Newsletter January 2026

DEAR PARENTS,

A fun-filled first term, capped off by the wonderful performances in the Christmas Play, an amazing visit from Santa & then a magical party.

This term promises more fun with Sport Relief activities, Mother’s day gift makes … & a whole lot more.

Please find below: term dates & event dates, an approaching deadline (15^th Jan) for those starting primary school in September 2026, outdoor play, lunchbox rules, the pre-school committee, Easyfundraising … & lots more.

Lastly, as this year marks the pre-school’s 60th anniversary (probably the oldest pre-school in the world) please do come to the next Committee meeting (date tba) & help plan the celebrations.

Wendy Perkins (Manager)
Currently listening to ‘Peace Train,’ by Yusuf/Cat Stevens.
“Now I’ve been happy lately

Thinkin’ about the good things to come

And I believe it could be

Something good has begun”

TERM DATES

Monday 16th to Friday 20th February – half-term break

Monday 23rd February – Pre-School re-opens for am & pm sessions

Thursday 2nd April – Spring term ends

Monday 20th April – Summer term begins – pm session only – no am session or lunch club

Tuesday 21st April – am sessions and lunch club resume

Monday 4th May – Pre-school closed

Monday 25th May – Friday 29th May – half-term break

Monday 1st June – Pre-school re-opens for am & pm sessions

Wednesday 15th July – last day of Summer term

DATES FOR YOUR DIARIES

Thursday 11th June – Sports Day – am children

Thursday 9th July – Pre-school trip to Kent Life (leavers only)

Wednesday 15th July – Teddy Bear’s Picnic, Graduation Day & end of term.

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING  – date tba

The pre-school cannot run without you & all your time & effort is invaluable: any help contributed to support our events (such as the Christmas Shop run by the Committee & the raffle prizes at the Christmas Play) ultimately, & most importantly, benefits each & every child at pre-school. Amanda (our Chair) & her team would welcome your help, so please do come along (or contact her if you cannot attend) & help plan for our 60^th birthday celebrations, Mother’s Day … & lots more.

OUTDOOR PLAY

‘There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing,’ so the saying goes, & so each day, no matter what the weather, we encourage the children to play in the garden, & enjoy riding a balance bike, making a sandcastle, making dinner in the mud kitchen… So, please ensure you provide your child with layers, waterproofs, warm accessories, that will allow him or her to enjoy outdoor activities, even for a short while in the current conditions.

BAD WEATHER – POLICY ON PRE-SCHOOL OPENING

In the event of adverse weather, the pre-school will endeavour to remain open during normal pre-school hours.

However, it will be left to the discretion of parents to decide if it is safe for them to make the journey into pre-school or not.

If it is necessary to close the pre-school, for health and safety reasons, a message will be posted on Tapestry and on Facebook & you can check by phoning the pre-school on 01634 819809 (Mrs Perkins will try to update the pre-school’s telephone message if she can safely make it to pre-school)

If the weather becomes adverse during the pre-school day, parents may contact the pre-school for further information or may decide to pick up their children early for safety reasons. If the pre-school has to close early, you will be telephoned.

POST & ART

Please do check your child’s bag each day for letters, & your child’s drawings, paintings & creations.

WATER BOTTLES

As part of our Healthy Eating ethos, we sell water bottles for the children printed with the St. Luke’s teddy logo. These cost just £2 each. All bottles should be marked with the child’s name & children are encouraged to take a drink at any time. Bottles are refilled when running low. The bottles need to be collected at the end of each session, washed at home & returned to pre-school at the beginning of the next session. Lastly, a reminder that the bottles should be filled with water only please: any squash will be replaced with water.

LUNCHBOX RULES (based on advice from the HSE)

Foods to never give your child -Never give a child under the age of 5:
nuts (including peanuts)
marshmallows
popcorn
chewing gum
boiled and hard sweets
These can choke your child.

Foods you need to prepare safely – grapes, olives. cherry tomatoes & other similar-sized food can choke your child – please ensure they are cut into quarters lengthways; food skins are difficult to chew & can completely seal children’s airways, so please remove or peel skins & cut lengthways into small pieces no bigger than your child’s small fingernail, cocktail sausages, apples, tomatoes & (finely chop) lettuce.

