Welcome to Little Leo’s Summer Term Newsletter
The Nursery has steadily grown with recommendations we have had from your friends and their friends. So thank you
Recruitment is still having a great impact on nurseries and we are no exception. We are currently looking to recruit a replacement Deputy Manager
Funding Update
From September 2025, Parents working at least 16 hours a week may be eligible for 30 hours of funded childcare. Places are funded from the term after your child turns nine months old. The funding covers 30 hours a week for 38 weeks of the year.
If you are already claiming 15 hours Working Parent entitlement you can keep reconfirming your code as normal every 3 months and if you are still eligible, it will automatically be updated to 30 hours.
Unfortunately, if you do not reconfirm your eligibility code details before the start of the next term your eligibility to access the funding for the following term would be 2 withdrawn by Barnet Council for the term.
Barnet Council have issued a new Funding form template that we are required to implement. The new funding from has now been issued to all Parents for completion. Please complete the form as soon as possible so that we can ensure that your eligibility code, if applicable, is validated prior to September to secure your funding for next term.
Ofsted Changes in Early Years 2025
Ofsted has set out plans to make the following changes to early years inspection and regulation. They will be removing the overall effectiveness grade and replace it with a new report card. The report cards will be introduced from September 2025. The inspectorate will consult on what the report card looks like later in the year
The 2025 reforms will feature a new safer eating section, where children are provided with meals, snacks and drinks, which must be healthy, balanced and nutritious.
The 7 areas for Learning will remain the same. They are:
- Communication and Language
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
- Physical Development
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the World
- Expressive Arts and Design
Room Updates
Cherry Blossom
School Readiness
School readiness is described in the foundation stage as “children reaching a good level of development in the prime areas and literacy and mathematics. It goes much deeper than this, a school ready child should be displaying many other characteristics.
Some of which are:
- Independent toileting
- Able to dress themselves
- Understands expected levels of behaviour
- Confidence and self-esteem
- Can take turns and share
- Can sit for a short period of time
- Can separate from parent/carers
- Communication and language skills needed to communicate and listen to
- Can actively learn creatively and critically thinking
Some of these characteristics may be difficult for all children to achieve and this shouldn’t leave parents concerned that a child isn’t ready. The important thing is that we are able to identify and offer support and encouragement. For children starting school this September, I have attached a booklet, preparing you child for starting school, from the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years.
Language and communication
Small groups of children are being taken into the staff room to do specific activities including phonics, number work and short stories. They will also be focusing on listening and attention eg using tune into environment sounds which underpin good phonological awareness and discrimination between speech sounds, along with using headphones to listening to CD stories.
Little Buds
Physical Development
Providing opportunities for the young children to be active and interactive, and to develop their co-ordination, control, movement.
Handling – using their fine motor skills to handle writing materials, operate button toys, flipping through books and marking using the sand.
Movements – using their gross motor skills, climbing, walking, throwing, crawling through tunnels, riding on car, pushing and pulling toys.
Hand eye coordination – Building towers, self-feeding , putting things in and out of containers, opening and closing jars
Malleable – playdough, shaving foam.
Holly Berries
The toddler room are busy learning through play, movement and everyday routines. At this age, children are starting to understand and express their emotions. We are supporting them to recognise and manage their feelings such as happy, sad, frustrated in a positive way.
Their language and communication is also growing quickly. They are learning new words, how to ask, listen and respond to others. We encourage this through songs and simple conversations during play and snack times.
Another big focus in the toddler room is physical development. They are gaining confidence and gaining independence with their walking, climbing, jumping, along with feeding themselves.
Parent Helpers
I would like to remind all parents that they are welcome to come in and read a story, help celebrate a festival or talk to the children about their profession. The children really enjoy it when parents come in.
Festivals celebrated and to be celebrated this term:
When celebrating these festivals the children will take part in activities and will listen to stories being read to encourage children to embrace our multicultural society.
Passover, Shavuot, Father’s Day, Eid, Easter, St Georges Day, St Patricks Day, Fathers Day, Mothers Day.
Reminders
Breakfast – if you wish your child to have breakfast, please can you ensure that they arrive on time for breakfast which is between 8.00 – 9.00am (unless you have booked an early start 7.30).
Buggies – Can parents/carers please fold up your buggies ad place in the buggy shed.
Spare clothes – can you please ensure that your child has a spare set of clothes with their name written in.
Sun Screen- If you can please bring in a sunscreen for your child.
Absent – If your child is going to be absent from nursery, please ring in the morning and let us know. Also ring and let us know if you will be late and your child requires lunch (lunch is at 11.30).
Children’s belongings – parent, please limit extra toys brought into nursery, as do not accept responsibility if they are lost or broken.
Dates for your diary
- Graduation Day
Tuesday 22nd July approx. 2.30pm for a tea party. The Graduation ceremony will take place from 3.45pm All parents/carers of the children graduating are welcome to attend.
A bouncy castle will be onsite for all children to enjoy for the day.
More information to follow
- Summer term funding ends 25 July 2025
- Autumn term funding starts 1 September 2025
Office 020 8211 3119.
As always, the door is always open and if you have anything you would like to discuss with me, pleas either call or email athena@littleleosnursery.co.uk
Wishing you all a lovely Summer