Online Safety

Many children enjoy playing online games. As children get older, this often involves speaking with others online and with this comes the potential risk of grooming and exploitation. Speaking to your child from a young age about who they are talking to online and helping them recognise when a conversation may be putting them at risk can help to keep them safe from abuse. The NSPCC has published advice on how to start age-appropriate conversations with your child. In a recent survey carried out by Ofcom, it was reported that 6 in 10 children aged 3 -17 (57%) used live streaming platforms to watch online content. The research found that the platforms used most to watch live streams were YouTube and Tik Tok. The NSPCC has published guidance to help parents and carers understand some of the risks associated. Contact NSPCC online for more information.

Childnet also has internet safety resources for parents and carers with key online safety topics, advice and activities to share with your child.

www.childnet.com/paretn-and-carers

​

__________________________________________________________________________

Tax-Free Childcare

Just to remind fee paying parents that you maybe eligible for help towards your childcare costs. You will need to set up an online childcare account. For every £8 you pay into this account, the government will pay £2. This then can be used to pay your fees to us. Your eligibility depends on if you are working and your income (and your partner's income). Find out more at www.gov.uk/get-tax-free-childcare.

​

_________________________________________________________________________

Drinks

At Cornerstones Pre-School, we promote healthy eating which includes drinks. The British Nutrition Foundation states that water and milk are the best drinks for children as they do not contain free sugars. Drinking sugary drinks can lead to tooth decay and weight gain. Water is a good choice throughout the day because it hydrates without providing extra calories or risking harm to teeth. So, please provide only water in a named drinks bottle. Many of the drinks bottles are the same or very similar, so they need to have your child's name on them.

​

__________________________________________________________________________

50 Things to do before you're 5

​

50 Things To Do before you're 5 is a mobile app that gives parents and carers 50 fantastic experiences to share with their children to help develop their confidence, language and vocabulary and to support them in being ready for the next stage in their education. The 50 activities are low or no cost experiences that include indoor and outdoor activities. Download the app from the Apple App Store or Google play. It is a free app and just search for Hertfordshire.

_________________________________________________________________________

Pool and Paddling Pool Safety

Set up in the right place - when picking a spot for your paddling pool, think safety first. Opt for a flat area in your garden, free from any sharp objects or potential hazards like rocks or sticks. Creating a clear, open space around the pool ensures easy access and minimises the risk of trips and falls.

​

Never leave your children unattended - it's the golden rule of water safety: Never leave unattended children near the pool even for a moment. Assign a designated adult whose sole responsibility is to keep a vigilant eye on the pool at all times. It only takes 30 seconds or less for a young child to drown silently.

​

Enforce pool rules - every pool party needs a set of ground rules to ensure everyone stays safe. Establish clear guidelines for pool behaviour like no pushing and always asking for permission before getting in the pool.

​

Cover or empty paddling pools straight after use - using a pool cover or emptying a paddling pool when everyone's finished playing helps curious little ones from wandering in when nobody's looking. Plus it keeps leaves and debris out of the water.

​​

Knowing what to do in an emergency - no one wants to think about emergencies but being prepared can make all the difference.

​

Put the Pimms down - while it is tempting to enjoy a refreshing drink in the sun, alcohol can impair judgement, coordination and reaction time. This impairment significantly increases the risk of accidents and can hinder your ability to respond quickly in case of an emergency.​​​​

_________________________________________________________________________

This will be the last newsletter for this term. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for the support that you have given us throughout the year. 

We hope you all have a lovely summer and wish all those children leaving us all the best in their new school or nursery. We look forward to seeing all the other children back with us in September.

___________________________________________________________________________

Upcoming Events/Dates for your Diary:

​

​

Last Day of Summer Term - Wednesday 17th June - morning school only

​

Primary School Leavers Fun Morning - Thursday 18th July - this is for those children moving onto primary school only. More details to come.

​

First day of Autumn Term - Thursday 5th September

​

​