Click Thunderclap before 7pm today to support an increase in childcare funding

Childcare in England is grossly underfunded and many childcare settings and childminders have been forced into closure. Many of them rated as Outstanding by Ofsted.

If you have a family member or friend that uses childcare, or you work in childcare or schools then please help.

There is a 'very large' campaign to make the government listen and put in place 'urgent' changes to increase funding levels. Without these changes, childcare levels will go down, more settings will be forced to close and the high level of excellent childcare we have in our country will be at an all time low.

The government is turning a blind eye to the chaos it has implemented.

The Facebook page and group called 'Champagne Nurseries on Lemonade Funding' asks for your help. There is a Thunderclap set up for 7pm TONIGHT.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/ChampagneNurseries/

Are you a parent, grandparent, carer, aunt, uncle, childcare professional, teacher, nanny? Whoever you are, if you care about the state of childcare today then please help us to make the government listen.

We NEED you NOW!
Thunderclap deadline is 7pm tonight.
It takes ONE minute of your time.

Click this link before 7pm on 7th September (tonight)  -  https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/61520-cnlf-admititremoveit and let us know that you support the team!

At 7.00pm, your Facebook status/twitter account will automatically change to the status that is shown on thunderclap. You need to do no more. Simple!

Please show us you are united in this with us. Click the link before 7pm and send a strong united message.

Catherine Regan a childcare provider for the last sixteen years supports this campaign wholeheartedly.

Catherine's business, Pine Pixies Pre-School in Formby, is registered for children from two years old and can have up to 32 children per session. Places currently available for fee paying and funded children.

http://pinepixies.webnode.com//

Funding available

Two Year Old Offer

Free Early Years funding which offers all 3 and 4 year old children up to 15 hours per week of free early education for 38 weeks of the year.

An  additional 15 hours of free childcare for families where both parents are working (or the sole parent is working in a lone-parent family), and each parent earns the equivalent of 16 hours a week at the national minimum or living wage, and earns less than £100,000 a year.

  

http://pinepixies.webnode.com/about-us/

https://www.facebook.com/PinePixiesPreSchool/

Once again.....

We NEED you NOW!
Thunderclap deadline is 7pm tonight.
It takes ONE minute of your time.

Click this link before 7.00pm on 7th September (tonight)  -  https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/61520-cnlf-admititremoveit and let us know that you support the team!

Formby Pre-School damage, situation revealed

I wrote an article reporting what I considered vandalism in my nursery setting. It has since transpired that the damage was done whilst a group was renting out the church hall during the holidays. The group it seems was the Sefton Aiming High group.

This group does a lot of great work within the community with children with disabilities and their families. I do not hold the children attending this group responsible.

However, on 2nd August the Sefton group organiser decided to carry out an activity whereby the children did hand prints in paint across the fencing in the church garden. Instead of assessing whether this would harm the area in question, it went ahead. To do this activity the organiser should have at least had the decency to do it on the opposite side of the garden on the side of the hall itself. That way the paint would not have impacted so negatively on the nursery that also use the area.

The Aiming High team told me the paint will wash off in the rain, but it rained heavy that evening and the paint is still there. The organiser of this event should have washed it off everything before leaving the hall that day.

Equipment belonging to our nursery was also used that day, some of it was found underneath where the painting had taken place. This equipment was taken out of the locked hall and out of the nursery's outside playhouse.

We have no problem with our items being used respectfully and put away where they were found. However, a lot of items were broken and pushed back into the playhouse along with a cap which does not belong to any of our children, where it would not have been noticed until we opened up in September.

The wooden playhouse window had in the past been slightly cracked by vandals. This had been safely sealed months ago with clear safety tape. However the window has now been completely put through and the Aiming High organiser had put duct tape right across it and left it. This now has to be professionally fixed as it is unsafe for the children in our setting.

Thankfully we are closed at the moment, otherwise I would have had to keep the children out of the garden completely, as it would have been unsafe for their use. I do not even know what type of paint they used and if it was safe for 2 years upwards.

I phoned my insurance and they advised that the onus rested with the group who rented the hall and damaged our items. My insurers also advised me to phone the police and record it with an incident number.

