10/02/2026
Our 12th Jesters termly Inset Day last month was focussed on partnerships.
We started the day exploring connections between the team, affirmed by heartfelt personal thank yous. This really highlighted our 'JESTERS FAMILY' VIBE and the mutual respect and support within it.
We analysed the recent PARENT SURVEY, picking up on areas we can develop and enhance the service. How we can grow our parent partnerships and we shared some of the many lovely positive comments about the team and service. (Feedback from the survey will be shared with Jesters families in due course too).
SAFEGUARDING is always the most important training to cover. This is a constant focus within the settings and on Inset Day to ensure it is at the forefront of the service.
We enjoyed a live link to our external partner the Early Years Alliance Nutrition Support specialist Gina Gorvett to celebrate our ACCREDITED MENU status and learn how to progress our quality mark for food and nutrition. As well as activities based around allergens and our HEALTH and MEDICINE policies.
Kids Club provided some great TEAM BUILDING CHALLENGES after lunch to initiate problem solving, creativity, thinking outside the box and strong competitiveness!
We had an update on our CLIMATE ACTION PLAN (CAP) progress alongside a charity shop challenge to find new room resources by reusing and repurposing.
As part of our CAP, at each Inset we are now having an 'eco amnesty' to collect varying items to recycle. Following our support for local charity HOME START ESSEX with Christmas Jumper Day, we decided to support them further by asking families for toy donations. Again the generosity shown by our families and staff has been incredible, we have a room full of donations that Melissa will be collecting from us tomorrow.
We have recently invested in RE-STOCKING OUR LIBRARIES with a large selection of carefully considered, top quality books. Our ethos is to create a love of learning and with this investment our curriculum and approach to the EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) will be elevated further still. We explored the books, reviewed the age and stage of learning and how to get the absolute most of this exciting new resource.
With one Inset Day per term, we have a lot to cover so to balance the intense training element, we also took the opportunity to celebrate the team. We acknowledged individual and group ACHIEVEMENTS and long service awards for those who have been with us for 5, 7, 10 years and over! A lovely way to show appreciation and be rewarded and recognised for 'Outstanding Contribution' and 'Exceptional Commitment'.
(Please note, our next term's Inset Day is Monday 22nd June.)