Please no products containing nuts (INCLUDING NUTELLA, NAKD BARS, ETC) due to allergies: although your child may not be affected by nuts, some of those that they interact with may be.

To be healthy it’s very important to eat a balanced diet: more details & some ideas about what to put in your child’s lunchbox @ www.nhs.uk/change4life website. ” TOO MUCH SALT CAN PUT OUR KIDS AT RISK OF HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE & HEART DISEASE LATER IN LIFE.” ONE 25g PEPERAMI STICK CONTAINS ONE THIRD OF THE MAXIMUM DAILY AMOUNT OF SALT FOR A 4–6-YEAR-OLD! Join Change4Life to order your Change 4Life snack pack, with money-off vouchers for healthier snacks & stickers for your snack smart kids. Millions of families have already made healthier changes — you can, too!

CHILDREN’S BELONGINGS

Please ensure children do not wear their best clothing to pre-school: painting overalls are provided but accidents can still happen. The pre-school has its own design of sweatshirts, t-shirts, cardigans (as well as fleeces and drawstring bags, all of which can be personalised with your child’s initials) for sale.

Please label all your child’s belongings to avoid any confusion. These include their clothing, lunch bags/boxes, drink bottles, plimsolls etc.

Children should not bring sweets or wear jewellery to pre-school.

Please supply a pair of plimsolls or equivalent for your child to change into.

HEALTH & SAFETY

Handrails – Please do not allow your child to climb the yellow disability handrails, whilst waiting to enter the pre-school or upon exiting the pre-school. There is only concrete to fall on!

Car park entrance/exit – this is for cars. For your safety & that of your child, please use the pedestrian entrance when walking or wheeling your child to & from pre-school.

ARRIVING & COLLECTING

Please make sure you arrive & collect your child on time as lateness affects both the running of the pre-school & your child’s routine. If you know you are going to be late, please contact the pre-school on 01634 819809 during session times.

If your child is unwell & will not be attending, please telephone the pre-school before 9.30 on the same day. Calls can be made out of hours to the answerphone attached to this line. We also need to know the reason why your child is absent, in case there is a contagious illness circulating, so we can inform other parents. Please do not leave a message on Facebook. Tell us if you know you are going to be away, on holiday for eg. ahead of time: just let the staff know or leave a message on the answerphone or email the office

Children must not be left on the premises without a parent/carer before or after the session times as the pre-school’s insurance would be invalidated.  If children are on the premises at any other time, the pre-school cannot assume any responsibility for their care & safety & the parents/carers are solely responsible for them.

Please arrive on time, queue in an orderly manner along the path (not the disability ramp) outside the building & await your turn to enter,

Place your child’s lunch bag and drink bottle on the blue trolley.

Hand your child’s coat & bag to your child.

If someone other than yourself or the regular carer will be collecting your child, please advise the teacher on the door. This is a very important detail as your child’s security is compromised if staff are unaware when there is a change in the person collecting your child.

STARTING PRIMARY SCHOOL IN 2026?

Don’t miss the deadline to select your child’s next school. If your child was born between 1 September 2021 and 31 August 2022, they are due to start school in Year R (Reception) in September 2026.

School admission applications are open now
School applications close 5pm, Thursday 15th Jan 2026.
School offer day, Thursday 16th Apr 2026

SHOPPING WITH EASYFUNDRAISING

Fundraise whilst you shop online. NO COST, NO CATCH. RAISE FREE DONATIONS FOR US EVERY TIME YOU SHOP ONLINE @ easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/stlukesrochester/
or use the app.

Collect free donations for us every time you buy something online: your weekly delivery from Sainsburys; buying electrical goods from Argos; some bedding from John Lewis or booking holidays …
Help out when you check out – it doesn’t cost you a penny extra. You can make a big difference on everything from groceries to getaways. THANK YOU.

KEEP IN TOUCH
tel: 01634 819809
email :office@stlukespre-school.co.uk
Website www.stlukespre-school.co.uk – The ‘Calendar’ feature has the ‘Term Dates & Dates for your diary’ & if you click on the event date, all the details (when, where & what) about the event.