What a great start to the year we have had. At the beginning of February a number of staff attended a super award evening in Salisbury organised by the Chamber of Commerce to celebrate the best businesses in Salisbury and South Wiltshire. We were finalists in the Customer Service Award and also were just pipped at the post for Outstanding Business but we were delighted to win Green Business of the Year! I think it is because not many other businesses have composting toilets! The judges were very impressed that we introduce green issues with our children – but we believe that being green starts at an early age.
New team members
We have also been very lucky recruiting some super new members of the Farley team. Suze has joined Top Conker, Jessie has joined Merrygrove, Kerry has joined Jon in Bee Garden and we have Susie who is our new General Nursery Assistant. They all bring their own skills and characters to enhance our nursery, and we hope that they will be happy working here. In February we also said a sad goodbye to Marjorie, and welcomed Sarah as our new administrator. We would like to say a massive thank you to Marjorie for all her hard work and wish her all the best for her well earned retirement.
First aid training
Twelve members of staff recently undertook a First Aid course and all passed with flying colours – please be assured that your children are in capable hands and will be kept safe; they may come home a little bruised and battered sometimes, but we don’t want our children wrapped up in cotton wool – we do allow them to take risks, but they will reap the benefits.
Ofsted visit
We recently had another visit from Ofsted and we were very pleased to see them! They had asked if they could come to observe the nursery delivering Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy (known as Maths in a previous life!) They came on Shrove Tuesday, so we had numbered pancakes; pancakes cut into different shapes and, of course, pancake races! Plus we had lots of water and containers and guttering and things that float and things that sink and squeezy bottles (that often didn’t work) for Problem Solving. The children had fun firing a bottle rocket and measuring the ones that went furthest. In fact everyone had such a great time and we are pleased to say that Ofsted thought it was all Outstanding and have submitted the report as a ‘Best Practice’ example.
Upcoming topics
As you know, your children learn here through carefully planned activities: it might look like a child’s free for all, but we spend considerable time making sure that your children learn and develop at the correct rate, but we also expect more of them. We like to aim high. The topic covered so far this year was Celebrations and we are now looking at Transport. In April our topic will be Minibeasts and Easter and in May we will be looking at People who Help Us. If any parents who works as a Doctor, Nurse, Police, Firefighter, Vet or any other caring role and are able to come in for a brief spell to talk to the children we would be delighted to see you.
Country Living magazine
We have just heard that we will be in Country Living Magazine. They should be coming to see us in April and we will hopefully appear in a future edition. We will let you know when. We will also be in an edition of ‘Junior’ Magazine – look out for it.
Steeple Langford
For your information our sister nursery over in Steeple Langford is going beautifully and is proving to be very popular – we now have sixty children on role! We have been searching for more staff there to join our team and have been overwhelmed by the response to our advert.
Dates for your Diary
Top Conker Spring Ballet Viewing Days - 19th and 20th March 10:30am – 11:15am
Dads' Breakfast - Saturday 9th June 9am-12pm
This is always great fun: dads please join us, with your children, at 9am for a hot cooked bacon roll and coffee, followed by a game of football, organized by Jon. This gives all mums a chance to have a lie in and put their feet up!
Sports Day 4th July 2012 2pm
THE BIG ONE! Saturday 14th July
This year we will be holding our main biannual event – The Farley Festival. Parents are invited to arrive on the field from 12o'clock to pitch their tents/camper vans/teepees ready for a day of celebration. We hope to have a drumming workshop in the afternoon. We provide an early supper for the children, followed by hot food for the adults. Then it's on with the band and dancing the night away! In the morning we will cook you a hot breakfast before departure around 12. Please put this date in your diary, more information will follow.
Exciting News!
We are pleased to announce the latest addition to our nursery – we are getting a puppy! We have given considerable thought to the benefits of having our own Farley dog, and we are getting a black Labrador puppy in a few weeks. Research has shown how children can benefit from a close association with a dog – it helps children who may be slow in their speech or troubled for any reason. It is also beneficial for those children who may not have a pet at home and it will certainly help children develop positive relationships with animals. We are still in the process of choosing a name. Puppy training classes here we come!
What a great start to the year we have had. At the beginning of February a number of staff attended a super award evening in Salisbury organised by the Chamber of Commerce to celebrate the best businesses in Salisbury and South Wiltshire. We were finalists in the Customer Service Award and also were just pipped at the post for Outstanding Business but we were delighted to win Green Business of the Year! I think it is because not many other businesses have composting toilets! The judges were very impressed that we introduce green issues with our children – but we believe that being green starts at an early age.
