Our Team

Colin Wingham

Health and Safety Representative

Senior Pastor

David Turner

Newsletter June/July 2025

Welcome back to preschool after the half term break. We hope you had a good time with family and friends.

Staff – our lovely deputy manager, Annette, will be retiring at the end of this half term. You may still see her around the setting occasionally as she will be returning to do special needs work as needed. Our other equally lovely member of staff, Karen, will also be retiring in June. They are both valuable members of staff who will be greatly missed by both staff and children. If you would like to donate to a collection, please could you give it to Terri discreetly.

Suncream/Warm Weather – with the warmer weather we have had recently and with more to come 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.

Last day of term – our last day before the summer holidays is Friday 18^th July. There will not be any afternoon session for that day as we will be holding a special event for those children leaving to start school. If your child usually attends and is not going to school in September, please pick them up at 11:45. If you have any questions please speak to Terri or Annette.

Leavers Event - there will be a special event for children leaving to start school on 18^th July. More details to follow.

Return Date - Preschool will begin again on Monday 1^st September 2025.

30-hour funding – all children who are eligible for funding for working parents from the age of two 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. Sessions will only be available if we have place and spaces are already full on some sessions.

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. Funding for two year olds and for 30 hour funding from September 2025 will need to be applied for before the end of this term. If you do not apply before the cut-off date you will not receive the funding for the autumn 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 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 now 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 27^th June, 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.

Lunch club – you will have received an email letting you know 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.

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.

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

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 at the moment 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.

Snacks – We are continuing with our policy of parents providing their child’s snack. We do ask that you supply your child with a healthy snack (fruit, vegetables, cheese or breadstick) and not biscuits, chocolate or sweets. Please remember to cut grapes, olives and tomatoes lengthways and to stick to recommended age-appropriate portion size. A letter was emailed previously with guidelines for portion size appropriate for young children and healthy snack and lunch options. If you would like a copy of this emailed to you, please ask.

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 Annette of the name and contact number of that person. They will need to know your child’s password.

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.

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

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

2024/2025 Term Dates

Summer Term

22^nd April 2025 – 18^th July 2025

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.

Email – tcc.preschool@hotmail.co.uk

Website – www.tccchristianpreschool.co.uk

Call us: 07913 178982

Where to find us:

Thundersley Congregational Church Kenneth Road, Benfleet, SS7 3AL

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Thundersley Congregational Church Christian Preschool