The Week Ahead 20151204

The outdoor terraces are underway and Wellington College Bilingual Shanghai evolves further. The remodelling of the site continues and the daily changes are a sight to behold! The team have grown further and we have welcomed Susan Wang as Administrator to the team this week. Susan joins our dynamic team as we speed towards our opening next year. We were over the moon to welcome parents to our first ‘Getting to Know You’ session this Thursday morning. The importance of forming a solid partnership is essential in Early Years’ education. Our parents are our partners and we are proud to work together to make this essential stage of education a great success for each and every child. These sessions provide the chance to be able to observe the children whilst asking the parents about routines, habits, likes and dislikes (all of the things that make each child unique). The sessions also allow us the chance to ensure that we are meeting the needs of the children and the expectations of the parents. The Deputy Headmaster, Yuki Gong supported the sessions and it was wonderful to be able to formally introduce Yuki to our founding parents and children. Getting to know you sessions will continue throughout December and January. One of the topics that parents discussed with me this morning was about sleeping at the setting. Whilst provision is made for children to nap, particularly in Early Years 1, we actively encourage children in Early Years 2 to be as involved in learning opportunities throughout the day as possible. Children have a right to sleep and this should never be denied, but must not be a substitute for a full and restful night’s sleep. The need for a good bedtime routine for children is extremely important, especially as we want them to be bright-eyed each morning and ready for a day of fun, exploration and discovery. The Sleep council (UK) advises that a bedtime ritual is essential as it teaches a child’s brain to become familiar with sleep times and wake times. It programmes the brain and internal body clock to get used to a set routine. Other UK studies have revealed that children without regular bedtimes were more likely to have behavioural problems (such as hyperactivity, emotional difficulties, difficulties interacting with peers and conduct problems) which worsen as children get older. Tips on sleep from the Sleep Lady include the following advice: 1. Know how much sleep your child needs 2. Don’t exceed your child’s wakefulness window (the period of time that your child can remain awake without the need for sleep) 3. Be aware of appropriate bedtimes and wake times (bed times – 19:00–20:00, wake times – 06:30–07:30) 4. Limit things that disrupt sleep 5. Know your child’s sleep cues We will be sending out more information about sleep throughout the month of December – please keep up with us on WeChat and help to get your little Wellingtonian ready for March 2016. Vanessa Szucs-Hussain British Headmaster, Wellington College Bilingual Shanghai