Things to bring to The Barn
Here is a list of items that children will need at The Barn, so that they can take part in all of the indoor and outdoor activities. Please make sure that all items are named, because many children have identical or similar coats, jumpers, etc and are not always able to recognise which item is theirs!
Clothes
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Waterproof coat and waterproof trousers/all-in-one named inside.
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Waterproofs are perfect for outside play when the weather is wet and cold. We encourage children to go outdoors whatever the weather and getting changed is all part of the fun. Avoid the 'soft shell' type products as they are not usually waterproof! Primark, and Lidl often have good value items and a quick online search will come up with other options.
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Outdoor wear needs to be suitable for the weather conditions and needs to fit. Do not buy too early or buy too big!
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Clothes that children can manage themselves (with a little help) are important for encouraging independence. Fiddly straps, belts and other fastenings can be frustrating. Mittens usually work better than gloves because they are easier to put on.
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Aprons are provided, but accidents can and do happen! We cannot be held responsible for damage to clothes, so please do not dress in best!
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Sun hat for hot days.
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Warm gloves, hats and scarves for cold days.
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Comfortable, practical play clothes are ideal. We provide aprons for messy play, but inevitably, clothes get wet, muddy and paint marked
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Lunch box - clearly named on the outside.
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Small backpack to go on cloakroom peg with a change of clothes - named on the outside
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Any prescribed medications in original packaging. Please ensure the medication is in date
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Footwear
All children need:
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Practical shoes - named on the inside. Shoes need to be "closed" at the toes and heels, allowing children to run, pedal, climb, crawl and move freely. For health and safety reasons, we cannot allow children to wear flip flops, crocs, clogs or other open toed/heeled shoes or sandals at The Barn.
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Wellington boots. Please name the back of both boots across the top so that we can find the names when the boots are stored on the boot rack! The boots can go home each day or stay at The Barn. If your child arrives at The Barn wearing wellington boots, please ensure that he/she has another pair of shoes to wear indoors.
Shoes/boots with velcro straps or zips are quick and easy to put on, and help your child to become independent. Converse type shoes and shoes with laces are very difficult for young children (and their teachers) to get on and off.​​
Backpack
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Small backpack containing waterproofs, spare clothes and other key items, eg nappies (if required)​​
Water bottles
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Bottles with a pop up spout are best as children learn to do more things on their own.
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Metal water bottles with screw tops are not recommended as they can be heavy and tricky to open.
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It is helpful for children to have water bottles that let them see how much they have drunk.
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Please fill the bottle with fresh water only.
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There is a tray provided in each room for you to place the bottle for your child to access during the session. The bottle will be available at all times for your child to have a drink and can be refilled during the day.​​
Lunchboxes
Children who are staying for lunch club, staying all day or arriving for an afternoon session all bring a lunch box to The Barn. It would be helpful if the following guidelines could be followed when preparing your child's lunch:
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Please ensure that the lunch box does not contain any nut products. Peanut allergies are now quite common and we usually have at least one child with such an allergy attending The Barn school. This is a life threatening condition in which all contact with nut products should be avoided. Please check carefully the ingredients of items such as muesli bars, cookies etc.
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Savoury options for the lunch box might include ham, tuna, chicken, cheese or egg sandwiches, quiche, pasta salad, rice, vegetables, etc.
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Please do include fruit and/or raw vegetables in the lunch box to help encourage healthy eating habits.
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Sweets – it may be better to save these for home!
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We always encourage children to eat their sandwiches or savoury foods before any sweetstuffs. We also ask children to eat something before they drink their smoothies: when they fill up early on drinks, they tend not to feel so hungry...until a little while later!
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Small, soft foods, such as grapes and cherry tomatoes, must be cut in half to minimise the risk of choking.
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Lunch is eaten in small groups with a teacher to help open, unwrap etc. However, it is helpful if food preparation such as peeling oranges or eggs is done at home.Please help your child by packing the foodstuffs in easy to open containers. If you prefer to wrap/bag sandwiches etc. it is a good idea to include a plastic plate or napkin for your child to eat from.
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We try to make sure that all uneaten food is put back into your child’s lunch box so that you can see how much has been eaten. Please include a spoon and/or fork if needed.
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For lunchbox inspiration, have a look at the following sites:
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Kids packed lunch ideas - BBC Food
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Lunchbox ideas and recipes – Healthier Families - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
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100 Easy lunch box ideas for children - The Children's Nutritionist (childrensnutrition.co.uk)
Suncream/sunscreen
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We make the most of every opportunity to enjoy our lovely rural location, and the children play outdoors all year round, come rains or shine! Parents are asked to apply an all day suncream sun cream before bringing their chilldren into The Barn children during the warm weather. There are lots of different brands and formulations for children, and ideally you want a product with factor 50+ protecton. We found that a quick search online will display lots of options.
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For safety reasons, parents are asked not to leave any sun cream in children's bags.