A Typical Playgroup Day
On arrival at Playgroup, the door opens at 9.00am or 12.35pm, as staff use the time to set up equipment. The building is shared with a Before School Club and they do not leave until 08.50.
A member of staff opens the door and stands in the entrance greeting the children and taking a register. The children address the staff as Mrs./ Miss./ Mr……. (See photos in the notice board outside)
In the entrance hall all children have a named coat peg with a symbol on it, this symbol is repeated on their name card, which is found in a hanger on an internal door. The children take their name card and put it in a pocket labelled with their initial letter, this is hanging near the window in the blue room. Any toys may be placed in the showing box.
Children play with a range of equipment until a bell is rung for ‘register time’. All children sit on the carpet in the blue room and respond; “here I am” to their name. After register, the children are given information about the day’s activities, including looking at the letter, number or sound of the week.
We use “Jolly Phonics” which encourages letter recognition and sound, activity sheets are available in the entrance to take home.
The children are then invited to “showing time” or to go and play. An adult supervises showing time and children are encouraged to describe to a small group what they have brought to playgroup. Small items (toys/comforters/books/photos) are then kept in the showing box until home time. Children may bring any item to show, items linked to our theme are especially welcome. Details of our current theme are displayed in the window near the main door and in the staff newsletter.
Children then have a free choice of the activities available, staff are happy to select toys to help children settle – please let us know if your child has any particular favourites.
Between 10.00am and 10.45am snack is offered, there are limited seats at the snack table to encourage children to finish an activity before coming to snack, children are encouraged to have a drink (milk/water) and some snack.
After snack children play outside, we offer outdoor play whatever the weather so please dress your child appropriately. Children who wish to play on the grass in winter must bring Wellingtons or similar boots.
When we come in, the whole group comes back together to finish the session with either singing/dancing/circle time game or discussion and story.
Children are called from the group by a staff member as their parent/carer arrives and handed any pictures etc. to take home.
Parents/carers are asked to remain in the entrance and wait for their child to be brought out; this enables staff to ensure that all children are collected safely. While waiting, check the hanging ‘pigeon holes’ which are named and remove any correspondence from staff or committee, including bills, rotas and newsletters – sometimes even party invites are found there!
