About Us

We work towards the "Early Learning Goals" as set out in the Early Years Foundation Stage (www.foundationyears.org.uk).

Our programme is planned to support each child in their learning journey towards and beyond these goals.

 Our curriculum enables the child to learn and develop skills, attitudes and understanding through play.  Children will be developing skills across all the Prime and Specific areas of learning whilst at Playgroup, working towards achieving the Early Learning Goals at the end of their reception year. 

— The prime areas:

     – Personal, Emotional, and Social Development,

     – Communication and Language,

     – Physical Development.

— and these specific areas:

     – Mathematics,

     – Literacy,

     – Understanding the World,

     – Expressive Art and Design.

The mornings include creative activities, play with various construction sets, outdoor play in the garden and playground, enjoying stories, role play, puzzles and games, malleable materials, sensory activities, talking about and listening to the children's news and ideas, singing, gross motor activities including playing on bikes, bouncing on the trampoline, and climbing on the wooden play frame and working together on the see-saw.

The programme includes listening games, science sessions, movement time, rhyme time, sand and water play. 

In our secure environment, with effective adult support, children will be able to:

  – explore, develop, and represent learning experiences that help them make sense of the world,

  – practise and build up concepts, ideas, and skills,

  – learn how to control impulses and understand the need for rules,

  – be alone, be alongside others, or co-operate as they talk to rehearse their feelings,  

  – accept each other no matter what our gender, background, race, religion, or disability,

  – respect each others views and opinions,

  – take risks and make mistakes,

  – think creatively and imaginatively,

  – communicate with others as they investigate and solve problems,

  – express fears to relieve anxious experiences in controlled and safe situations.

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At the beginning of each morning we have 'Mat Time' with the Cats, where we talk about the week's topic we are looking at.   We encourage the children to actively take part — explain their understanding of the topic and talk about their experiences, ask questions etc. valuing their input in discussions. They can bring in any relevant items from home to 'Show and Tell'. Mat time is age appropriate adapted for the ‘Kittens’. .

Occasional visitors to the group talk to the children about a particular subject (e.g. a country, road safety, fire safety, a musical instrument, and people who help us).
 

The "Cats" have 'project time' for a short period during the mornings, which involves developing pencil control; writing; recognising shapes and patterns; counting; recognising and writing numerals; linking sounds and letters; and learning about themselves. We also have group discussions – tasting and smell sessions, Maths games, making graphs of our favourite fruit/drink, visual science discussions – air and celery in dyed water etc. Care is taken to ensure the activities suit each level of ability, enable progress and encourage a ‘Can do’ attitude. The purpose of ‘project time' is to prepare the children for the type of adult-led experience they will encounter at school.