Hello and welcome to the March 2001 Newsletter

Hello and I hope you are surviving the spell of cold weather we've been experiencing. As I mentioned in the last newsletter please make sure that you have completed a registration card on the bus, so that if we have to cancel any stops we can get in touch with you to let you know.
Now for the news.

The Wheels on the bus go Round and Round...
But only if there's a driver behind the steering wheel! We are currently very short of relief drivers to take the Playbus to parties etc. or to cover for Gill when she is on a training course or holiday. You can drive the Playbus on a car license as long as you have some training on it. Alternatively, anyone with a PSV or HGV license can go onto our insurance policy with no extra training.

If you think you know someone who may be available to drive the bus for a couple of hours every few weeks, or if you would like to widen you skills by becoming a Playbus driver please get in touch with me to chat about it. We provide the training and there is no fee to go on the insurance, all you have to do is fill out a simple form and have some free time! In the past we have had several mums learn to drive the bus, and their children are very proud to tell their friends about their Playbus driving mummy! One mum even learnt to drive whilst pregnant!

Fundraising
The Recipe books produced by Playbus users at the Bedingfield stop have been selling like hot cakes (excuse the pun!). There will soon be a book of ideas for activities to amuse the children on days when the Playbus does not visit your area, which is being put together by Stonham Aspal.

The Christmas party was a great success and the Raffle which was drawn there raised a whopping £312 profit so well done for saturating your friends and family with tickets, it was worth it!

Palgrave will be holding their Sponsored Easter Bonnet Parade on Sunday 8th April along the footpath from the Rainbow supermarket car park in Diss to Palgrave. The Playbus will be at it's usual stop at the Community Centre, where tea/coffee and Hot Cross Buns will be served. There is a mini coffee morning in the hall while the children get the chance of an extra play on the Playbus outside. All children that collect sponsors and take part in the walk get a Creme Egg for their efforts, they sleep well that night too! This event has been very successful in past years and the Diss Express usually sends along a photographer. Sponsor forms are on the Playbus.

Dennington are organising a sponsored match box collection where each child will collect sponsors for finding as many items as possible which will fit into a match box.

When it's Spring again!
The better weather will soon be here and Gill will bring the outdoor toys, but as the ground is still likely to be quite damp please remember to dress the children in suitable clothes and footwear. Also it saves time for Gill so that she can have a short break if you can help to put the outdoor toys and fences away at the end of the session.

Routes and Term dates
Welcome to new Playbus users at Mickfield and thank you to Mr Forrest for allowing us to park in his farmyard. We are hoping to move to the Village Hall in the summer so the children can play outside on the grass.

The last day the bus will be out this term is Wednesday 11th April at Stoke Ash/Rickinghall, back on Thursday 19th April at Stonham Aspal/Dennington.

Free Sessions
The Free nursery sessions are being extended to include all 3 year old children starting this term. It is being phased in between now and January 2002, but it does mean that all children will be entitled to 4 terms of free sessions before starting full time education.

These free sessions can be divided between a number of providers as long as each is registered to accept this funding. Your playbus is one such provider and by bringing your grant to us we will guarantee a place for your child at the session/s of your choice. Your child will also get an extra half an hour linked to the Desirable Learning Outcomes. We have made some special arrangements for the younger siblings of children attending the extra half an hour and you will get full details of this when you complete your funded child's declaration form.

If you would like to have free sessions for your child on the bus please let Gill or myself know as soon as possible as there is a deadline, called the Count Day, for us to return forms to receive the payment for free sessions.

To work out when your child can start claiming free sessions look below:

Committee
We have had a couple of new committee members since the last Newsletter went out but we would still welcome anyone else interested in joining. If you have completed the evaluation survey and said that you are willing to come along to a committee meeting with a view to joining, you will hear from one of the committee members by telephone in the near future. If you are interested in how the Playbus is run and can spare 2 hours once every 6 weeks or so please consider coming along to a meeting. The committee are very friendly and welcome new faces, but you are under no obligation to join.

The next meeting is on Monday 9th April and will be held at the Four Horseshoes pub in Thornham Magna, 8 pm.

Soft Room
Once again a reminder about the Soft Room. It is very important to monitor the children so that everyone gets a turn to enjoy safe play in the ball pool. Please make sure that you watch what is going on if you are upstairs, and look out for other peoples children as well as your own.
Please follow these safety rules:

Shoes off in the Soft Room.
Maximum of 4 children at once.
Use the sand timer to ensure everyone gets a 5 minute turn.
Do not allow balls to be thrown.
No toys in the Soft Room.

Dates for your Diary
Wednesday April 11th
Last day of term

Thursday April 19th
New term starts

Monday 9th April
Committee meeting; Four Horseshoes pub, Thornham Magna at 8 PM speak to Gill if you are interested in coming along.

Remember
This newsletter is for you, if you have any comments or suggestions, or would like anything included, let me know, the next issue will be out in June. Until then, don't eat too many chocolate eggs or we'll all have to do a sponsored slim!

I would also like to thank the following Parish Councils and VillageTrusts for their kind donations Bardwell, Dennington, Felsham, Hinderclay, Pakenham, Palgrave, Rickinghall and Stoke Ash. Every donation helps , no matter how small, so if your village or community hasn't been able to support us this year then get canvassing, let's make them aware of how vital a service the Playbus provides and perhaps they will open their coffers next year.

Newsletter MARCH 2001 - Registered Charity No. 283401 - www.pyramidsplaybus.org.uk

Gill Telephone 07836 745050 - Sue Telephone 01379 650746