Hello and Welcome to the Summer Newsletter.

First and Foremost we had our Ofsted Inspection on April 29th and all went very well. Our inspector Andrea Snowden commented;

The Playbus offers 'well balanced sessions, mainly given over to free play but with opportunities for small group play and coming together for snack time and story time', There is 'overall a lovely atmosphere with lot's of fun and laughter'. The staff 'do a lot to make parents welcome on the bus.

...nice information displays available for parents to read so that everyone can get more out of the activities offered on the Playbus' and overall the Playbus is 'a lovely pre-school setting.

...the work you do, the miles you travel meeting the needs of children in rural communities is fantastic'

However there are a couple of points which were hilighted by the inspection:

Firstly please do not leave any bags on the seats downstairs, or anywhere else on the bus unattended as their contents may be a danger to small children. Instead please leave them in your car if possible, or in the driver’s cab or upstairs in the kitchen.

Also please be aware that the Playbus is strictly a No Smoking zone, including the outside area when the weather is good.

Health & Safety:

Please always fasten the childproof clips together when coming and going through the fences when we have an outside area for play.

Always keep the gate by the doors closed during play sessions to avoid smaller children falling down the steps, especially when there is an outside play area and they could fall onto hard ground or gravel.

When taking children up or down the stairs always ring the bell and make sure there is an adult to receive the child at the other end as children are not allowed on the upstairs alone.

Soft Room rules:

• Shoes off in the Soft Room.
• No more than 4 children in the soft room at once.
• Use the sand timer to ensure everyone gets a turn.
• Don't allow balls to be thrown.
• No toys in the Soft Room.
• Don't allow children to play on, stand on or jump from the gate.

Fundraising Events

Thank you to all everyone involved in fundraising events, especially to Tostock, Thwaite, Palgrave and Wyverstone. The money raised really counts so keep up the good work.

The next event coming up is the Bardwell BBQ on Thursday 25th July. This is always a good day and the weather is usually kind to us and don't forget the Summer Raffle will be drawn there. Later in the year is the Mickfield Car Boot Sale on Sunday 15th September.

Summer Playscheme

Bookings are now coming in for the Playscheme so please get those forms filled out if there are particular days or times you would like your child/ren to attend.

The 10% discount offer will run out on June 30th so pick up a booking form from the Playbus next time you go or give me a call. There will also be a Playscheme at Thornham Field Centre for children aged 5-11 run by the Ipswich YMCA but only on the following dates August 1st, 2nd, 15th, 16th, 22nd, 23rd.

If you have an older child/ren who you would like to go please give me a call. There are no forms available fomr the YMCA at the time of printing but they have assured me that they will be ready very soon, the cost for a full day (9 a.m. - 6 pm) will be £14 per child.

Free Places

All children who will have their 4th birthday by March 31st 2003 are entitled to 5 free sessions per week, starting September, at the pre-school provision of their choice.

These free sessions can be divided between a number of registered providers, the bus being one, 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 Early Learning Goals.

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 free sessions for your child on the Playbus please let Gill or Sara know as soon as possible as there is a deadline, called the Count Day, for us to return forms to claim the payment for these sessions.

Declaration forms for free session/s on the bus are available from Gill or Sara. The Nursery Grant is especially valuable as the Playbus is a Registered Charity so please consider using yours for free Playbus sessions.

Volunteer Needed

Is there anyone who is qualified to audit our accounts, or knows someone who is? At the AGM on June 12th it was noted that our accountant will no longer be able to do it on a voluntary basis and we need someone for next year.

We also welcomed 2 new committee members, Christina (Wortham / Rickinghall) and Kate (Thorndon). If you would like to come to a meeting or consider joining the committee there are leaflets on bus which give you an idea of what to expect.

The next meeting is on 17th July at the Bucks Head p.h. Thwaite.

Dates for your Diary

Friday 19th July:
Last day of term

Thursday 25th July:
BBQ at Bardwell 11.30-2pm

Mon 29th Jul - Friday 23rd Aug:
Summer Playscheme

Thursday 5th September:
First day of term

Sunday 15th September:
Mickfield Car Boot Sale

Mon 21st - Fri 25th Oct incl:
Autumn half term

Tuesday 3rd December:
Christmas Party

Weds 18th December:
Last day of term

Newsletter MARCH 2002 - Registered Charity No. 283401 - www.pyramidsplaybus.org.uk

Gill Telephone 07836 745050 - Sue Telephone 01379 650746