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At the Pre-School |
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St. Joseph's Pre-School Playgroup is a Registered Charity No:1020613
(PLA No:30289)
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At the Pre-School Playgroup
(Download the New parents quick guide At the Pre-School Playgroup
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Education Programme
We have a planned programme at Playgroup which aims to encourage the development of each child, so that they may become secure and confident outside their home environment.
We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) as set out by the Department of Education and Skills encompassing the six areas of learning:
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
- Communication, Language and Literacy Development
- Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy
- Knowledge and Understanding of the World
- Physical Development
- Creative Development
For each area EYFS sets out early learning goals, these state what it is expected that children will know and be able to do by the end of their Early Years Curriculum – that is children from birth to the end of the academic year in which a child has their fifth birthday. This is further broken down into smaller stages through which children are likely to pass as they move toward achievement of the goals. Staff use this information as a basis for planning activities, with an emphasis on 'learning through play' and a balance of adult led and child initiated activities. Activities are planned for both large and small groups, taking into account the different levels of development of each child.
A new theme is introduced each half term with activities designed to relate to this, allowing opportunities for the child to discover and experiment. For example, themes include fairytales/ nursery rhymes; night/autumn/space; jungle/people who help us/ourselves; minibeasts/water.
We aim to meet the needs of children with disability or learning difficulties by making provisions and encouraging them to be included in all of playgroup. Staff and key persons will liaise with our special needs co-ordinator, and outside agencies if necessary, to ensure that the appropriate support is given and individual needs are met.
Children's progress is monitored by means of target activities and observations and assessments which are then used to complete a profile which is given to their reception teacher when they start school. A portfolio containing examples of your child’s work is put together by their key worker and given to you when they leave playgroup.
During the playgroup session we maintain Ofsted requirements on adult:child ratios, with at least half of the staff members being qualified in childcare, such as: PLA Diploma in Playgroup Practice, NVQ Level 3 ,NNEB
Daily Routine
Welcome - The children are welcomed and registered upon arrival. They find their name card from the table in the hall to take downstairs.They say goodbye to their carer allowing time for settling in without distress.
Free Play Time - During this time there will be various activities available for the children to choose from freely. This gives the children opportunities to make their own decisions about what and whom they play with, allowing them independence, although with adult support when required.
The activities generally available will include: craft, small-world play, construction e.g. duplo, mobilo and bricks; puzzles and number/letter activities, mark-making, painting, role-play and dressing up and book-corner. Through these activities the children will develop in all the aspects of learning in the EYFS (see Education Programme).
Small Group Time - During free play time, small groups of children may be taken by a staff member (adult:child ratios permitting) to the activity room, outside area or kitchen for specific activities. These could be cooking, ICT, games, music, investigation etc. This enables the children to experience a broader range of activities and enables the staff to further promote their learning requirements at individual levels of development.
Out of Room Activity - We take groups of children either outside or to the main hall for activities which are unable to be accessed within the playgroup room. This may include apparatus, bikes, balls and hoops, walks around the grounds (adult ratio permitting) paying particular attention to their gross motor development. These activities are rotated during the term to ensure the children have the widest experiences. All areas of the curriculum are also included as is a quiet area for those less boisterous children! A group discussion or story and rhymes may follow these sessions if appropriate.
Snack Time - There is a designated area for the children to have their snack. Once the fruit is prepared the children are invited to come in small groups to enjoy this time together thus promoting independence and social skills. Each child is required to select their own photo card to register when they have had their snack. A drink of milk or water is offered and the older children are encouraged to pour their own drink. Adults assist where necessary.
Tidy-up Time - The children will be asked to stop their activities and encouraged to help clear away. They will then be asked to sit on the carpet quietly with a book of their choice until everything is put away. This is an important part of the session in promoting responsibility and self-discipline.
Circle/Story Time - We usually have two story groups (one in the hall and one in the playgroup room) The children benefit from smaller groups which allows for group discussion; expanding the topic/daily focus, to which all the children are encouraged to contribute.
The desired learning outcomes are reinforced through songs, rhymes, stories etc.
Dismissal/Good-bye - The children are brought together in one group at the end of the session. This allows us to sing Happy Birthday where appropriate. We then say our prayer and sing our “Goodbye" song, the children then sit and wait for their name to be called for collection by their parent/ carer. They are registered out by a staff member.
Record Keeping and Confidentiality
We keep records individually for all playgroup children. These will be focused on a child's positive development and noted improvements for the duration of their time at Playgroup. The records will be compiled from regular observations and also from general feedback from the staff noted on a day to day basis, as well as discussions with parents/carers.
The Playgroup's work with children and families will sometimes bring us into contact with confidential information. To ensure that all those using and working in the Playgroup can do so with confidence, we will respect confidentiality in all respects.
Setting in - This takes longer for some children than for others and parents should not feel worried if their child takes a while to settle or if they need to stay for the first few sessions. A child who is tense or unhappy will not be able to play or learn properly, so it is important for parents and Playgroup staff to work together to help the child to feel confident and secure in the group
Key Person Policy
Our setting has a key person system. This means that each child is allocated a staff member who will be particularly aware of their needs; both on a day-to-day level within the session and over the longer term ensuring that our planning will support their individual needs and development.
Your child’s key person should therefore be the first staff member with whom you discuss your child's needs. They will assist your child's integration into the group, keeping you regularly informed of how they are settling in and progressing and will also be able to help with any queries you may have about the running of the playgroup. They will also be interested in any changes at home which may affect behaviour and needs at playgroup.
