Halloween

30th October-Fire Safety

30th October is Black day, please dress your child in black clothes. We will be talking about 'fire safety'. 

Watching fireworks is great fun. But taking care is important especially as children are more likely to get hurt by fireworks than adults. There are simple things that can reduce the risk to your family.

Did you know…?

• Over 550 children under 16 are taken to A&E in the four weeks surrounding bonfire night alone.
• Many more boys than girls are injured by fireworks – especially boys aged 12 to 15 years.

General safety reminders

Children under five are too young to safely hold a sparkler and don’t really understand why they might be dangerous. Avoid giving them one to hold.

Babies or children can wriggle in your arms and reach out unexpectedly. Avoid holding a baby or child when you have a sparkler in your hand.

Children over five will still need you to supervise them when they use sparklers. It’s safest if they wear gloves when they’re holding them. They might seem like 'fireworks lite' but sparklers can reach a temperature of 2000ºC. Have a bucket of water handy to put them in so that no-one can pick up a hot one off the ground. Teach them not to wave sparklers near anyone else or run with them.

Safety reminders for your own event

If you want to be safe on bonfire night take your child to your local organised event. If you are holding your own or going to a friend's, it’s good to remember the following things.

• Children do need careful supervision. Have a marker, like a rope, for the children to stand behind at a safe distance from the display.
• Avoid noisy fireworks late at night, especially after 11.00pm.
• Use a torch – rather than a naked flame - to carefully read the instructions. Remember the rule to light a firework, hold the firework at arm’s length and light it with a taper or firework lighter.
• Store fireworks in a metal box until you are ready to use them.
• Never throw spent fireworks onto a bonfire.
• It’s best to be fully in control when you’re lighting fireworks. Avoiding alcohol until you’ve set them all off is the safest option.
• Don’t go back to it once a firework has been lit. Sometimes they can be very slow to get started and may take you by surprise.
• The safest place for a bonfire is at least 18 metres (60 ft) away from the house and surrounding trees and hedges, fences or sheds.
• After you’ve finished the display, make sure that anyone who is helping you to clear up uses tongs or gloves to collect all the spent fireworks to avoid burning themselves.

Reminders in an emergency

• Cool any burns immediately with cold water. Keep the burn under the running water for at least 10 minutes.
• Don’t touch the burn or pull at any clothing that might be stuck to it.
• If someone’s clothing catches on fire, get them to stop and drop to the ground and roll them any heavy material (like a curtain).
• Get advice from a doctor, the A&E department at your local hospital, or call the NHS for advice on "NHS 111" in England and Scotland and NHS Direct (0845 4647) in Wales.
• Get medical advice for any burn on a child larger than a postage stamp.
• If the burn involves a child’s face, hands, feet, joints or genitals, it should be seen by a doctor.

Most children who die in fires die because they breathe in smoke which poisons them, rather than being burnt by the actual fire. Get some tips on preventing fires in your home.

Did you know…?

• Fire is one of the biggest killers of children in the home, although numbers have fallen considerably over the years.
• Thick black smoke from a fire can fill your home in minutes and can kill your child in less than a minute.
• You and your family are four times as likely to die in a fire if your smoke alarm doesn’t work.

Safety reminders in case of a fire

Smoke alarms

You need a working smoke alarm on every level of your home, upstairs as well as downstairs, to warn you quickly if a fire starts. This is especially important if a fire starts at night.

Take a minute every week to check your smoke alarm and you double your chances of saving your and your family’s lives.

Don’t remove the battery if your smoke alarm keeps going off when you’re cooking. Move it further away from the kitchen or replace it with one that has a silencer button or one that’s toast proof. Ask your local fire and rescue service for advice.

Escape plan and routines

Plan and practise how you and your family are going to escape if a fire breaks out can save vital minutes that can make the difference between escaping or not getting your family out.

Teach children what they should do if a fire breaks out. They will be scared and may be tempted to hide which means it takes longer to escape or rescue them.

Follow a night-time routine – switch off appliances, close doors and windows, make sure cigarettes and candles are completely extinguished, etc.

Clear away any clutter in the hallway before you go to bed. If a fire breaks out you don’t want to be tripping over things in the rush to escape, especially if the house is filled with thick black smoke and it’s dark.

Safety reminders to prevent fires

Chip pans are the biggest cause of house fires. Replacing your chip pan with an electric deep fat fryer means your risk of a chip pan fire is much less.

It’s safer to avoid running your washing machine or dishwasher at night in case it has an electrical fault which starts a fire while your family is asleep.

Store matches and lighters out of reach in a high up cupboard. Remember to put them back in the same place every time.

Make sure your cigarette is properly out and if you’re really tired, it’s best not to smoke in case you fall asleep with the cigarette in your hand.

