HANDBOOK FOR PARENTS
2011-2012
CONTENTS
Page
Absence 14
Accommodation 11
Aims 7
Art and Craft 24
CEYU Information 5
CEYU Staff 6
Change of Address 14
Charity Support 23
Children with Disabilities 14
Children’s Rights 21
Clothes 18
Clytha Friends Association 21
Curriculum Cymreig 17
Discipline and Behaviour/ Pastoral Care 21
Documentation 19
Dogs 23
Early Years Education - Foundation Phase 15
Educational Visits 18
Emergency Contact Telephone Numbers 24
Equality and Diversity 24
Equipment and Resources 18
Fire Drills 23
First Aid 25
Head lice/Nits 22
Health and Safety 25
Home and C.E.Y.U. Links 20
Hygiene 25
ICT 18
Jewellery/ hairstyles 24
Libraries 19
Litter Policy 22
Lost/ Damaged Property 22
Medical Matters 21
Mission Statement 8
Multicultural Education 23
No Smoking Zone 23
Organisation 12
Our Early Years Unit Prayer 10
Our Early Years Unit Rules 9
Parking 23
Pens/ Pencils 23
Planning and Information for Families 25
Preventative Services Group 14
Pupil Care 14
Race Equality 24
Record Keeping and Assessment 17
Religious Education 17
Security 12
Snacks 21
Special Educational Needs 18
Staff 6
The Great Day 10
Times and Term Dates 13
Toilets & Toilet Training 18
Transfer from C.E.Y.U to Clytha Primary School 14
Valuables 24
Welcome to Clytha Early Years Unit 4
Appendix:
1 Parent/Carers Concerns/Complaints 26
2 Positive Behaviour Management Information for Parents booklet 27
3 Child Protection Statement 29
4 Daily timetable 30
5 CSSIW Report 31
6 ESTYN Report 45
WELCOME TO
CLYTHA EARLY YEARS UNIT
The Chairperson, Management Group and staff are delighted to welcome you to Clytha Early years Unit. (CEYU)
It is important to us that your child is happy during their time with us. If you have any concerns about his/her time in C.E.Y.U, please do not ever hesitate to discuss them with us. We will do all we can to help. A happy child is a confident learner.
We hope that your child will find their time in C.E.Y.U. an enjoyable and rewarding experience.
Communicating with parents will always be a priority at Clytha Early Years Unit. The purpose of the Clytha Early Years Unit Handbook is to provide a comprehensive insight into all aspects of the setting. We hope you will find it both useful and informative.
Chairperson, Management Group and Staff
The child
Is made of one hundred
The child has
a hundred languages
a hundred hands
a hundred thoughts
a hundred ways of thinking,
of playing, of speaking.
A hundred, always a hundred
ways of listening
Of marvelling, of loving
a hundred joys
for singing and understanding
a hundred worlds
to discover
a hundred worlds
to invent
a hundred worlds
to dream.
(Loris Malaguzzi 1920–1994)
COVER DESIGN: Lucy
C.E.Y.U. INFORMATION
C.E.Y.U. Address: Clytha Early Years Unit
C/o Clytha Primary School
Bryngwyn Road
NEWPORT
South Wales
NP20 4JT
Telephone : 01633 265266
Fax: 01633 265266
E-mail:
Website address: www.newportlearn.net/clytha
Chairperson: Mrs Ann Picton, HT Clytha Primary School
Vice Chairperson/Secretary; Miss Ann Reece, DHT Clytha Primary School
Treasurer/Secretary: Mrs Jo Henshall, CPS Administrator
Management Group: Mrs Christine Roberts, CPS Foundation Phase Leader
Miss Kathryn Mountain, CPS Teacher
Mrs Caroline Reynolds, CPS Teacher
OTHER USEFUL CONTACTS
CSSIW: tel: 02920 451242/01495 761200
Child Protection tel: 01633 235407/8
Children’s Partnership Coordinator Mrs Katie Diamond tel: 01633 232609
WPPA, Head Office, Powys tel: 01686 624573
WPPA: local contact, Beechwood House tel: 01633 271528
WPPA Development Officer: Hannah Beckett tel: 07875 568038
Newport EYDCP Secretary Lisa Owen Chuckles Nursery tel: 01633 852373
WPPA Training Coordinator: Jayne Robinson tel: 01495 760909
WPPA Special Educational
Needs Referral Scheme: Lisa Aldridge tel: 01495 303805
WPPA Assisted Places Scheme: tel: 01495 760909
Local Education Authority: Newport City Council tel: 01633 656656
Education Department
Civic Centre
NEWPORT, South Wales, NP20 4UR
Educational Psychology Service: Moira Thompson tel: 01633 656656
Behaviour Support Service: Katy Rees tel: 01633 656656
Autistic Spectrum Disorder
Service: Katy Rees tel: 01633 656656
Specific Learning Difficulties: Katy Rees tel; 01633 656656
Principal School Improvement
Advisor Kate Evan Hughes tel: 01633 656656
SEN and Inclusion Officer Michael Olufsen tel: 01633 656656
School Nurse: Pam Flanagan tel: 01633 266176
SNAP/Special Needs Advisory
Project for Parents Les Foster tel: 01633 246897
Visually Impaired Service: Clytha Clinic tel; 01633 435946
Hearing Impaired Service: Margaret Barrell tel: 01633 871226
Child & Mental Health/CAMHS: tel: 01633 656656
Parent Partnership Officer: Gavin Metheringham tel: 01633 232357
Preventative Services Group: tel: 01633 656656
CLYTHA EARLY YEARS UNIT STAFF
The vision of the Management Group of Clytha Early Years Unit was to set up a cutting edge, early years facility that would work very closely with Clytha Primary School. The C.E.Y.U. staff needed to be of the highest calibre, paid as professionals, whilst accepting the role and responsibilities that go with this status.