If needed, you will usually be able to discuss your child's needs informally at the beginning of a session. If you feel a longer discussion is necessary, please arrange an appointment so that staff are not kept from their duties with the children.
We are not always able to allocate a key person who will be present at every session your child attends. This does not mean that your child will be overlooked when their key person is absent. Staff liaise with each other and within any one session have equal responsibility for ALL children present.
Parental Involvement
We believe that children benefit most from early years education and care when the setting and parents work together in partnership. It is our policy to actively encourage parental involvement in playgroup routine.
As a community based, voluntary managed pre-school we depend on the good will of parents and their involvement to keep going. As such, membership of the setting also carries expectations on parents for their support and commitment. With this in mind, we hope that parents, wherever possible, to come in and be parent helper for a session, about once every half term. A rota is drawn up for each term and a copy given to all parents.
Being a parent helper provides an ideal opportunity for parents (or others) – we welcome fathers, mothers, other relatives, other carers including childminders - to participate in an ordinary playgroup day. Parents with younger siblings are encouraged to bring these children along as indeed they often enjoy the experience too.
Note: Any parents who experience difficulty with any of the above, please advise a member of staff.
Health & Hygiene
Our Playgroup promotes a healthy lifestyle and a high standard of hygiene in its day to day work with children and adults.
At snack time the children sit down in small groups during the session for milk or water and fruit. Quiet conversation and good manners are encouraged. If your child does not drink milk, it would be most helpful to us if you could let us know, remembering that we actually encourage children to drink milk for health reasons. Please let Playgroup staff know if your child has any special dietary requirements i.e. food allergies, allergic to milk.
Drinking water is available throughout the session and children are told that they should ask for water at any time throughout the session if they require a drink. Children are also encouraged to bring their own labelled bottle of water to drink when necessary (particularly during the summer/hot weather).
For further information please read our Health and Safety Policy which is filed in playgroup.
Toilet
It is preferable that your child is out of nappies (day time) and is able to take themselves to the toilet. However, a member of staff is always willing to accompany them, encouraging their independence in this area, until they have the confidence to go on their own.
We appreciate some children have not quite mastered this and, therefore, pull-ups are acceptable.
Accidents do happen so Playgroup has spare clothing available, which we will require you to wash and return, as necessary. You may provide spare clothes in named bag and hand to Playgroup staff if you wish.
Clothing
Our aim is to promote confidence and independence in our children, and to avoid any distressing accidents. Clothing that is easy to manage will help them achieve this i.e. pull-on trousers, no buttoned or tight cuffs, no belts with buckles, and dungarees only if the child is fully capable of taking them off and putting them on him/ herself (in order to go to the toilet themselves).
Whilst we do provide aprons for craft activities and messy play, sometimes clothing will get soiled, so we recommend that your child wears suitable clothing i.e. not 'best'.
Sweatshirts and T-shirts with the playgroup name on can be purchased through Playgroup. There is absolutely no obligation to buy these but some parents feel it solves the 'what to wear' dilemma and gives the children a sense of belonging especially when they see their older brothers and sisters wearing their school uniforms.
Additional Policies
We operate a no smoking policy as part of our Health and Safety procedures and ask staff, parents and visitors to observe this at all times.
Detailed policies and procedures covering the following can be found on this website;
Behaviour management policy, Child protection policy, Complaints procedure, Confidentiality policy, Equality and diversity policy, Equipment and resources policy, Food and drink policy, Health and safety policy, Non-collection of children policy, Parental involvement policy, Recruitment and Retention policy, Settling-in policy, Special educational needs/disability policy, Staffing and employment policy, Student placement policy.
In accordance with a request from the Department of Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) guidance in connection with “Fair Processing” under the Data Protection & Freedom of Information Act 1998 can be found on this website.
All our policies and procedures are reviewed and revised as necessary at regular intervals.
Fees and Early Years Free Entitlement
Our playgroup runs for 38 weeks each year over three terms. As children usually join playgroup before they are three years old, fees are usually payable for at least one term.
Fees are payable whether your child attends or not, through illness or holiday. If you find yourself in financial difficulty please talk in confidence to a member of staff (we have an Assisted Places Policy). Fees are payable half-termly or termly and should be paid within the first week of the relevant term. We review fees annually and we require half a term’s notice of withdrawal from playgroup, in writing to the Admissions Secretary.
We are in receipt of the Early Years Free Entitlement funding for three and four year olds. Children become eligible for Early Years Free Entitlement the term after their third birthday and this provides for up to 5 sessions a week of 2.5 hours each, for 38 weeks of the year. You will be required to complete a form each term and funding can only be claimed for those sessions your child attends on a regular basis.
As your early education provider we claim funding from the Local Authority on your behalf. We will provide you with more information prior to your child becoming eligible.
Where funding is not received, then fees apply. The current level of fees per session is £9.45
Fee to cover cost of fruit - During each session the children get a chance to have a drink and a piece of fruit as snack. In order to ensure we can offer the children a variety of fresh fruit the pre-school purchase and prepare the fruit for the children. We ask that parents cover the cost of the purchase of the fruit. Further information will be given to you once your child has started at playgroup.
Playgroup Voluntary Fund
During your time at playgroup you may be asked to contribute to the Playgroup Voluntary Fund. This fund is used to help augment our finances and contribution is on a purely voluntary basis.
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