INTRODUCTION

Chestnut Playgroup is a small and friendly group, which has been established for over 40 years and until 1999, was located in the village of Hadstock. During 1998/99 the Playgroup sought the opportunity to relocate to the village of Linton and from September 1999 has been operational from the new library complex housed in the Cathodeon Centre at the top of the High Street. The premises offer good facilities with wheelchair access. There is a fenced outside play area with a variety of play equipment on a soft surface, and a flower and vegetable garden. Moving into Linton has enabled the Playgroup to work more closely with the infant school and of course, the library services.

The Playgroup is registered to take up to 25 children from the age of 2½ to 5 years of age and inspected by OFSTED for care and educational provision. The most recent inspection in May 2004 is available at www.ofsted.gov.uk.

The Playgroup is a member of the Pre-School Learning Alliance (P.L.A.) and has adopted the P.L.A.’s model Pre-School Constitution, a copy of which is available upon request. On-going training is available through P.L.A. courses, which welcome both staff and parents. The Playgroup is fully insured and a copy of this is displayed on the notice board.

Our Aims:

  • To provide quality care and education within a safe and stimulating environment.
  • To meet the child’s individual needs within the group setting.
  • To provide a full and varied/broad and balanced curriculum through a team of experienced and qualified staff members in consultation with parents.
  • To promote a working partnership between the child’s parents/carers and the pre-school.
  • To provide equal opportunities for all children and their families within the community of the pre-school.

We offer your child:

  • Individual care, respect and attention, made possible by a high ratio of adults to children.
  • A well planned curriculum leading to desired learning outcomes.
  • Fun and friendship with children and adults.

We offer you:

  • The opportunity for you and your family to become directly involved in the activities of the group during Playgroup hours with prior arrangement with the staff or through the parent/carer rota.
  • The chance to become a member of our Management Team/Committee and therefore take an active role in the running of the Playgroup.

Planning and Structure of the Session


Staff plan the term’s curriculum and each member of staff will be involved to ensure a good mix of interest is maintained. The curriculum will be planned to promote the six desirable learning outcomes, as set out in the Government’s Nursery Education Scheme.

Activities are planned around a topic, which will be announced in a Newsletter to all parents every half term. The children are encouraged to bring something appropriate to the topic into Playgroup.

The session will follow a general pattern to allow children to feel relaxed and secure:
  • The children are welcomed and settled into Playgroup.
  • Registration and group discussion around the topic and and children’s news.
  • Free choice from a selection of play activities with the opportunity to join in the creative activity of the day in a smaller group, eg. messy play, sand, water, clay and playdough. Games and puzzles, construction toys, ‘imaginative’ play, drawing, books and the opportunity to encourage pre-reading and basic numeracy skills.
  • Organic milk and snacks (where possible), Apple/Orange Juice.
  • Physical activity – outdoors in the fully enclosed garden in most weathers. Wet weather activities are also enjoyed with umbrellas. Growing vegetables and tending the garden.
  • Quiet time with story and / or songs.
  • Parent / carer collects child.

We use a team approach to keyworking with the children’s records distributed throughout the staff team and rotated termly. The staff team will encourage you to share in progress made. You will be able to talk over any concerns with the Playgroup Manager or Supervisor.

What to wear


In order to feel free to explore and experiment with all kinds of materials, including messy ones, it is best
to send children in clothes that are easily washable and not new. We do sell sweatshirts and t-shirts with the Playgroup logo on the front, which are ideal as they wash really well and are relatively inexpensive to buy. If you are interested in these items ask a member of staff for details.
Simple clothes that the children are able to handle themselves enable them to practise skills which make them independent. It is useful to bring a change of clothes for your child should there be an ‘accident’ that makes his/her clothes wet or soiled for any reason.

Please make sure your child wears warm clothing during the winter months. During Winter and Spring terms the children should bring in a pair of wellington boots marked clearly with their name and for the Summer a sun hat.

Hours and Fees


Sessions are currently held on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings from 9.30-12.00, and extended lunch hours on Tuesday and Wednesdays from 12.00 – 1.00pm. Please ensure that your child arrives at Playgroup promptly and is collected on time. Fees are currently at £7.25 per session payable each half-term. Parents are invoiced at the start of each half-term and payment is due within two weeks of the invoice date. Lunch sessions are £3.00 each, with children bringing a packed lunch.

In the case of financial difficulties, please speak to the Treasurer or Chairperson who will be able to advise you. Cheques should be made payable to “Chestnut Playgroup”. There is also a one-off administration charge of £10 to cover administration costs and this is payable when your child starts playgroup.

Fees continue to be payable even if the child is absent for a short time, due to sickness or family holidays. In the case of a prolonged absence, parents should consult the Committee about fee payment. Each child’s attendance at the group is conditional upon continued payment of the fees. No fees are refundable and a half-term's notice is required if you wish to remove your child for whatever reason.


Policies


Our policies are designed to offer the best possible experience for the children and families in the group. They are reviewed on a regular basis and comments from parents are always welcome. Download our policy document

Illness


Our recommendation is that a child should not return to Playgroup until 48hrs have elapsed after all symptoms, e.g. vomiting/diarrhoea, have ceased.

Special Needs


The number of adults present in the group ensures individual attention for your child. Each child is allowed to progress at his/her own pace in all areas of development and the same is true for children with disabilities or learning difficulties. If you would like to discuss the group’s ability to meet your child’s special needs, please speak to any member of staff.

The Committee


Chestnut Playgroup is managed by Parents/Carers who are invited to join the Committee each year at the A.G.M. This is usually during September and all Parents/Carers are welcome. Indeed, it is in the Playgroup’s best interest that as many Parents/Carers as possible actively become involved in the running of the Playgroup. The Committee is responsible for reviewing both policy and practice for the employment of staff and fundraising. Those that do not wish to join the Committee may still be able to provide a valuable contribution in another way e.g. baking cakes, so it is important that as many people attend the A.G.M.

Your child and others benefit from your input. .

Helper Rota


The helper rota is distributed to all parents/carers each half term, and copies are available in the Playgroup file kept in the foyer. If you are unable to help at your allocated session, other relatives such as a partner or Granny / Granddad are welcome substitutes. We allocate parents a helper session on average once per half term. This is a most important aspect of Playgroup life and the children really do benefit from Parent input.

At Chestnut we really do value opinions of how we work with the children and obviously every Parent has something to offer, not only to their own child at Playgroup, but also to others.

Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate younger siblings under the age of 2 and understand that this does present a problem for some parents who wish to help but have no carer for the younger child. In addition, if there are particular days on which your child attends and with which you cannot help, please contact the staff and they will pass on the information to whoever is drawing up the rota. If you cannot make a session that you have been allocated it would be appreciated if you could swop sessions with another parent.

Fundraising


The fees cover staff salaries, rent, P.L.A. membership and insurance. The Playgroup relies solely upon fundraising for the purchase of new equipment, staff training, Christmas parties etc for the children. Fundraising events are planned throughout the year to enable us to achieve these goals. Chestnut Playgroup is a non-profit making organisation.

Registering Your Child


If you wish to apply for a place for your child in the group, please complete the registration form available from playgroup or the admissions officer. There is no charge for registration and it does not guarantee a place for your child. Children may be admitted from the age of 2½ years. It is strongly recommended that you register your child as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

You will be informed when there is a place available for your child and you will both be invited to attend a session prior to the start date. The group feels it is important for parents and staff to work together to help new children to feel happy, confident and secure in the group and appreciate that the settling-in period takes longer for some children than for others.