Newsletter February / March 2026
Dates for Diary
- Term Dates: Monday 23rd February - Friday 27th March
- Easter Holidays: Monday 30th March - Friday 10th April
- Summer Term 1: Monday 13th April - Friday 22nd May
- May Bank Holiday - Monday 4th May
- Summer Term 2: Tuesday 2nd June - Thursday 23rd July
- Inset Days: Friday 1st May, Monday 2nd June
Sponsored Welly Walk
Week commencing 16th March - This has to be one of our favourite fund raising events of the year. Please get family and friends to sponsor your child to walk one lap of Duffield Meadows School field. It has to be said that this is no mean feat for little legs!! As we will be doing this numerous times during the week please ensure that your child comes with NAMED wellies every session they attend that week and a rain jacket for inclement weather. Fundraising will go towards upgrading some of our outdoor resources ready for the better weather.
World Book Day
Thursday 5th March - to celebrate why not come dressed as your favourite book character e.g. Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Harry and the Bucketful of Dinosaurs, The Princess and the Pea. You could also please bring your favourite book to Preschool and we will do our best to read them all.
Coats, hats, bags, lunchboxes, water bottles and bits!!!!!!
Please, please please - can you ensure that all items that are sent into preschool are fully labelled. It is really helpful for all staff if coats, hats, scarves, gloves, water bottles and lunch bags are fully labelled.
Funding changes
From April we have been informed that the funding rate that we receive from Derbyshire
County Council will be increasing. Whilst this will be good news for us with the increases
to
both the National Living Wage and employer National Insurance contributions it will mean
that those of you that pay for non-funded hours will see an increase in your invoice.
The funding rate for 2 year olds will increase from £7.42 per hour to £7.76 per hour.
The funding rate for 3 & 4 year olds will also increase so from April we will now be
charging
£5.50 per additional hour instead of the current £5.22 per hour. Don’t forget that you can
pay for your fees through any of the available voucher schemes. If you have any questions
with regards to funding or tax free payment schemes, please speak to Clare.
If you have any queries or concerns, please don’t hesitate to approach a staff member.
From all of us at Duffield Preschool
Check out what we do on our Facebook page, (Please note no images of children are used on
our Facebook page)
Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/DuffieldPreSchool/
Website:
https://www.duffieldpreschool.co.uk/
SAFEGUARDING
Safeguarding is given the highest priority at Duffield Pre-School. There may be times when
adults are concerned about children
in the community. If so, then you can contact DCC's Child Protection Department on
01629 533190, the NSPCC on
0808 800 5000 or come directly and speak to Clare, Vicki, or Viv as
Designated Safeguarding Lead.
If you have any safeguarding concerns about a child, please use the Preschool email address:
[email protected]
Please do not ignore concerns; child protection is everyone's
responsibility.