We recently had our Ofsted inspection and the inspector commented on what a lovely and well - resourced garden we had. We take great pride in our facility being a friendly and safe place for the children in our care.  The staff have worked very hard and what we have achieved has taken us years to put in place, with very little funding. We are now in a position where damaged items need to be replaced and the fault was not ours.

With the state of under-funding in schools and nurseries at present I cannot afford to personally pay to put this right, and would not by law be allowed to use the Sefton funding to put it right either.

I hold the organiser of the group responsible and ask that Sefton put this right before we open in September.

Following this incident the safety and well-being of the children in my nursery has to be considered here first and foremost; as does the equipment my nursery has lost, which will cost me approximately £300 to replace with no funding to do it with.

I await the response from Sefton Council.


Cath Regan ©

http://pinepixies.webnode.com//

Formby Pre-School garden vandalised

Pine Pixies Pre-School Owner Catherine Regan was shocked when she went into the setting garden. The equipment belong to the nursery had been thrown around and left outside. The fencing had graffiti hand prints all over it, paint splashed all over the area and the water pipes pulled off the wall.

The bug hotel the children had made had all been pulled out and strewn across the garden along with the tyres and palettes stored away for the summer.

The tractor the children love had been pulled out and the steering wheel broken off and nowhere to be seen.

Catherine said she cannot understand who would do such a thing. Thankfully, the planting the children had done was all still untouched. What was also strange was that there was no sign of entry.

 Paint splashed all over area and pre-school equipment.

 Tractor pulled out of shed and the steering wheel gone.

Water play pipes pulled off the wall. Paint all inside pipes.

If you know anything please contact us.  pinepixiespreschool@aol.co.uk 

http://pinepixies.webnode.com//

Pine Pixies Pre-School fun

Our end of term parties were enjoyed greatly, with the Teddy Bears' Picnic for the younger children and the Leavers' Party for the older children moving on to school.

Many varied 'teddies' turned up for the party.

Some of the children helped to harvest their potato crop before term ended.

We would like to give a very big thank you for all the kind presents and cards from parents.

Pine Pixies Pre-School is now taking admissions for the September term. We will be offering the 30 hours to eligible parents. We are registered for 32 children per session and accept children once they turn two years old.

Our opening times from September will be Monday to Friday term time only (38 weeks per year)
Full day (6 hours) 9am-3pm
Half day (3 hours) 9am-12 noon or 12 noon-3pm
9am -1pm (4 hours)

Funding available:
  
Two Year Old Offer

Early Years Entitlement which offers all 3 and 4 year old children up to 15 hours per week of funded early education for 38 weeks of the year.

An  additional 15 hours of funded childcare for families where both parents are working (or the sole parent is working in a lone-parent family), and each parent earns the equivalent of 16 hours a week at the national minimum or living wage, and earns less than £100,000 a year.

Why our ratios are better for your child

Our ratios are higher than a lot of other settings. Usually, we work  above the stated 1 staff member to 8 children for over threes, whereas a lot of other settings work to 1 staff member to 13 children. We think this makes a very big difference to your child.

Book your September place today and open up a world of fun to your child. We are not attached to a school and are very child led. 

01704 571920 or email pinepixiespreschool@aol.co.uk 

http://pinepixies.webnode.com//

https://www.facebook.com/PinePixiesPreSchool/

https://www.otsnews.co.uk/pine-pixies-pre-school-delighted-ofsted-result/     

Pine Pixies Pre-School delighted with Ofsted result.

Pine Pixies Pre-School in Formby recently had their Ofsted inspection. Management and staff were very pleased with the result, which was rated 'Good' in all areas.

Pictured below are some of the children at the setting with left to right, Catherine Regan, Registered Person, Co-Managers Martine Platt and Lynda Birtles and Practitioner, Alesha Carr.

Catherine Regan Registered Person for the nursery, would like to say a very big thank you to the staff, parents and children who all contributed on the day. Also to the Inspector, as she worked well alongside us on the day and put our staff and children at ease.