Halloween 31/10/2019

31st October please dress in Halloween themed clothes, the room will have various spooky invitations to learning for children to join in.

Parent's week

To discuss your child's development we are having a parents week w/c 4/11/19 please speak to your key worker to book an appointment.

-This week is also stay and play week so if you have any spare time and would  like to come into nursery to share a special skills, interests or hobby with the children please speak to a member of staff we would really like you to join us :)

October half term w/c 21/10/19

Don't forget it's half term next week. Nursery is back open Monday 28th October. Here's some link's for you to browse of things you can do this half term
https://www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/things-to-do/north-west/lancashire/blackburn

https://www.henry.org.uk/activities?gclid=CjwKCAjwxaXtBRBbEiwAPqPxcDeCp7UDr-4h2N6ZCO2HoAhzFGoPGMm3LkVgVgUBBpA6yhb7QOYK1RoCrW0QAvD_BwE

Have a lovely break. From all staff at St Mary's at the Park xx

Lunchbox ideas

A lot of parents have been asking for ideas on what to put in their children's lunchboxes. The website below is very useful for healthier options and ideas on providing healthy alternatives to what your child already likes. 

https://www.nhs.uk/change4life/recipes/healthier-lunchboxes

Other websites to browse...

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/school-packed-lunch-inspiration

https://realfood.tesco.com/curatedlist/lunchbox-ideas-for-kids.html

https://www.thekitchn.com/thinking-outside-the-lunch-box-10-sandwich-free-kids-lunch-ideas-222906

https://metro.co.uk/2016/09/27/16-healthy-lunchbox-ideas-for-kids-6129898/

https://www.modernhoney.com/back-to-school-kids-lunch-ideas/

https://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/family-meals/slideshow/30-quick-easy-school-lunches-pack-kids

Headlice

Head lice

We have had a reported case of Head Lice in nursery. Please check your child’s head today as they spread very easily.

Head lice are quite small and sometimes difficult to see. They tend to lay eggs round the ear area and at the nape of the neck where it is warm. Children will generally scratch the area which may become red and sore. There are a number of head lice treatments available at local chemists. Once the child has been treated for head lice then you must continue to comb through the hair for the following week with a lice comb which can again be purchased from a local chemist. Applying hair conditioner before you comb it helps the eggs to slide out easier. Please can you check your child’s hair on a weekly basis to help us try and combat the problem.

Thank you.

Did you know...

The starting point for all writing skills is Physical Development.

· In order to become successful writers children need lots of opportunities to develop their motor skills. Motor skills are motions carried out when the brain, nervous system and muscles work together. Children need to build their Gross motor skills in order to develop their Fine Motor skills. 

Children’s muscles need to be developed in the following order for them to become successful writers…….

· 1. Shoulder Muscles, examples of activities we carry out in Nursery are : Crawling, den building, parachute games, gardening (digging), PE sessions, climbing, self dressing, paint brush with bucket of water making large marks outside, drumming etc.

· 2. Elbow Muscles, examples of activities we carry out in Nursery are: Baking, painting, bat and ball, throwing, chalking, shaking instruments, play dough (rolling), zipping up coats, stirring (baking), cars on tracks, small world activities etc.

· 3. Wrist Muscles, examples of activities we carry out in Nursery are: hand washing, cutting up fruit, turning pages in books, mark making, scooping sand, pouring water, self dressing (socks and shoes) dressing dolls, making play dough, using the computer (mouse) etc.

· 4.  Finger Muscles, examples of activities we carry out in Nursery are: Cutting, threading beads, finger puppets, fastening buttons, jigsaws, keyboard typing, magnetic letters etc.

To help your child to become successful writers provide them with activities to develop these muscles so when they start Primary School they are ready to learn to write.

Monday morning quote...

Reading daily to young children, starting in infancy, can help with language acquisition and literacy skills. This is because reading to your children in the earliest months stimulates the part of the brain that allows them to understand the meaning of language and helps build key language, literacy and social skills.

October- Fire safety message

Watching fireworks is great fun. But taking care is important especially as children are more likely to get hurt by fireworks than adults. There are simple things that can reduce the risk to your family.

Did you know…?

• Over 550 children under 16 are taken to A&E in the four weeks surrounding bonfire night alone.
• Many more boys than girls are injured by fireworks – especially boys aged 12 to 15 years.

General safety reminders

Children under five are too young to safely hold a sparkler and don’t really understand why they might be dangerous. Avoid giving them one to hold.

Babies or children can wriggle in your arms and reach out unexpectedly. Avoid holding a baby or child when you have a sparkler in your hand.

Children over five will still need you to supervise them when they use sparklers. It’s safest if they wear gloves when they’re holding them. They might seem like 'fireworks lite' but sparklers can reach a temperature of 2000ºC. Have a bucket of water handy to put them in so that no-one can pick up a hot one off the ground. Teach them not to wave sparklers near anyone else or run with them.

