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Sleepy Hollow @ St Ita's 07858136429 Manager : Lauren Playworkers: Natalie, Simone, Meghan, Diana, Jude, Lauren, Catriona, Rebekah, Hazel
Sleepy Hollow @ St Bernards 07936539013 Manager : Kristina Playworkers : Alessandra, Oriana, Nefisa and Aisling
Sleepy Hollow @ Greenwood 07936538936 Manager : Lara Playworkers: Maria, Linzi and Donna
Sleepy Hollow @ St Josephs 07719102334
Manager : Megan Playworker : Patricia, Villy, Luidmila and Jamie- Leigh
Sleepy Hollow @ Strandtown PS 07598213867 Manager : Kalyani Playworker: Britt, Piotr, and Julie *note Lisa has returned from maternity leave but is working in our Early Chilhdood Centre as Manager
Sleepy Hollow @ St Marys on the Hill PS 07814040013 Manager : Leigh * Playworkers : Gabriella and Sue
Sleepy Hollow @ St Therese of Lisieux PS 07790897304 Manager : Joanna Playworkers : Deborah, Amy & Shruti
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Sleepy Hollow @ Killowen PS 07811767354 Manager : Claire Playworkers: Kerry (maternity leave) Zoe
Sleepy Hollow @ Forthill PS 07836502110 Manager : Alex (maternity leave) Kirsten Playworkers : Victoria
Sleepy Hollow @ Our Lady Queen of Peace PS 07522236094 Manager : Caitlin Playworkers: Amelia
Sleepy Hollow @ St MacNissis PS 07934297348 Manager : Joanne Playworker : Serena
Sleepy Hollow @ McKinney PS 07790897356
Manager : Julie Ann (maternity leave) Holly Playworker : Kirsty
Sleepy Hollow @ Crumlin IPS 07753229022
Manager : Lisa Playworkers : Emma, Abbie
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Sleepy Hollow @ Gilnahirk PS 07541391478 Manager : Claire Playworkers: Tracey & Emma
Sleepy Hollow @ Victoria PS 07790897511 Manager: Victoria Playworkers : Coral & Kerry
**Note there may be some changes again in the year once we have looked at some more staff requests for relocation and reducing working hours**
Designated Child Protection Safeguarding Officers for the Company are Diane Koplewsky . 07872019888 Dee Edwards 07909 538401 Bronagh Creery 07920111417 Karen Larkin 028 94 45 39 76
A final reminder
Please ensure to book on line if you require an early finishes throughout the year as well as half term holidays etc. There is a link on our website showing parents how to navigate our booking system but if you need help booking please drop an email to [email protected]
Also if your child is off school for any reason can you text the unit to let them know. Its saves the school secretary and teachers checking role calls each day when we are doing pick up!