Jolly Pirates Preschool

We are excited to welcome all of our new Jolly Pirates children today. We look forward to an exciting year ahead. ❤

Wishing all these superstars the best first day in P1 today and over the upcoming days at your different schools. We hope you have the best time ❤

❗Parents who wish to claim the NI Childcare Subsidy in September must register for the scheme by Tuesday 20 August.

This is for parents:

1️⃣ who use Tax-Free Childcare
2️⃣ who have a child/children below school age on 1 September

Find out more here on how to register - https://bit.ly/3Yxl8Cy

✅ Get a 15% discount on childcare costs!

The Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme (NICSS) is a Department of Education NI initiative designed to reduce childcare costs of eligible working parents by 15% for qualifying children.

Register your child today ➡️ https://www.early-years.org/nicss/parents and ease your childcare expenses. Don't miss out on this great opportunity to save.

Make sure to ask your childcare provider if they are registered for the scheme, as only registered and eligible providers can apply the NICSS subsidy.

Today is – Playing makes a very important contribution to all children’s learning and physical and emotional health. Joining in with play is a great way to develop your child’s language. Comment on what you do as you play and talk and share ideas with your child

AJ Print & Embroidery Ltd have uniform in stock for anyone needing to purchase 😊

Additional information will follow tomorrow on Famly for all parents .

Parentline NI latest workshop for parents/carers who have children on the waiting list for Autism assessment, or those who are considering it, delivered together with STRIVE NI
Please see the information below for more details 😊

📣 Jolly Pirates Preschool is recruiting📣
A Classroom Assistant Maternity Cover term time position has become available in our EA Funded Pre-School.
Please see images below for more information or contact us on [email protected]

We look forward to hearing from you 😊

Irish Linen Centre & Lisburn Museum start their free summer workshops this week. See their post for more details.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/BN8rgnRHTNxUXxAJ/

A big thank you to The Active Hour for a fantastic visit today. Jolly Pirates took part in the Mini Olympics. So much fun with relay baton, hurdle races and foam javelin throwing. Thank you to Jason for lots of fun and presenting our medals and certificates.

29th June now SOLD OUT!
Extra show added on the 30th June at 10:30am
✨Join us at the Armagh Planetarium on 29th June for a special Makaton Dome Show! ✨

🗓️ Date: Saturday, 29th June�🕒 Time: 10.30am - SOLD OUT
🎟️ Admission: FREE!

Astronaut George is a 15 minute dome show most suitable for pre schoolers and takes you on an adventure through our Solar System 🪐☀️

Book at : www.armagh.space

Wishing everyone a Happy Father's Day 👨‍🍼👨‍👧💙

We have been really enjoying our intergenerational story times in our outdoor cabin. It is a wonderful experience to have some of the children's grandparents in to read some stories with us. We look forward to some more before the end of term. 😊📚

🗺️FAMILY STAYCATIONS🗺️

This fabulous weather always makes me want to plan and book a trip away with the family.

A staycation is the perfect excuse to avoid the costs and fuss involved with heading abroad. So whether you’re looking for an active outdoor adventure, seaside beach break, camping, glamping or using the caravan there is a perfect location for every family.

Want to have a family mini break but need some ideas?

Read my blog post for a roundup of some sites across stunning locations all across Northern Ireland.

🔺 https://www.weeadventurers.com/post/family-staycations

Parentline NI are hosting a new workshop online next Monday evening. See their post below for more details.

Are you planning a holiday this summer with your autistic child or a child with a learning disability? See pic below on information on how to apply for a space on ‘Autism in the air - try before you fly’ in association with George Best Belfast City Airport and Queen’s University Belfast. Places are limited and first come first served ✈️🌞

🌟 Places available for September 2024. 🌟
Apply by Friday 3rd May on the EA connect portal.
If you would like to learn more about our accredited pre-school classes contact us on 02892 670988 or email [email protected]

Jolly Pirates Preschool Jolly Pirates Preschool provide funded pre-school places under the Education Authority.

