August Reflections

August was the beginning of a brand new academic term at Bright Beginnings! We are delighted to start off the new term with our new opening hours. The Centre is now open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, a change which we hope will ease some of the strain on working parents. We ask that families please collect their child from the room by 5.50pm in order to give the staff enough time to offer thorough feedback about your child’s day at Bright Beginnings and pass on any forms that may need signing.

We are also saying a lot of hellos and goodbyes. Hello to our new families and staff joining us at Bright Beginnings, and goodbye to the children leaving us at the end of August and early September to begin a brand new adventure at primary school! We are confident the Bright Beginnings Class of 2019 will love school and do brilliantly.

We also said goodbye to Paula, our Reception Administrator of fifteen years! Like the school leavers, Paula also left us to begin a new adventure in a primary school as a teaching assistant, and we wish her all the luck in the world. Paula has been replaced by our new receptionist, Roya Razavi, who will be working on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Please say hello and make her feel welcome!

At the beginning of the month, we were honoured to be selected by Leeds City Council to receive a visit from Her

Majesty’s Chief Inspector for Ofsted, Amanda Spielman, Ofsted Regional Director Katrina Gueli, and the Early Years Improvement Manager for Leeds City Council, Jayne Ford. It was an honour to welcome them and showcase our incredible Centre, and we were delighted by their positive feedback.

We also received news we would be having an Ofsted inspection on Tuesday 20th August. Julie Dent, our inspector, visited each of the play areas to observe and assess the staff and children to ensure that Bright Beginnings meets the welfare and education requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage, and we are looking forward to receiving our official grading! We will notify parents as soon as possible.

August also saw a busy Playscheme, with three trips to Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Hesketh Farm Park, and Piglets Adventure Farm. The children also spent a lot of time outdoors making the most of the last of the summer sunshine visiting our allotment at Hyde Park and exploring University campus.

Lastly, our painted lady butterflies were as popular as ever! Our caterpillars quickly settled into their new home in reception, where we watched them grow until it was time for them to transform into chrysalises. Once they emerged as butterflies, groups of Playscheme and Dragonflies children released them into the garden and waved them off!