| |
Meets from 9.15 am to 12 noon every Tuesday and Thursday in
term time.
Training | Organisation
| Equipment | Care, learning
& play | Food & drink | Equal
opportunities | Working in Partnership
Introduction
My name is Jenny Karpuk and, together with Alison Bingham and
Felicity Iwanko, we help to prepare your child for 'big' school
during the coming year.
Alison and I have worked together since 1988 and Felicity joined
us in 1993 after her daughter, Sophie's, year at Playgroup.
It is a privilege to share this pre-school year with parents
and their child, and as we are first and foremost 'mums', we
are able to identify with any frustrations or anxieties - but
most of all pleasure and joys that you experience through your
children.
Our primary role is the care and safety of your child and to
encourage them to learn through play.
Playgroup is very much part of the Church and whilst we will
encourage the children to respect others and their cultures,
we will also share Christian teaching.
We are very much looking forward to getting to know parents
and their child in their time with us.The group is fortunate
in retaining the same staff for several years and they work
as a cohesive unit complementing each other. |
Training
The staff appreciate the importance of ongoing training and
the Playgroup Leader regularly attends workshops for playgroup
leaders throughout the year in addition to extensive formal
training in previous years. She has been involved in voluntary
work in the classroom at local schools and has 14 years' experience
in supervising Sawston Free Church Playgroup. Alison Bingham
has a Teacher Certificate in Education, with 5 years' experience
teaching in a nursery school, and has been involved with the
Playgroup for 14 years. Felicity Iwanko has attended various
workshops and has attended a St John's Ambulance Course. She
has 9 years' experience working within the Playgroup. |
Organisation
The Playgroup is registered with OFSTED for 20 children, but
prefers to have a maximum of 18 children at each session, enabling
us to have a ratio of one adult to six children.
During their pre-school year at Playgroup, the children gain
knowledge of colours, shapes, the alphabet, the changing seasons
and the importance of Christmas and Easter.
There are three clearly defined areas and the children are able
to move freely between these different areas.
Two of the playgroup rooms have been completely refurbished
and the 3rd area has been completely rebuilt. This area now
includes a small safe kitchen area and toilets specifically
for small children. With the completion of this area, we can
now provide clean, bright and airy safe areas for the children
which are secure and separated off from the new foyer area at
the front of the church.
Room 2 provides an area for table top equipment, a book corner,
a computer, puzzles and an interest table relating to the weekly
theme.
Room 1 provides a craft activity relating to the weekly theme,
a home corner and either painting, drawing or playdough.
The 3rd area provides space for a second craft activity and
various floor equipment, i.e. cars, train set, bricks, etc.
The session begins at 9.15am, Monday to Thursday in term time.
The register is taken. There is free play with organised craft
activities until 11.15am. We then have milk/drinks time followed
by showing time (after October half term, we introduce hall-time
where the children participate in action rhymes etc). Story
time follows at 11.45 am. The session finishes at 12 noon.
After each session, the Playgroup Leader is available to speak
with parents/carers and there is a daily ongoing appraisal of
each child.
|
Equipment
The toys and equipment at Playgroup provide opportunities for
children, with adult help, to develop new skills and concepts
in the course of their play and exploration.
The equipment we provide:
- Is appropriate for the ages and stages of the children
- Offers challenges to developing physical, social, personal
and intellectual skills
- Features positive images of people, both male and female,
from a range of ethnic and cultural groups
- Includes a range of raw materials which can be used in
a variety of ways and encourages an open-ended approach
to creativity and problem-solving
- Will enable children, with adult support, to develop individual
potential and move towards required learning goals
- Conforms to all relevant safety regulations and is sound
and well made
|
Care, learning and play
The staff firmly believe that the primary role is the care
and safety of the children and that of providing a stimulating
environment which helps the children to reach their full potential
before attending school and receiving more formal teaching.
The children are encouraged to participate in the wide range
of activities which Playgroup offers. The themes that the
staff plan are linked to art work where scissors, paint, glue,
pens and crayons may be used to improve their fine motor skills.
The themes are also linked with the show and tell table which
encourages children to talk about the objects they bring and
improve their listening skills while others talk.
During free play, the children are able to use construction
toys, puzzles, drawing, painting, playdough, home corner,
dressing up and book corner, all of which encourage fine motor
skills, experience of shape, colour, pattern and number, imagination,
creativity and the need to take turns and share. The staff
respect children's need for concentrated solitary play but
also chat to children as they play to encourage problem solving
and extend vocabulary.
In addition to showing time, there are other group times for
stories, rhymes and singing which further encourage listening
and being part of a group and also extend vocabulary and an
awareness of rhythm and rhyme.
Throughout the whole session, achievements are praised.
Children's progress throughout the year is closely monitored
and updates shared with parents.
The overall aim of Playgroup is to encourage
confidence, kindness and keenness to learn.
|
Food and drink
A drink of either water or milk is offered to each child mid-morning.
The children's records are checked for allergies etc before
milk or any forms of food (tastings) are offered. |
Equal opportunities
Each child is an individual and has individual needs. We at
Playgroup make sure that each child is valued and treated according
to their own needs. We encourage the children to treat each
other with love and respect which they all deserve. |
Working in Partnership
with Parents and Carers
Parents are the first educators of their young children. Our
aim is to support them in this most precious of roles. Our first
opportunity to meet new parents and their children is at the
Playgroup Coffee Morning which is held during June of each year.
We combine a "welcome" for the families who join us
in September, with a "farewell" to the families leaving
us in July.
This is invaluable for beginning our partnership and we are
able to share relevant information, our hopes, aims and desires
for the year ahead. Each parent/carer is met individually.
Our policy book, as required by Ofsted, is available to view
at playgroup.
Fees
Playgroup fees for the year 2003-2004 are £4 per session.
Although Sawston Free Church Playgroup is subject to OFSTED
inspections, it is NOT part of the government funded nursery
places scheme and therefore all fees must be paid in full.
Please note, that Huntingdon's charity is prepared to subsidise
playgroup fees for low income families. You may ask Jenny Karpuk
for further details, in confidence.
Special Needs
Our Playgroup aims to have regard to the DfES Code of Practice
on Special Educational Needs, and to provide a welcome and appropriate
learning opportunities for all children.
Children with special needs, like all other children, are invited
to join Playgroup after consultation with the parents.
If it is felt that a child's need cannot be met by us without
the support of a one-to-one worker, funding will be sought to
employ one.
We liaise with relevant professionals and agencies outside the
group to meet children's specific needs.
Confidentiality will be maintained at all times.
|
|
|
|
|
Top