The Village Hall, The Green, Polstead, Colchester, Essex, CO6
5AR
Welcome to the Polstead Playgroup, we hope you find the
following informative and useful. Should you require further
information or a registration form please contact Aimee Perry on
01473 657335 email
INTRODUCTION
At Polstead Playgroup our philosophy is to learn through the use
of play. We aim to introduce the children to numeracy and literacy
and encourage them to be creative individuals. We take advantage of
the large space available in the village hall and the garden to
work on physical and social development.
Aimee Perry has recently taken over from Myra Reid as
Playgroup leader. Aimee is very experienced and has been
working with the Playgroup for nearly six years. She is
supported by a fantastic team who include: Playgroup
Deputy Nicki Bowles, who joined at the beginning of
the Spring Term, Sally Hoskyns, Laura Wood and Lindy
Shrimpton.
How it Works
Polstead Playgroup is and always has been run for the
parents by the parents since its early beginnings over 25
years ago. Through joining the group parents automatically become
part of the membership, it is through everyone doing a little
that makes it all run so smoothly.
Playgroup is a non–profit making organisation and has charity
status.
We are committed to keeping the fees to a minimum making the
Playgroup accessible to all.
Registration details
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
We accept children from 2 years old and initially they come
accompanied by a parent.
From 2 years and 6 months they can be left in our care.
Having attended the group for a few months in the company of a
parent, the transition to being left when they are old enough or
when the parent feels they are ready, is normally very smooth and
easy.
FEES AND FUNDING
The cost per session for each child up until the term after they
are three is £5.
Three and four year olds are eligible for complete funding from the
government for all
their sessions.
Key Workers
This is a system that allocates a child to a member of staff.
They will follow the child’s progress throughout their time at
playgroup. They do this by filling in a document that monitors
their progress; this is referred to as a ‘step by step’
development document.
The staff welcome parental input with this document, as it is
important that parents let them know the things their child
achieves at home e.g. using scissors unaided.
Times (term time only)
Playgroup starts at 9.30am
Playgroup ends at 12 noon
A typical day at Playgroup
|
9.30 am |
Children arrive and are allowed to play with wide range of
activities. |
|
9.45 am |
Children gather together for news time, date, weather and colour
and shape recognition. The register is also called. |
|
10.00 am |
Children have choice of activities. Adults encourage the
children to get involved and to try and use most of the activities
that are laid out – not just the craft table! |
|
11.00 am |
Tidy up time! The children are encouraged to help clear away the
small toys, puzzles, brio, cars, animals etc. not the heavy
equipment as they could get hurt or hurt someone else. Some of the
children will the go to the toilet and others to the quiet room.
Toddlers may take their parents with
them! |
|
11.15 am |
Snack time! Children are encouraged to find their names on the
board and then get their snack. Children are encouraged to make
this a social time and if possible, wait until their friends have
finished before helping to clear away cups and
plates. |
|
11.30 am |
Children now have the opportunity to go outside (weather
permitted) on ride on the vehicles. If it is bad weather then we
have ball games inside. |
|
11.45 am |
Children come inside and sit down for a story and some
singing. |
|
12 noon |
Parents arrive to collect their children and any artwork to be
enjoyed and displayed at home. |
OUR AIMS AND OBJECTIVES WITHIN THE KEY STAGE LEARNING AREAS
PERSONAL, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
We aim to achieve personal, social and emotional development
through providing an environment where children can learn how to
work and play happily and purposefully together, and relatewell to
other children and adults. The children are given the opportunity
to learn about themselves, their needs, views and feelings in
response to experiences. We build their confidence through giving
them the opportunity to make their own choices through the wide
range of activities provided during each morning session. We aim to
develop their sensitivity and respect for other people, their
cultures and beliefs by encouraging them to be interested in and
excited by other children’s experiences as well as their
own.
Knowledge and Understanding of the World
We aim to achieve a
knowledge and understanding of the world by getting the
children to explore their environment and use their senses
through observation and comparison. The children are given the
opportunity to investigate living things and natural materials
and are encouraged to look closely at similarities,
differences, patterns and change. We encourage the children to
work things out for themselves through experimentation. They
begin to solve simple problems through practical activities
and start to ask questions about how and why things work. We
aim to introduce the children into the world of technology
using a variety of different tools such as the computer, tape
recorders, calculators and electronic toys. We aim to develop
their spatial awareness through learning how to use tools
safely, ensure they acquire the skills of cutting, building
and joining and encourage them to create their own models with
a range of equipment.
