Hello and welcome to the September 2000 newsletter,

I hope you all had a good summer. The Playbus had a very successful summer starting with passing the M.O.T. test back in July, what a long time ago that seems now! The August Playscheme was a huge success with nearly every day almost fully booked, we had about 500 children attending either playscheme or play sessions. That means that all the hard work put in by the staff and committee members to publicise and run the Playscheme was well worthwhile. On the financial side if things, we reached breakeven point, despite the pump repairs which followed the visit by the Suffolk Fire Service!!

If you attended the Playscheme and did not complete an evaluation questionnaire there are still some on the bus. Please do fill in a form and post it in the suggestions box as all your comments are valuable when it comes to planning next years scheme. We’ve got an action packed Autumn coming up so I hope to see lots of you at the various playbus events which are all underway. Please read on for more details.

Health and Safety on the bus
You may have noticed the new clips attached to the fences to secure them together. They have been very kindly made by Serena at Rickinghall to ensure the security of little ones playing outside. Please always clip them together again so that they don’t fall off and get lost if you are helping to pack up the bus at the end of a session, and at any other time please make sure that they are clipped to the next fence section.

Half Term holiday
I know we’ve only just got back to school but just a word or two about school holiday Playbus sessions. To be worthwhile we need an average of 10 children in order to bring the bus however we can only allow older siblings of regular Playbus users on holiday time sessions. This is because lots of much bigger children can pose a safety risk on board if there are babies and small children also on aboard.

Route Review
There will be a route review meeting later this month so if any-one has any comments please put a note in the suggestion box. There is a also clipboard on the bus for details about other facilities in your village, please fill it in for reference at the meeting.

Committee
Following the AGM in June we said goodbye to 4 committee members and hello to Jan Budden and Rachel Turner. There are still a couple of vacancies so please consider coming along to a meeting and see what goes on. The next committee meeting is on Wednesday 4th October at 8 pm at Thornham Four Horseshoes pub. We aim to get the business over by 9.30 and then have time for drink and chat before it gets to late for those with babysitters. There’s no need to commit yourself if it’s not for you, just willing to be involved with the running of the Playbus is a help.

Nursery Grants
Children aged 4 and some 3 year olds you are entitled to five free sessions of nursery educa-tion per week. These can be divided between a number of providers as long as each is reg-istered 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 during term-time. Your child will also get an extra half an hour of activities linked to the Desirable Learning Outcomes. Funding is for children who are already 4 and for some 3 year olds. Three year olds who have English as their second language, a Special Need or whose parent or carer is on income support or income related job-seekers allowance are entitled to 5 sessions. If your children are eligible and you would like to use your grant on the bus please let Gill or myself know, either by talking to Gill on the Playbus or give one of us a call on these numbers: Gill; 07836 745050 Sue; 01379 650746

Christmas Party
The Christmas party has been booked for Thursday 30th November and we will be having two sessions as last year. We hope that Father Christmas will have time to visit, and fun, food and entertainment with ‘The Fun Force Experience’ will be the order of the day. Tickets will be on sale in October as will be Raffle tickets to be drawn at the Party.

Christmas Raffle
Raffle tickets are being printed again after the success of the Summer Draw, this time the first prize will be £50. Please take some and sell to your friends and family, after all who would pass up an extra £50 at Christmas time?

Job Vacancies
We have a vacancy at the after-school club in Wortham. The club is open on the second and fourth Tuesday from 3.15 until 5.00.The rate of pay is £4 per hour, please talk to Gill if you are interested as we need an assistant and cannot continue to run the after school club without adequate staff on the bus.

Thank you
There has been lots of fundraising for the Playbus going on and several people deserve a a mention for their efforts in organising jumble sales etc. Special thanks go to Playbus users at; Dennington, Wortham, Bardwell and of course everyone bought and sold Raffle tickets. The income from such fundraising is very valuable, so please put your heads together if you haven’t been involved in a fundraiser give me a call if you need some help or inspiration. Another Thank you to mention goes to Wortham garage who let us fill up with diesel when other customers were being rationed during the fuel crisis. I’m sure you’ll all appreciate it that the bus was able to keep coming when you may not have been able to get out due to the shortages. Hopefully the government will take some action about fuel prices now as the Playbus spends a huge £4000 per year on diesel and is something we cannot cut back on being a mobile project.

Events/Fundraising
There are several things being planned at the moment: Thorndon are having a Bonfire party in November. It will consist of a bonfire and some hot dogs etc. but no big firework dis-play and all the noise (and tears) usually associated with November 5th. Worlingworth are holding a Disco for children up to age 7 on November11th, more details nearer the time. Pakenham are having a marathon darts match, date and details to follow. The Christmas Party of course is also coming up, this year it is on the last day in November as usual and ticket will be £3 including lunch and present, and £1 for babies for just the present. Tickets will be available on the Playbus in October. Raffle tickets will be sale form the beginning of October. Let me know if you are planning something in aid of the Playbus.

Dates for your Diary
Wedsnesday October 4th
Committee meeting at Four Horseshoes pub, Thornham Magna 8 pm.

Saturday 4th November
Bonfire party Thorndon, details on bus.

Saturday 11th November
Children's Disco, Worlingworth 5-8.30 p.m.

Thursday, 30th November
Christmas Party.

Newsletter SEPTEMBER 2000 - Registered Charity No. 283401 - www.pyramidsplaybus.org.uk

Gill Telephone 07836 745050 - Sue Telephone 01379 650746