I’ve been a little lackadaisical when it comes to bringing you news of the Nursery. I blame it on you-know-what and the anxiety and uncertainty it has brought to most corners of our lives. Apologies. It’s sunny outside as I peer through my living room window – I’ve been working from home since last March…
Read More Spring has sprung!The following is a letter from Sue Dreksler, Chairman of Trustees, Sevenoaks Day Nursery:- Dear All, Re: New manager I am writing on behalf of the Trustees and Management Committee of the Nursery. As you know, we have been recruiting for a new nursery manager since Jean stepped down from the role earlier in the…
Read More New Management Team AnnouncedIf you’re anything like me you will have picked up one or two bad habits over the past four or five months (can it really be that long?) . . . I’m talking about snacking, drinking too much and not getting enough exercise, despite a very tidy garden! Well, the NHS have just launched a…
Read More NHS launch ‘Better Health’A letter from Sue Dreksler, Chairman of Trustees: Dear Parents/Guardians, Re: SDN Fees I am writing on behalf of the Trustees of Sevenoaks Day Nursery to let you know the outcome of this year’s fee review. We review the Nursery fees annually. Last year we moved this review from the autumn to the summer so…
Read More Sevenoaks Day Nursery FeesThis week sees the start of the demolition of the old nursery building. Opened in 1989 the Nursery was the brainchild of Dr Margaret Bates, who wanted “to allow working mothers, including single parents to place their children safely and happily and give them a social education.” Margaret had been a Psychiatric Social Worker and…
Read More Farewell old friendShe’s at it again! I dunno, you’d have thought one scary dive out of an airplane travelling at 1,000 mph and then falling through the air at the speed of sound until you hit the deck 15,000 feet below would be a once in a lifetime thing, but no, Laura’s going back for a second…
Read More High flying LauraIt is clear that there is demand for Summer Club this year and, assuming the battle against COVID-19 continues to go our way, we will open on Monday 20th July (official Kent hols start on 23rd July). The Government/DfE have promised to give the final OK on July 4th and we’re now taking bookings on…
Read More Summer Club 20th July to 28th AugustI asked Rachel for some notes, so I could provide you all with the inside track on what it’s been like this past week, but I think she’s sleeping this weekend! Hahaha! We opened up again for everyone on Monday. There was lots of frantic activity during the week before, with Rachel, the staff, Trustees…
Read More Our first week backI subscribe to the COVID Symptom Study, along with over three and half million others. We just answer a couple of questions every day and these are analysed in collaboration with King’s College London researchers. It’s done through an app which is available at the App Store and Google Play. Anyway, today their email reminder…
Read More How to keep your kids safe as they return to schoolThe Government has just updated their guidance on supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing. Here’s the full guidance And here’s the easy-read version. The latter is pretty good and highly recommended.
Read More Staying at home and avoiding madness – Part III popped into the Nursery this morning; Scottish Power wanted a meter reading, so I thought I’d oblige and take the chance to say ‘hello’ to everyone. As I ambled onto the tennis court I could see Rachel lugging some large bits of wood towards the high garden gates and then Laura came round the…
Read More Today in the NurseryThe past couple of weeks has been a busy time and an often very confusing one . . . . . to say the least. The Government has published many dozens of Guides for all areas of industry and commerce and many apply to us. The most recent specialist Guide is this one: coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures It…
Read More Responding to Events – Keyworkers – Fees – Childcare Arrangements – Club – The FutureCarol and I have only been cooped up together for a day and a half so far (I had to go in yesterday to prepare the month’s payroll) and she’s driving me nuts. To be fair, I’m probably driving her nuts too. And I suspect it’s as much to do with each of us thinking…
Read More Staying at home and avoiding madnessAll nurseries have been asked to close indefinitely from Friday. However, places need to be available for children of key workers and vulnerable children. We won’t be told who the key workers are until tomorrow. So at this stage we don’t know what it means for Sevenoaks Day Nursery or for the future of your…
Read More Today’s newsDear Parents and Carers, Coronavirus/Covid-19 Update I am writing to let you know the latest information and actions the Nursery is taking amid a rapidly changing situation. The Nursery is following the Government’s latest guidance for educational settings which can be found athttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-educational-settings-about-covid-19/guidance-to-educational-settings-about-covid-19 As you will be aware, regular updates from the authorities are being…
Read More Coronavirus update from Sue DrekslerOf course we are following daily advice from the DoE and PHE and, if you’re interested, the latest guidance for educational settings is here:- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-educational-settings-about-covid-19/guidance-to-educational-settings-about-covid-19but I thought the following NHS you tube video aimed at children might come in handy.
Read More Helping children wash their hands properlyAs Jean takes a back seat at the Nursery and hands over the reins to Rachel, I thought you might like a brief summary of why the Trustees asked her to take over as Acting Nursery Manager. Rachel has been with us since July 2012 when she arrived as a young, wet-behind-the-ears, newly, fully-qualified childcare…
Read More Who is Rachel?It’s an early Easter this year and a very strange holiday; Thursday 2nd April to Wednesday 15th April with Bank Holidays (when we’re not open) on Friday 10th and Monday 13th. I was hoping that we’d be able to open Club from the Monday before until the Friday after, but that’s not possible while Hollybush…
Read More Bookings for Easter Club now being takenThis is the time of year when recent excessive spending can catch up with us. For most of us, at worst, it just results in a modest tightening of belts, but for some it can lead to anxiety, depression and worse. I’ve just read this story on the BBC website. It’s a common enough story…
Read More Money problems?