Physical Development
We aim to achieve physical development through encouraging the
children to explore movement using their imagination. This is
achieved through encouraging the children to use the space around
them, to travel around, under, over and through equipment. They
begin to develop body awareness, control and co-ordination, and
start to recognise changes that happen to their bodies when they
are active. We also develop fine motor skills by using tools,
objects, construction pieces and malleable materials, safely and
with increasing control. The children are taught about the
importance of keeping healthy, and the things which contribute to
this.
Communication, Language and Literacy Development
We aim to achieve communication, language and literacy
development by encouraging the children to extend their vocabulary
through conversations with other children and adults and exploring
the meaning and sounds of new words. We offer them the opportunity
to develop confident speech whilst also becoming aware of the
importance of listening. We ensure that the children can express
their needs clearly, and encourage them to talk about their
feelings and share their ideas. We encourage the children to
respond to stories, music, rhymes and poems and where appropriate
create their own, exploring and experimenting with sounds, words
and text. We aim to introduce them to letters and words through day
to day activities. They firstly become aware of their names and the
letters that make up their names, then they move onto explore the
sound of the alphabet and how the sound changes when letters are
linked together.
Creative Development
We aim to achieve creative development through the use of
colour, texture, shapes, pattern, and space in their pictures and
model making. The children learn about different sounds and how
they can be changed. They learn simple songs to sing, they hear
repeated sounds and sound patterns and are encouraged to move to
music. We aim to develop their imagination through role-play
situations, stories, music, dancing and in creative work. They are
encouraged to use their senses in a variety of ways and talk about
what they can see, smell, hear, touch and feel.
Mathematical Development
We aim to achieve mathematical development through generating an
awareness of how we use numbers in everyday life. The children
learn to count up to twenty and become aware of how the amount
changes when objects are added or removed and groups are combined
together. During the term each child is given the opportunity to
count the number of children present during the session. The
children learn to recognise numbers. We offer activities, which
encourage the children to match, sort, combine and order objects
using everyday play materials and talk about what they are doing.
We teach number rhymes and enjoy stories, which help the children
learn the mathematical language. Through practical activities the
children learn the language of shape, position, size and quantity.
The children become aware of simple patterns and are encouraged to
create their own using a range of materials.
other information
Parental Involvement
Parents are asked to help in two ways:
Rota - We run a rota of parents who come in twice a term, to
help the staff. At the beginning of the session the parent will
help to get the equipment out, checking with the staff the plan for
the day. The parent is encouraged to assist children with
activities such as the collage/art table, painting (easels),
puzzles, construction, play dough, and ensuring that there is
someone supervising the climbing frame, home corner during the
session. The parent is responsible for preparing the snack and
drinks.
Fundraising – All parents help in some way with putting on a
small event each term.
Outings
During the term we
organise local excursions, maybe a visit to a farm in the
village to see the lambs, feed the ducks at the pond, visit
the village playground, or Dollops Wood to see the bluebells.
During the year, we plan some trips further a field. We have,
for example, been to a jigsaw factory, the zoo and
crabbing.
Newsletter
We produce a newsletter each half term to keep parents up to
date with Playgroup news and also to inform parents about visits
that we are organising or events we are holding.
Clothing
They’ll get covered in paint, glue, mud and glitter, so we ask
parents to dress them accordingly. Don’t send them in the jumper
Granny knitted, she might get upset when it becomes a creative
masterpiece!
Prescribed medicines
The parent/guardian records in the book, details of the required
medication.
Any staff member administering the medication, records this in the
book, which is witnessed by another member of staff. The
parent/guardian must then sign the book at the end of the session
when the medicine is removed.
First Aid
Written permission is obtained from parents/guardians on the
registration form for the administration of any necessary emergency
medical advice or treatment.
Behaviour Management
Children seem to flourish best in an ordered environment in
which everyone knows what is expected of them and where they are
free to develop their play and learning without the fear of being
hurt or hindered by anyone else. We aim to work towards an
environment where children can develop self-esteem and an
atmosphere of mutual respect and encouragement.