May Newsletter 2024

It’s almost nearly May. How? Remember we are off next Monday 6th. I’m actually off to The Lake District and I don’t want to jinx it, but the weather looks good. Oh dear. I’ve really gone and done it now with my overinflated confident forecast! Anyway, I’m looking forward to it, whatever the weather. One of the friends I am going with was showing us maps of the area. I love a map. I know Waze and Google maps etc are all very convenient, but that unfolding of a map is so joyous and the smell of a new map (or Atlas) is divine. Admittedly, trying to fold it back up leaves me with a lot less patience and love and desire to hold the title of Cartophile! It is National Walking Month so I will be doing my bit as we hike up the ridges, then run down. I’m particularly looking forward to tea shops and staying in a Youth Hostel. The first time I stayed in one was for my husband’s 40th all those years ago. I’m definitely hanging on to the vestiges of my youth here!

So, that wasn’t how I was going to start my May Day newsletter. Firstly, I wanted to welcome Kate Ward who has accepted the role of Head Teacher starting from September. Kate has 20 years Nursery experience having been at Belmont School and we are delighted she will take over as Head. She is a great fit and it was a joy that she visited us today and the children loved to see her. She will be having a formal handover after half term so she will be all set to be at the helm in September.

Kate has also already worked with Katie B, who is to be our Deputy from September so they will be a great team as they lead the nursery forward with care, passion and the true sense of community. We still have spaces in the nursery for September, so please spread the word.

I’m looking forward to 5th May as it is not only Cinco de mayo, and hand hygiene day (what about the other 365 of the year this year? That’s not helping us with our hand cleaning and sanatising regime! I love the way that our children still ask for “a squirt” as they look for the hand-san after snack!) it’s excitingly and delightfully World Laughter Day. Bring it on!

Monday 6th starts Sun Awareness Week. We may have to introduce some of our children to what the sun actually is: that spherical bright entity that may be out of their cognitive memory! But hold on….The finals of the Eurovision Song Contest start on 7th so that will be our sunshine, surely. This culminates on Saturday 11th. Will be get “nul points” again? Oh, what to wear that evening and what snacks to purchase. It’s a quandary. Surely not. Ollie Alexander will be making us “Dizzy” indeed. I do apologise if I have offended any Eurovision song negaters. I momentarily got a bit over excited.

May is a huge month of diverse dates for our diary. We have my birthday on 10th. It is nearly a national holiday, but not quite! Maybe it should be in Dorking! It’s my son’s (and Isaac Lister’s) last ever match with St Paul’s Panthers as the under 18s. Juliette and I are quite nostalgic about the fact they started with The Panthers at the age of 5, when they all followed the ball in a huge dinosaur movement. But they are now League Champions (due to goals) and have their final match on 11th. Our boys met at our Nursery, so this feels a strange end of an era for me although like our boys, the community shows how strong and lasting it is. Then Sunday 12th is COW PIE SHOW. I have my Early bird Ticket. I love it so much. This is the perfect dénouement to my birthday weekend. However, it’s not all about me.

There are national and international dates to consider: It’s Children’s Day on 12th too, and International Nurses Day (big up!); Mental Health awareness week starting on Monday 13th which is so important to acknowledge through feelings and emotions. Oh, has anyone been watching Piano with Mika and Lang Lang? It’s so beautiful as you see the power of music in expressing emotions. It had me in tears.

We are looking at endangered species on 17th although we’ve been focussing a lot on ecology, recycling, saving our planet. This week we have a tuff-spot with sea creatures and pieces of plastic, string and we have talked about how we can protect our oceans. Our home corner is organically turning into a Rainbow Fish Ocean scene which they can take ownership of as they add their own creations. I am so proud of my team for their creativity and how we can all work together to scaffold the learning of your children as we offer activities that are interesting and pertinent to our own world.

We continue with Walk to School Week on 20th. I know most of you do but that extra hike from wherever you may park is time to reflect on how we all rely on cars, but it’s good to look after our planet and, it’s good for us to get some steps in. It’s also World Bee Day. We saw quite a few Bumble Bees in Forest School. They still enthral me with their size and the general concepts of physics that they defy! We have World Turtle Day on 23rd May. The it's Half Term. We break up on 24th May and return on Tuesday 4th June for our last half term.

We were all so very sad to hear about Debbie Harrison who died on Sunday 21st April. She was here when my Ben and Sam came to nursery and was literally the cofounder of St Paul’s Church Nursery and she has been such a wonderful part of the community for so long. She was a best friend to Juliette, and we think of all those affected by her death and send all our love to them. Please keep them in your prayers and be understanding for a need for time of reflection and respect.

So, on that sad note I bid you farewell as I close this rambled May time Newsletter.

Sending you all muchly love and joy and thanks that we are such a lovely community, and your children have this to take with them in their next steps in Dorkingland. The community remains, as do their friends from nursery. We have seen it on our children, and we are proud this will be a legacy for yours.

Jacquie and the Team

NEW: If your child turns two on or before 31st March and you are an eligible working parent in England, you can apply for up to 15 hours childcare or early education per week, over 38 weeks of the year. Read our Education Hub blog to find out more about how to claim 15 hours childcare including how to get your code.

This is the first stage of the biggest ever childcare expansion in England, so you can juggle the job you want with being a parent.

• If your child turns three or four on or before 31st March and you are an eligible working parent in England, you can apply for up to 30 hours childcare or early education per week, over 38 weeks of the year.

The deadline to apply is 31st March. We recommend you do so by the end of February to get your childcare code in good time.

If you haven’t used a childcare provider before or want to change it, find the right one for you and check whether they offer 15 or 30 hours childcare.

Apply for free childcare if you're working - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)