Hi peeps! We all hope that you have had a lovely Christmas so far... It's only a few days to the next Secret Garden Holiday Days! We're working hard on the activities because we want to make this an unforgettable time for both our regulars and our newcomers. The trees are so beautiful that I'm glad that they're being used right up until the very end of the Christmas period. Well the good news is that I'm planning on teaming up with my amazing work colleague and past business partner to try to revive our pre-school plans. We're going to start to look for a premises early in the new year, so watch this space for details as they come in. Our new setting will reflect all of the values and experiences that the Secret Garden has to offer. I love sharing my plans with you peeps. We're a big Secret Garden family and I would have no business if it wasn't for you. Needless to say, the Holiday Club will continue to be located here - offering the same memorable days throughout the year. For me 2013 will be a year of realizing dreams and making progress. I have great plans for the future of the Holiday Club, and on a personal note I also intend to do all of those creative things I always meant to do. Have a lovely celebration on New Years Eve, and a safe journey into 2013. We were ever so glad that the world didn't end in 2012!! Jules x Well peeps I have to report that it has been a frustrating and thankless week, and the long and short of it is that due to certain restrictions on this property relating to it's use, we have had to shelve the brilliant plan to accept pre school children during term time. I can only apologise to all those who have got excited and expressed an interest, I will be emailing you all individually. At times like this you really wonder how to pick up your spirits and move on, but although I am really disappointed, I will be ploughing all that wasted enthusiasm in to the School Holiday Club. I am looking at extending hours and possibly offering special sessions for younger children if possible. I will be going ahead with the Ofsted registration as before, and we will still be offering places for under 8's for at least 14 days per year - so all is good. And the future is still bright. I was lying in bed at this morning thinking about how I had to write this blog and thus let my pre school dreams go, when for no reason at all, my iphone, which had been plugged into a speaker all night to charge, turned itself on and played the end of a Newton Falkner song. Here are the words he sung: "My best-laid plans are washed away No time to make 'em all again Sometimes life gets in the way We've got to keep on breathing Look how far we've come Look what we've made Started from nothing, building Brick by, brick by Brick by, brick by Brick by, brick by Brick All we have is us To build back up What we have lost But that's enough Thanks Newton. Yes we have already built something amazing here :) Merry Christmas peeps - we love you all <3 Hey peeps! It's been a while, and I can assure you I have been very very busy since our lovely Autumn extravaganza! I have lots of news for you - you have probably read about our intention to accept preschool children early next year. It has been (and still is) quite a slog getting it all sorted out! I have decided to get business advice via Devon County Council, which has proved very interesting. I have a better idea of how it will work now, and by Easter we should be offering funded places and already have one Ofsted inspection under our belts. We are also soon to run out of discretionary days where Ofsted allows under 8's to attend without registration. I am pleased to tell you that we will also be registering the School Holiday Club on the Childcare register, so you will be able to use funding vouchers soon for holiday care too, and we will be able to accept under 8's for ever and ever!. The garden and house will need a bit of adapting before the preschoolers arrive, but it is all very exciting, and as far as the holiday club is concerned, the new risk assessments and facilities will only make it a better place for all (although it won't be as easy to get into the cupboards bigger peeps!!!). Another exciting thing is the new Christmas banner which will go up as soon as I can coax Roger out of his office!! And I have had to order a new small banner, due to our original one being torn and destroyed during the recent storms. There is a competition - the first person to tell me on Facebook that they've seen the new banner will get a Christmassy bottle of wine with our love when they next drop off their child/children. GOOD LUCK PEEPS. We can't wait to welcome the next group of children into our traditionally decorated historic Christmas home in January, and we will have lots of fun activities to blow away the January blues! In the meantime, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a love filled New Year. All the very best, and with love to all our Secret Garden friends, from Roger, Jules, Maisie and Miles x x x |
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