Safety reminders for your own event

If you want to be safe on bonfire night take your child to your local organised event. If you are holding your own or going to a friend's, it’s good to remember the following things.

• Children do need careful supervision. Have a marker, like a rope, for the children to stand behind at a safe distance from the display.
• Avoid noisy fireworks late at night, especially after 11.00pm.
• Use a torch – rather than a naked flame - to carefully read the instructions. Remember the rule to light a firework, hold the firework at arm’s length and light it with a taper or firework lighter.
• Store fireworks in a metal box until you are ready to use them.
• Never throw spent fireworks onto a bonfire.
• It’s best to be fully in control when you’re lighting fireworks. Avoiding alcohol until you’ve set them all off is the safest option.
• Don’t go back to it once a firework has been lit. Sometimes they can be very slow to get started and may take you by surprise.
• The safest place for a bonfire is at least 18 metres (60 ft) away from the house and surrounding trees and hedges, fences or sheds.
• After you’ve finished the display, make sure that anyone who is helping you to clear up uses tongs or gloves to collect all the spent fireworks to avoid burning themselves.

Reminders in an emergency

• Cool any burns immediately with cold water. Keep the burn under the running water for at least 10 minutes.
• Don’t touch the burn or pull at any clothing that might be stuck to it.
• If someone’s clothing catches on fire, get them to stop and drop to the ground and roll them any heavy material (like a curtain).
• Get advice from a doctor, the A&E department at your local hospital, or call the NHS for advice on "NHS 111" in England and Scotland and NHS Direct (0845 4647) in Wales.
• Get medical advice for any burn on a child larger than a postage stamp.
• If the burn involves a child’s face, hands, feet, joints or genitals, it should be seen by a doctor.

Most children who die in fires die because they breathe in smoke which poisons them, rather than being burnt by the actual fire. Get some tips on preventing fires in your home.

Did you know…?

• Fire is one of the biggest killers of children in the home, although numbers have fallen considerably over the years.
• Thick black smoke from a fire can fill your home in minutes and can kill your child in less than a minute.
• You and your family are four times as likely to die in a fire if your smoke alarm doesn’t work.

Safety reminders in case of a fire

Smoke alarms

You need a working smoke alarm on every level of your home, upstairs as well as downstairs, to warn you quickly if a fire starts. This is especially important if a fire starts at night.

Take a minute every week to check your smoke alarm and you double your chances of saving your and your family’s lives.

Don’t remove the battery if your smoke alarm keeps going off when you’re cooking. Move it further away from the kitchen or replace it with one that has a silencer button or one that’s toast proof. Ask your local fire and rescue service for advice.

Escape plan and routines

Plan and practise how you and your family are going to escape if a fire breaks out can save vital minutes that can make the difference between escaping or not getting your family out.

Teach children what they should do if a fire breaks out. They will be scared and may be tempted to hide which means it takes longer to escape or rescue them.

Follow a night-time routine – switch off appliances, close doors and windows, make sure cigarettes and candles are completely extinguished, etc.

Clear away any clutter in the hallway before you go to bed. If a fire breaks out you don’t want to be tripping over things in the rush to escape, especially if the house is filled with thick black smoke and it’s dark.

Safety reminders to prevent fires

Chip pans are the biggest cause of house fires. Replacing your chip pan with an electric deep fat fryer means your risk of a chip pan fire is much less.

It’s safer to avoid running your washing machine or dishwasher at night in case it has an electrical fault which starts a fire while your family is asleep.

Store matches and lighters out of reach in a high up cupboard. Remember to put them back in the same place every time.

Make sure your cigarette is properly out and if you’re really tired, it’s best not to smoke in case you fall asleep with the cigarette in your hand.

Potty training

Thinking of potty training, but unsure where to start??




This is a great link for advice on potty training....
https://www.eric.org.uk/pages/category/potty-training

Please speak to a member of the team if you wish to potty train your child, we can help by working together! : )

ABC does...

Alistair Bryce-Clegg is an established educational consultant specialising in the education of children in the Early Years. 

Alistair is passionate about inspiring children to reach their potential and equipping practitioners with the skills and enthusiasm to achieve this.

You can find out more on abcdoes.com

St Mary’s management team have the privilege of attending the following sessions in Manchester:  

1) Raising attainment (24^th September 2019) ü

2) An Effective Environment that Continues the Provision for Learning; (26th November 2019)

3) Getting Ready to Write – The Development from Mark Maker to Writer; (28th January 2020)

4) What Comes Before Phonics? When is the Right Time to Introduce Sounds; (17th March 2020)

5) Making Maths Real and Relevant for the children in your setting; (12th May 2020)

6) Outdoor Learning and its impact on attainment. (14th July 2020)