Our aim as a pre-school playgroup
To provide young children with a safe and stimulating play
environment where they can grow and develop in preparation for school.
What
is Play Zone all about?
During sessions we encourage
the children to learn through play by providing varied activities e.g.
free play, snack time or group time on the carpet. We set out the room to
encourage all round development through toys and equipment such as sit and
ride toys, table top games and crafts, book corner, puzzles, Large
construction toys, and a home corner.
What
happensduring the sessions?
Sessions
start at 9.30am, when children arrive they are free to play or join in
regular craft activities with staff. We provide a drink and a snack later
in the session which is also a time when we can sit together as a group
and share our “news”. We will often talk about the weather, talk about
our holidays and pets, any thing that the children want to chat about.
Then after some more play its time for songs on the carpet. Children are
then collected by their parents/carers at 12 noon.
What
about the staff?
we have a good staff ratio always at least 1 adult to every 5
children giving plenty of opportunity for children to get one to one
help with tasks or reading in the book corner. Children enjoy having an
adult play along side them encouraging new ideas, developing language
and making learning fun. We all have a variety of training,
qualifications and experiences.
All the staff members are parents and
from that, we have a wealth of
experiences that can never be learnt in
the classroom. Many parents agree that
you can’t learn to be a parent in the
classroom, but the most important
requirement for all staff at playgroup
is that we love and enjoy working with
children
will
Play Zone help my child prepare for
school?
We encourage the children to
learn to be social and polite, showing good manners and courtesy to each
other, taking turns and sharing. There are many aspects to a child’s
development in preparation for school,
playgroup is not all about “how many paintings did you do
today?” Children will learn to read and write at school, it is our aim
to help them to be ready to learn these skills when they go, not to
teach them already.
When can my child start?
Children
can start Play Zone from the age of 2 years; children aged 3 or 4 are
entitled to free places. We have a waiting list and we
offer places on a first come first served basis, not date of birth. We can
also offer nappy changing so there is no need to wait till your child is out
of nappies. We believe in equal opportunities to all children regardless of
ability or ethnic origin.
Play Zone welcomes Children with special needs, we have
disabled facilities and trained staff. We are also sensitive to
children who suffer with allergies and we are very aware of the growing
need to offer all children special individual care.