We are delighted to welcome all of our new families to Jolly Pirates Pre-School.

Today you will be able to see on the EA portal which pre-school your child has been offered a place at.

If you have been offered a place at Jolly Pirates Pre-School you will have also received an email from the us, please check all inboxes including junk and spam boxes incase it made its way into there.

We look forward to meeting you all 😊

💖

To the parents waiting patiently to receive their child’s school or nursery place tomorrow – go easy on yourself. 💌🏫

Born in a time of lockdown, we went to appointments & scans alone. No in person baby showers, no hospital visitors, no baby groups to attend. We had nowhere to bring them in their fancy dresses & spent the days at home together.  Just us & them. We created a safe little world in a time of uncertainty.

And now as we wait for the email which will determine their future school or nursery place, we suddenly understand why all the parents who have gone before us, try to warn us that the days may feel long but the years are short. Not really believing that we too would spend tonight looking back at baby photos wondering how we have suddenly got here. How our little babies are not so little.  Waiting for an email which will determine the new little phase of their live.

It may seem so important. We may feel nervous at letting go. For up until now we have had responsibility & control for where they go and who we meet. But their allocation of school / nursery now feels outside of our control.

And it is time that we have to prepare ourselves to hold their hand just a little looser as they make a new little journey in September. Trusting that we have provided a secure base for them over the last few years – laying the foundations for this new stage, where they learn a little bit about who they are outside of the little environment you have provided for them.

With a little tear, remember that we have 2 jobs – the first is to give them roots and the second is to support them to fly. Entering this new phase may be particularly emotional for us parents of 2020 babies.

I hope that anyone waiting for nursery and school places tomorrow gets the news you want. And if you don’t that you look back and release they ended up where they were always meant to be – and that no matter the outcome, no matter the stage, you will always be there supporting them through these little milestones together.

Hope tomorrow goes well 💗

*Photo of my little daughter Mary. Now aged 3 years and 9 months. Taken at a few days old by

Important information update from EA for allocation of Preschool and primary one places this Thursday.

This Thursday, 25 April, parents/guardians will receive the outcome of their Pre-School (Stage 1) or Primary 1 application for September 2024.

Applicants who applied online via EA Connect will receive an email on Thursday. If you do not receive an email, please check your junk folder.

If you did not apply via EA Connect a letter will be sent to your home address.

For children yet to secure a Pre-school or P1 place, you will receive a letter or email from the Education Authority.

Please note, pre-school applicants of underage children and late deferrals will receive their outcome on 11 June 2024.

Parents who have a child with a Statement of Special Educational Needs awaiting placement will be updated by their SEN link officer or school/setting when a placement has been secured. This process may take a little longer as we work to find the best placement for your child’s needs.

For further information, visit: https://ow.ly/bRvz50Rjrh0

Our Family Benefits Advice Service helpline has changed to 028 9267 8200.

Call us, or email [email protected] for free, impartial and confidential advice on the financial support your family is entitled to.

Last year, we identified an average of £5,600 for each family we did a ‘better off’ calculation for, so it’s a call well worth making!

🐰The Help Kids Talk Team have teamed up with the Easter Bunny. 🐰

When: Tuesday 2nd April from 10.00am until 1pm
Where: Bow Street Mall, Lisburn

Any child who gives their dummy to the Easter Bunny will receive a surprise gift. 🌟🎁🌟

There were also be some activity sheets and the team will be on hand to offer some tips around supporting speech and language skills. 👥

So HOP along to see us and have a chat!

Wishing everyone a Happy Easter 🐣 🐰 Before the Easter holidays we enjoyed lots of activities including baking, sensory play and a fun filled Easter party, making special memories with our friends to end term 2. Looking forward to seeing everyone soon for term 3. 😊

Thank you for rocking some cool socks today to raise awareness for World Down Syndrome Day 💛💙

Wishing everyone a Happy St Patrick's Day. 🍀 We look forward to seeing you all again on Tuesday.