The staff of Clytha Early Years Unit is one of its greatest assets. They are a well qualified, professional team, passionate about early years, cognisant of the potential impact of their input on the future of the children in their care.
The early years, when the brain is at its most active and receptive, are the most critical years and nothing is more powerful in “Lifting Ourselves and Others into Our Best Future” than the synchronisation of the best efforts of the home, the child and the school. Given the best start in life then the world is then truly our oyster!
TEACHING STAFF:
Miss Claire Knowles: BA, PGCE
Miss Knowles is a qualified teacher, particularly experienced in Early Years along with additional experience across all ages of the primary phase. She is fully conversant with the new Foundation Phase - introduced by the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG)for implementation in nursery classes in September 2008, Miss Knowles works closely with Clytha Primary School, Foundation Phase Leader of Learning and the Reception class staff. Early Years Unit briefings are held every morning and planning and feedback meetings are held weekly.
TEACHING ASSISTANTS
Mrs Kate O’Bryan: CACHE 2 & CACHE 3
Mrs O’Bryan was appointed in September 2008. Mrs O’Bryan has been awarded CACHE 2 and CACHE 3 by Nash College. She has also attended all the WAG Foundation training sessions, all the school closure days, all staff meetings, briefings and CEYU staff meetings.
Mrs Victoria Fenucci: CACHE 2 & CACHE 3
Mrs Fenucci was appointed as teaching assistant in February 2011. Mrs Fenucci has been awarded her CACHE 2 qualification at Nash College and is currently studying for her CACHE 3 qualification. These are college and school based experience qualifications. She is also attending the Foundation Phase WAG training, all Clytha Primary School’s closure training days along with all Clytha Primary School’s staff meetings, briefings and CEYU staff meetings.
THE AIMS OF CLYTHA EARLY YEARS UNIT
¨ To provide the best possible start in education for the children in our pre school, helping every child to reach his/her full potential in all areas;
¨ To provide children with an education appropriate to age and stage of development through a wide range of well planned exciting and stimulating
experiences;
¨ To secure children’s wellbeing, to meet pupils personal and social needs and to promote their spiritual, moral, social and emotional development;
¨ To develop and improve performance in the basic skills of literacy and numeracy and welsh second language;
¨ To develop in children a love of learning and a desire to continue to expand their knowledge and skills throughout their lives;
¨ To help children to live together in a community, to develop a sensitivity to others and to become responsible independent people;
¨ To provide a happy setting in a stimulating, secure, clean, attractive and purposeful environment;
¨ To care for and value children as individuals encouraging co-operation and support for one another;
¨ To create an environment in which staff have an entitlement to teach and children an entitlement to learn;
¨ To develop and encourage a partnership between staff, children, parents and the community :- welcoming and involving all in the life of Clytha Early Years Unit;
¨ To promote a healthy living lifestyle;
¨ To give children opportunities to have a voice and be actively involved in their own learning which must build on what they already know and can do, their interests and what they understand.
¨ To be committed to equal opportunities by opposing all forms of prejudice, discrimination and racism, promoting positive approaches to difference and fostering respect for people of all cultural backgrounds and sexual orientation.
