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

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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.

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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.

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50 Things to do before you're 5

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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.

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 Easter Activities

Aside from all the chocolate involved, Easter is an exciting time of the year as the first signs of Spring are often on show. Children are curious about things like baby chicks and daffodils, so it's a great opportunity to teach them about the season. Go for a nature walk in the park. Talk about blossom, point out daffodils and crocus. See if you can spot any nests the ducks may have made. Talk about baby animals and their names.

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Make chocolate nests with rice crispies or cornflakes - please do not put mini eggs in them as they are a choking risk. Use smarties or jelly tots.

Decorate oval shapes to make Easter pictures or Easter hats.

Enjoy an Easter Egg hunt.

Make Easter biscuits.

There are some good ideas on www.mykidstime.com

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Measles

Measles cases in the UK have been rising since November 2023. NHS England estimates that over 102,000 children starting primary school in England are at risk of catching measles. While Hertfordshire has no outbreaks at the moment, we are close to London and the West Midlands, where there has been a large rise in cases. Measles is a highly infectious viral disease that can have serious and sometimes fatal consequences. One in five children will require a hospital visit if they become unwell. Measles is highly infectious and if left unvaccinated, nine out of ten children in a classroom can catch the disease if just one child is infectious. Measles spreads quickly from person to person through coughing and sneezing, close personal contact or direct contact with nasal or throat secretions. For more information see Measles-NHS (www.nhs.uk).

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It is important to note that there is no medical treatment for measles. Vaccination is the best protection against becoming seriously unwell. The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination is free on the NHS with the first dose being offered when a child is one year and the second at 3 years 4 months old. This provides long-lasting protection against measles, mumps and rubella which can cause long-term health conditions such as blindness and asthma. 

If you are unsure if you or your child are up to date, check your child's red book or GP records and make an appointment to catch up on any missed doses.

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If someone thinks they have measles, they should not come into our setting for at least 4 days from when the rash first appears. We ask parents to be alert to signs and symptoms of measles and check your child is fully vaccinated.

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The first symptoms of measles may include a high temperature, a runny or blocked nose, sneezing, a cough, red, sore watery eyes. Small white spots may appear inside the cheeks and on the back of the lips a few days later. A rash usually appears a few days after the cold-like symptoms. The rash starts on the face and behind the ears before spreading to the rest of the body.

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Upcoming Events/Dates for your Diary:

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Last Day of Spring Term - Wednesday 27th March

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First Day of Summer Term - Monday 15th April

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