Their Experience
Children’s Learning + Development
We believe that all children are individuals and as such they will come to playgroup at different stages of development and with various skills and abilities. This creates the individuality between each and every child and thus we will treat your child as unique person. Treating your child as unique person enables us to progress their development and meet their individual needs. The playgroup is a safe, secure and stimulating environment with a caring, committed and well qualified staff, who will allow your child to develop at their own pace. The provision for children’s development and learning is guided by the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), which became law in September 2008. Our provision reflects the four key principles: unique child, positive relationships, enabling environments and learning and development.
Learning Journey
The playgroup keeps a record of achievement for every child in the early years – your child’s learning journey. Staff and parents/carers have to work together in completing these records to ensure a whole picture is developed. In St Mary’s Playgroup, we use a key person system. It means nearly every member of staff has a small group of children for whom they have a particular responsibility. Your child’s key person is who will work with you to ensure that your child’s particular needs & interests are met. When your child first joins us, their key person will give them the reassurance so they feel safe, cared for and will encourage them to benefit from all the activities available to them. It is the key person who will collect information about your child’s needs, activities, interests and achievements. Every achievement can and should be celebrated, this we try to do together whenever possible. The key person works with you to identify your child’s progress and to decide how to encourage them on.
Safeguarding
We have a duty under the law to help safeguard children against suspected or actual significant harm. Our employment practices protect children against the likelihood of harm while with us and outside of our care. We hope as parents/carers you understand we have a responsibility to do this and only want what is best for your child. We have a procedure for managing complaints or allegations against members of staff. By working closely with parents & children, we hope to be aware of any problems that may occur and offer support as necessary.
Special Educational Needs
We have a Special Educational Needs Coordinator and make it of paramount importance to meet the needs of each child attending playgroup. This means taking account and understanding any special educational needs they may have. We work to the requirements of the 1993 Education Act & The Special Educational Needs Code of Practice (2014).
“The first five years have so much to do with how the next 80 turn out”
– Bill Gates