CLYTHA EARLY YEARS UNIT
TO LIFT
OURSELVES
AND OTHERS INTO OUR BEST POSSIBLE FUTURE
Mission Statement
CLYTHA EARLY YEARS UNIT
OUR RULES
· Follow instructions first time
· Keep hands, feet, objects and unkind words to ourselves
· Use an indoor voice in the classroom
· Use walking feet in the classroom
We will flourish as a setting if we:
· respect each other, treating others as we wish to be treated
· look after each other, our school and our world
· share, care and are kind and considerate
· be well mannered, honest and always do our best.
CLYTHA EARLY YEARS UNIT
‘CHILDREN LEARN WHAT THEY LIVE’
If a child lives with criticism
She learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility
He learns to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule
She learns to be shy.
If a child lives with shame
He learns to feel guilty.
If a child lives with tolerance
She learns to be patient.
If a child lives with encouragement
He learns confidence.
If a child lives with praise
She learns to appreciate.
If a child lives with fairness
He learns justice.
If a child lives with security
She learns to have faith.
If a child lives with approval
He learns to like himself.
If a child lives with acceptance and friendship
She learns to give love in the world.
Anonymous
This is what is important to us at Clytha Early Years Unit.
The Great Day
Your child will be very excited about starting at C.E.Y.U. Do not be surprised if s/he suddenly clings to you! On the first day, bring your child and settle him/her down. Stay for a while (or even the session) and leave together. The next time your child may stay for the entire session, please tell him/her when you are going and reassure him/her you will return.
CLYTHA EARLY YEARS UNIT ACCOMMODATION
Clytha Early Years Unit is a first class, superbly resourced, purpose built and renovated facility housed within the lower building and grounds of Clytha Primary School. The location on Bryngwyn Road, is central to the Handpost area in the North and Clytha Park to the south, two of the most enviably, thriving and vibrant residential and commercial communities in the City of Newport. The area buzzes and is home to a fabulous range and cluster of small businesses that meet the diverse needs of the community and so much more. A network of Edwardian and Victorian homes of great character, pre and post war houses, a sprinkling of modern builds sit in grand tree lined streets offering houses, flats and some bed sit accommodation in abundance to a wonderful, multicultural community,
The Lower Building dates from 1901 and in addition to the Early Years Unit, houses all the Foundation Phase classrooms, the hall, indoor cloakrooms and toilet facilities, a staff room that doubles as a central resource/small group area, the Headteacher/Chairperson’s office and the administration office. The EYU utilises the facilities and resources of the primary school and works in close partnership with them in order to ensure there is a continuum of care and learning across the three to eleven year old phase.
The Early Years Unit is a private business, organised and run solely by a small school based management group, working voluntarily without pay. Any profit is ploughed 100% back into the setting. Initially the establishment of Clytha Early Years Unit was sponsored by the Children’s Partnership and WPPA with funding from the Welsh Assembly Government. The Partnership, WPPA (Wales Pre-School Providers) and the LA continue to support CEYU’s development. The Early Years Unit was awarded the WPPA Quality Mark of Excellence in 2009. The ESTYN Inspection of November 2010 awarded CEYU with the most outstanding of accolades with judgements of EXCELLENT for ‘Current Performance’ and EXCELLENT for ‘Prospects for Improvement’. EXCELLENT means “Many strengths, including significant examples of sector leading practice”. This level of judgement is very rarely awarded. The full report is included as appendices to the Handbook.
Indoor facilities are bright, airy, attractive, welcoming and child friendly and offer a huge range of well planned learning experiences and activities in safe and healthy accommodation comprising a generous space of two adjoining rooms with bathroom, washing, kitchen and cloakroom areas. The main room and the Canopy area are both well lit with windows that can be shaded by blinds and with heating and ventilation systems that enable comfortable and legally required temperatures to be maintained. Space is provided to display notices about the setting’s activities together with helpful leaflets, information and policies. The setting is fully accessible for parents with prams, pushchairs, buggies and wheel chairs.
The EYU dedicated outdoor environment/play space is a fabulously resourced area. In the school there are also two additional hard play areas, allotments and a small grassed copse/Forest School to the rear of the upper building, all of which are available for use by the EYU. The school site is safely enclosed by walls, fencing, trees and greenery. A great deal of outdoor environment improvement has taken place in order to provide a more enriched outdoor play and learning space with the memorial/peace garden and the foundation phase trim trail being the last two completed projects, spring term 2009 and January 2010 respectively.
There is no public right of way through the grounds and it is the Council’s policy not to allow unauthorised use, which constitutes trespass.