Catherine says:
"I am very proud of all the staff at my setting, the level of care and patience they show to the children is outstanding. They go above and beyond the job description and the parents appreciate this. Our parents come back time and time again with siblings, which shows they are happy with our service. Our saying is: 'We’re not just a pre-school; we are an extension of your family.' I think this report and the comments from parents show this to be true."

Although the report only signifies a snapshot from one day, we agreed with the inspector's findings as we have only just started peer observations and these were not completely embedded.

Comments taken from the report are:

"The experienced managers seek the views of staff and parents regularly when evaluating the quality of the provision they offer and planning future changes."

"Staff observe and assess the progress children make to help them identify what they need to learn next. This enables staff to quickly identify any gaps in children's learning and implement plans to ensure they make good progress."

"Staff provide a wide range of exciting and stimulating activities based on children's interests indoors and outside. Children are encouraged to try out their ideas and manage their own risks as they play in the well-resourced garden."

"Parents speak highly of the caring staff team. They particularly value the information staff share about their child's progress. Staff offer guidance on things parents could try at home to help support their child's learning and development."

"Children form strong bonds with staff which helps to develop their sense of belonging. This is because staff support them well through the key-person system."

"Staff are enthusiastic and motivate children in their play. They are always on hand to provide gently reassurance and praise whenever needed."

The report also states that children's outcomes are good. "Children make good progress from the time they start at pre-school. They play very well together, negotiating, sharing and taking turns. Children enjoy solving simple problems and use what they already know in a variety of new situations. They respond positively when staff ask questions and challenge them in their learning and work together to try out their ideas. Children are well prepared for the next stage in their learning, including their eventual move on to school. "

Read the full report here: https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/inspection-reports/find-inspection-report/provider/CARE/EY233820

A very big thank you goes to the managers of the setting.

Pine Pixies Pre-School is now taking admissions for the September term. We will be offering the 30 hours to eligible parents. We are registered for 32 children per session and accept children once they turn two years old.

Our opening times from September will be Monday to Friday term time only (38 weeks per year)
Full day (6 hours) 9am-3pm
Half day (3 hours) 9am-12 noon or 12 noon-3pm
9am -1pm (4 hours)

Funding available:
 
Two Year Old Offer

Early Years Entitlement which offers all 3 and 4 year old children up to 15 hours per week of funded early education for 38 weeks of the year.

An  additional 15 hours of funded childcare for families where both parents are working (or the sole parent is working in a lone-parent family), and each parent earns the equivalent of 16 hours a week at the national minimum or living wage, and earns less than £100,000 a year.

Why our ratios are better for your child

Our ratios are higher than a lot of other settings. Usually, we work  above the stated 1 staff member to 8 children for over threes, whereas a lot of other settings work to 1 staff member to 13 children. We think this makes a very big difference to your child.

Book your September place today and open up a world of fun to your child. We are not attached to a school and are very child led. 

01704 571920 or email pinepixiespreschool@aol.co.uk 

Don't just take our word for it listen to our parents-

“Pine Pixies is such a lovely environment for young inquisitive, active minds, it is also a very professional and a warm place for toddlers to make the transition from home to school. All the staff are so lovely and kind and I feel like they really care. My boys have enjoyed their time here.”

“We chose Pine Pixies for PreSchool due to a positive experience with her elder sibling. We have always found Pine Pixies a friendly and caring environment. The staff are Pine Pixies finest asset encouraging, supporting and providing a stimulating learning experience for the children.”

“The Pine Pixies staff have welcomed us into their pre-school with open arms, wide smiles and total professionalism. Our son loves ‘his ladies’ and always has a fantastic time. The days/hours are very flexible and any concerns are dealt with immediately.”

“Nursery teachers are so caring and very attentive to the needs of each individual child. I love the informal play and child-led aspect of learning. I wish this style could continue throughout early years teaching.”

“A lovely setting with lots on offer and friendly caring staff.”

http://pinepixies.webnode.com/

https://www.facebook.com/PinePixiesPreSchool/

https://childcare-support.tax.service.gov.uk/par/app/applynow

Pine Pixies Pre-School gardening fun

The children at Pine Pixies Pre-School in Formby have been working hard on their gardening skills.

