Information For Parents

Our Aims

• is in a safe and stimulating environment;
• is given generous care and attention, because of our ratio of qualified staff to children, as well as volunteer parent helpers;
• has the chance to join with other children and adults to live, play, work and learn together;
• is helped to take forward her/his learning and development by being helped to build on what she/he already knows and can do;
• has a personal key person who makes sure each child makes satisfying progress;
• is in a setting that sees parents as partners in helping each child to learn and develop; and
• is in a setting in which parents help to shape the service it offers.

Settling In

We want your child to feel happy and safe with us. To make sure that this is the case, the staff will work with you to decide on how to help your child to settle into the setting. Parents are welcome in the Playgroup at any time. We hope child(ren) will settle easily into the group and we try to make this as comfortable as possible. There is no rush to introduce the children; we encourage you to spend time in the group with your child until they feel secure and familiar with the surroundings. If you prefer to leave them, we will give your child one to one attention until the child feels happy and secure.

We recognise that not every child is toilet trained when they start playgroup. We have regular times when all children are asked if they need to use the toilet to encourage them to use it. Children who are not toilet trained will need to bring nappies and wipes in a bag. We have facilities for changing nappies and staff will change nappies as required.

Admissions and Session Times

We hold morning and some afternoon sessions and take children from two and half to school age in term time. The timetable below allows parents to select the sessions that are right for their child. Sessions can be gradually added and lunch sessions can be attended as desired (spaces permitting).

Lunches

The Rising 5's afternoon sessions includes time for lunch and all children need to bring their lunch with them. There is an option on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday for children to bring lunch and stay an extra hour until 1.00pm. There is a charge of £2.50 for the extra hour. Optional lunch sessions do not need to be booked in advance.

Fees for 2009/2010 and the Government Grant

• Children under 3 - Fees are £6.75 per session and £2.50 per session for any optional lunch sessions.
• Children over 3 - Each child aged 3 and over is entitled to 5 sessions a week Preschool for 33 weeks a year.

Reduced Rates and Fee Waivers - The Playgroup has reduced rates for parents with twins or more than one child at the playgroup. Fees can be waived or reduced for any family who is struggling to meet the cost of Playgroup fees at the discretion of the Committee. Any parent worried about the cost of fees should discuss this with the Playleader.

Childcare Vouchers

The Playgroup is registered with Computer Share Voucher Services and will accept this method of payment should you wish to use it. Childcare vouchers are available for all eligible working parents, and could help reduce your Childcare costs even further as they are non-taxable and exempt from National Insurance contributions.

Prospectus & Application Form

Click here to download a copy of our Full Prospectus for parents and carers in PDF format.

Click here to download a copy of our Application Form for new starters in PDF format. Please return your completed and signed form to Wayne Badcock by post or in person at the playgroup.

Policies & Procedures

In accordance with EYFS guidelines, all of our detailed Policies & Procedures are available at playgroup for parents and carers to read, or here in PDF format.