Thundersley Congregational Church Christian Preschool

Newsletter September/October 2025

Welcome back to preschool after the summer break. We hope you had a good time with family and friends. We would like to welcome our new children and their families who are joining us this term. Thank you for all your kind gifts and cards you gave staff at the end of last term.

Lunch and Snack – in line with government guidelines and EYFS (September 2025) snacks and lunches need to be a balance of starchy food, fruit or vegetables, protein and dairy (or alternative) and low in sugar and salt.  For example, a sandwich or wrap such as ham and cucumber or chicken and lettuce or pasta salad or crackers and a low-fat dip. Snack should be healthy (a portion of fruit fresh or tinned if it is in juice and not syrup, vegetable or cheese).  Please avoid giving your child foods that pose a choking threat (whole grapes and tomatoes, popcorn, carrot sticks etc) and ensure food is cut into appropriately sized pieces. Portion sizes need to be age appropriate.  They should only bring in water to drink and not squashes. This is now government guidelines which are insisting children of preschool age only have access to water, so please encourage your child to bring water in a flask or bottle with their name on. It is no longer permissible for your child to have squash in the setting.

Lunch club – as you may be aware we are no longer allowed to charge for lunch club. However, to cover the cost for the period 11.45 – 12.30 we are asking parents to pay £3.50 per day as a voluntary contribution. This is the same amount as previously charged for lunch club so it will not cost you anymore but will mean there is a continuity of care from 8.45 – 3.30. We hope you will continue to support us with this. If your child is on funding and you do not use all your entitlement, lunch club can be included as part of your child’ hours if it does not exceed the hours allocated.

30-hour funding – all children who are eligible for funding for working parents from the age of nine months will be entitled to 30 hours per week from September 2025. If you think this is applicable to you, please go to the government website to apply for this. This needs to be completed before the end of term for funding for the following term. If you think you will be entitled to this from January 2026, please apply this term and email the code and your national insurance number to the administrator. Sessions only be available if we have space and some mornings and afternoons are already full.

Two year funding – If your child is eligible for 2 year funding or 30 hour funding you will need to apply via the government website and email the code along with your national insurance number to tcc.preschool@hotmail.co.uk so we can apply for the funding. If you do not apply before the cut-off date you will not receive the funding for the following term. The links for applying and for information are https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/ , https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-childcare-if-youre-working. This funding will need to be renewed every three months. The government via HMRC will send you an email to remind you to do this.

Fees – please check your emails for your invoices. Fees are £22.00 per session and a voluntary contribution of £3.50 per day for those who use all their funded hours but stay between 11.45 – 12.30.  You will notice the invoices are set out slightly differently and has a second page setting out what lunch periods are covered. The fees are due to be paid at the beginning of each half term but will need to be paid by Friday 26^th September, at the latest. Payments can be paid by BACS (the preferred method) or cash. If you have any issues with payments, please speak to Terri.

Suncream/Warm Weather – with the warmer weather still with us please ensure you apply suncream to your child and put it in their bag with a label on. Also please ensure your child has a sun hat (also labelled) to wear when outside.

**IMPORTANT**

LABELS – PLEASE ENSURE YOU LABEL ALL YOUR CHILD’S BELONGINGS INCLUDING BAGS, SNACK/LUNCH BOXES, WATER BOTTLES, SUN HATS, SUN CREAM, SHOES ETC. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT SO THINGS BELONGING TO YOUR CHILD DO NOT GO ASTRAY OR GET TAKEN BY ANOTHER CHILD.

Drop off/Pick up – Preschool times are mornings 8.45 – 11.45 and afternoons 12.30 – 3.30. Please do not be late picking your child up. If someone other than the main carers are dropping off or picking up your child, please inform Terri or Jo of the name and contact number of that person. They will need to know your child’s password.

Sickness/illness – In line with current Government guidelines we would like to remind you NOT to send your child in if they are at all unwell, even with coughs and colds. There are a lot of viruses about, and it is unfair on your child and on staff if they are ill. Also, if you need to give your child Calpol or any medication do not send your child in as it may be masking another illness. If staff become infected, it will interfere with the continued running of the setting. If preschool needs to call you regarding your child, please ensure you answer your phone as they will need to be collected if they are ill. If your child is prescribed antibiotics, please keep them off for the first 48 hours of starting the medication in case of an allergic reaction, unless it is a repeat course of treatment.

Shared care – if your child goes to a child minder, another preschool or nursery please let Terri or Jo know they have shared care with another setting.

On-line Safety – Online safety is very important for all children. Please see attached information at the bottom of this newsletter regarding this.

Please could you keep us updated with your email address and check your inbox regularly for updates. Please also ensure you inform us of any change of address or telephone number.

Please do not allow children to bring items in from home, especially toys and comforters (unless it is relevant to the topic and will go straight into the box on arrival) as they can transmit germs.

Diary Dates

Christmas Service – 30^th November. Doors open at 3:00pm. All children will be involved. Further details will follow.

2025/2026 Term Dates

Autumn Term 2025

1^st September – 12^th December

Half Term - 27^th – 31^st October

Spring Term 2026

6^th January – 27^th March

Half Term – 16^th – 20^th February

Summer Term 2026

13^th April – 17^th July

Half Term – 25^th – 29^th May

May Bank holiday 2026 – 4^th May

We will continue communicating via email, Facebook, and our website.