Sunflowers, potatoes, radishes, runner beans, herbs are just a few of the plants growing well in their garden.

The children planted their runner beans and took them home. When the beans were big enough, they brought them back and are now growing them all together up canes.

We have a staff member who has recently attended a  'sowing and growing course' and we joined the Royal Horticultural Society School Gardening Awards, where we are currently at level 2 with the children. Another staff member takes on the actual planting and tending of the garden with the children. The children love watching their plants grow and are currently working on strawberry plants.

They also love using the herbs in their mud kitchen potions and cakes.

A recent visitor to our garden was a Greenfinch to watch all the fun.

Our level one award in the RHS gardening was a lovely calendar and certificate.

Pine Pixies Pre-School is now taking bookings for September placements. We are also offering the full 30 hours childcare funding.  Phone 01704 571920 or email pinepixiespreschool@aol.co.uk to come and view our nursery or put your child's name on our list.

The 30 hours funding is made up of an original 15 hours offered to all children the term after their third birthday. The second 15 hours will be dependent on a family’s eligibility.

If you think you are eligible for the 30 hours funding, please apply as soon as possible using the HMRC website. We recently posted the link on our facebook and website pages, it allows you to enter as a parent and asks questions relating to you / family & income. If found eligible you will receive a confirmation email, which we will need to see and photocopy for our records along with parent's National Insurance number. We will also need to see photo ID information from parents.

With regards to the original 15 hours of funding, it is every child’s right to have 15 hours funding and there is no need to apply; we usually give you a form to complete and hand back to us. If choosing 30 hours it can be shared between two providers’ e.g. nursery / childminder if you so wish or use all at our setting.

We also accept children on the Two Year Old Offer. 

We’re not just a pre-school; we are an extension of your family.

http://pinepixies.webnode.com//


https://www.facebook.com/PinePixiesPreSchool/

Pre-school childcare community links

This term has seen some lovely community links for Pine Pixies Pre-School children and families.

Chris who runs "Chris Toal Estate Maintenance" very kindly has donated the time, work and equipment needed, to ensure our children have a lovely new growing area in which to grow their vegetables and flowers. We would like to say a very big thank you to Chris and his team. The children have made their own drawings to go on the planter with their ideas of what they would like to grow in it. As you can see their plants are already starting to grow.

Zoe who is the Community Champion at Dobbies in Southport has donated lots of lovely items such as two large bags of compost, children's tools, seeds, pots and trays so that the children can really get stuck into their gardening. We would like to say a very big thank you to Dobbies and Zoe. Zoe has lots of great ideas for furthering our gardening and has offered more help when we need her advice.

As you can see below, lots of super items to aid our gardening project.

One of our managers, Martine has attended the Sefton course 'Sowing and Growing'. Here she learnt how to prepare a digging area properly, taught which plants are good and easy to grow with children. She recycled newspapers into pots and milk cartons into fun mini greenhouses. It was then 'hands on' planting - sunflowers and micro vegetables. This is linking up to the Royal Horticultural Society School Gardening Awards scheme.

Another local business 'Falconer Tree Specialists Ltd' has kindly provided us with much needed wood chip to spread across our garden area and the children have really enjoyed using it in their play and mud kitchen.

Our staff member and SENCO-Link Laura, has been attending Parent Champion sessions linking up with Freshfield Children's Centre. We recently invited some parents of our younger children to attend a session at the Children's Centre, where we made calming bottles and spent some time in the sensory room. The Parent Champion course is aimed at building stronger parent partnerships within the Early Years sector. The course covers a number of key areas including, SHINE therapy, weaning fussy eaters, toilet training, dental health, behaviour and sleep routines and mental health and well-being. The course primarily looks to demonstrate how strengthening parental relationship can support home learning and families well being, coupled with the professional continuous development of nursery practitioners.

Cath Regan ©

http://pinepixies.webnode.com//


https://www.facebook.com/PinePixiesPreSchool/


https://www.facebook.com/Chris-Toal-Estate-Maintenance-1452533791718812/


http://www.falconertreespecialists.co.uk/

https://www.dobbies.com/about-dobbies/dobbies-in-the-community/