Welcome to the new academic year and our Autumn newsletter

This is what we have been getting up to since the last newsletter:

Penarth Nursery and both Barry and Penarth Out of School Clubs have just undergone their inspections from C.S.S.I.W. Two out of the three reports are back now and showed that we have again reached very high standards in St. Aubin. We are awaiting the written reports for the Lodge Out of school club but verbal feedback was very positive so we hope that that too will be.
The reports will be displayed on the parent s notice bards shortly and we hope you will be able to take the time to read them. We are awaiting the inspection of the Cardiff nurseries and the Romilly park in Barry which I`m sure will be along shortly!
I am very proud of my staff and my management team who have helped maintain the high standards expected from a St. Aubin nursery.

We are awaiting our inspection in order to gain the Healthy Eating Award in our Cardiff nurseries. Although all the nurseries follow the same menus and eat the same foods it is only Cardiff Council who is recognising good practice. All of our menus and snacks have been checked to ensure that they provide the right balance for our growing little ones and the older out of school club children. To work in line with current recommendations the children will now not be served dried fruit as snacks instead opting for more fresh fruit. Dried fruit will now sometimes be served after meals as a dessert.

Many of the nurseries received a Silver Award for the kitchens this year.

We have developed our outdoor classrooms in Penarth and Barry by erecting log cabins. These provide warmth and shelter for the child who loves to be outside and can be used in all weather providing a link from outside to inside. They will be used primarily by our pre school children in readiness for the foundation stage curriculum they will follow when they go to school. We hope to introduce an outdoor classroom to Romilly Rd in the future.

We will be supporting Penarth Ladies Circle again this year in their fundraising events for this years local charity, Headway. You will be given notice of any forthcoming ladies shopping and beauty nights.

Other fundraising will be done for Rehab Uk, Brain Injury centres.

I am very proud to say that Jodie is this years Chair with Nicola, manager at Penarth, as her vice. Jodie is also Area vice chair and Nicola is Area Secretary. Toni, manager at Cowbridge Road, is Area Treasurer. A lot of other St Aubin staff are also part of ladies circle.

Kath Jones, team leader in Victoria Park, has achieved NVQ Level 3 in Management.
Emma Mills, Romilly Park, has achieved NVQ level 3 in Children`s Learning and development.

All our staff have completed their Child Protection training and have received training in Planning assessments and observation for children.
Several staff have updated their First Aid, Food Hygiene and Epi Pen training.

We have taken delivery of our new 15 seat mini bus, which is bright yellow and I am sure you won`t miss it !!!!

At St. Aubin we like for you all to get together to meet other parents and their children.

I hope the those of you who attended our parents association Family Fun Day back in June enjoyed it. Although only a few brave souls made it to the beach we had a very large turn out at Adventure Island and I certainly went home and put my feet up afterwards.

Now Adventure Island has a larger and extended play frame we still offer good value to our children with 25% discount given to St. Aubin children on entry and party packages of £10.50 and over, plus little extras. Don`t forget we can cater for hot food buffet for the party goers if you prefer.

Adventure Island will have Santa in his grotto from the beginning of December and the children`s breakfast with Santa is on Sunday 6th December 2009 at 9:30am, places are limited so please book with your manager to receive your ticket.
Nursery Children will receive a ticket free of charge however any siblings will be charged at £5 per head due to space constrictions. Adults are limited to parents only.

Children`s Christmas parties are being held during the week commencing 14th December. You will receive your child`s invitation nearer the date.

The nurseries will be closed on the following dates over Christmas:

Please note the nurseries will once again close for good Friday in 2010.

The Children had a wonderful Summer in Out of School Club. They have had organised Arts and Crafts, parties, water fights, shows, games and outings which included Orienteering, Beach trips, rock pooling, Rock climbing, Folly Farm and many more.

In light of the recent press we would like to reassure all parents that the nurseries take the children`s safety very seriously and so mobile phones are not used within the nurseries in areas where the children are. Nursery cameras only are used to take photographs of the children and they are printed on our premises. CCTV remains present throughout the nurseries and although we cannot install them in the bathrooms that the children use for obvious reason all doors to these area remain open at all times and all are within full view of other staff.