Tasburgh Pre School
Tasburgh Playgroup was formed in 1968 and became a registered charity in 1994. In April 2002 it was renamed to Tas Valley Pre-School and Playgroup. It's aim is to enhance the development and education of children under school age.
Learning through play is at the cornerstone of what Tas Valley Pre-School & Playgroup does. Very young children do not distinguish between playing-and-learning and just playing. We aim to harness this natural childhood curiosity to help stimulate their thinking and their imagination. High quality play with a certain amount of structure and the right level of adult intervention helps children progress.
Tas Valley Pre-School & Playgroup is run by a small committee of parents and carers. Elections to the committee are held annually in September and members of the wider community as well as parents are welcome to stand.
The benefits of good quality Early Years education.
Research suggests that children who benefit from good quality early years education are more
likely to:
They develop:
by running, jumping, climbing, skipping and dancing; by playing with construction toys and using scissors and pencils, etc.
They learn:
What your child will learn at Tas Valley Pre-School & Playgroup
Margaret Hodge, Under Secretary of State for Education & Employment (1998-2001)
The next ten points will tell you about the importance of play. It highlights the types of learning activities that your child will be engaging in and what they will learn from them.Play in the early years is of vital importance as it provides meaningful activities in which a wide range of skills and knowledge are practised, refined and extended, physically and intellectually. It allows the children to engage in and experience a variety of social opportunities and roles, to develop their language and communication skills and to feel secure and happy in the environment.
1. The Book Corner
If we provide the opportunity for children to enjoy books from an early age they will be encouraged to become motivated readers and will:
The book corner is a place where children can be quiet and comfortable, relax and feel secure.2.
Small World ToysWhen the children play with the cars, road mat, train set, doll’s house, farm and zoo animals they:
3. Sand and Water
When they are playing in the sand and water the children:
4. The Writing Area
Here the children are encouraged to experience the early stage of writing such as:
The writing area also encourages the child to draw, trace, use scissors and develop confidence in their graphic mark-making.
5. The Construction Area
This is where the children will build with a variety of equipment. Here they will:
6. Creative Area
$The children frequently paint, draw, cut, stick and model. This encourages then to:
7. Outdoor and Physical Play
When the children play outside they:
It is our aim to provide all the curriculum areas both inside and outside, to use the outside area as an extension of the main hall as much as possible.
8. Role Play Area
The role-play area is an important part of pre-school and the children will learn a great deal when playing in it. They will:
9. Snack Time
There are many reasons why we have snack time:
10. Display
We display children’s work for a variety of reasons. Display offers an area of interest, appreciation and discovery. The children develop a positive self image when they see their own work displayed and it celebrates their experiences. Displays are also used to stimulate and launch topics and as an interactive resource.At Tas Valley Pre-School and Playgroup we are committed to valuing every aspect of a child’s education. We believe that intellectual, social, emotional and physical development are all interrelated and a child who is happy and self assured will have the confidence to try new things and therefore extend their learning.
What is the role of a Key Worker?
A Key worker creates balance and stability by caring for a small group of children, within a larger group.
A key worker is part of a team ensuring equal opportunities for children, parents/prime carers and staff.
A key worker shares information with the parent/prime carer and other staff for the good of the child.
Main duties of the Key Worker:
Chat with the child’s parent/prime carer to find out more about the child and to get an initial assessment. The parent/prime carer and child should know the name of the key worker.
Assist each child to settle into the setting by:
Provide for the child’s emotional needs e.g.: comfort and reassure the child when upset.Help the child with personal needs e.g.: toileting/hand washing and sitting with them at snack time.Make sure that the child’s needs are considered in terms of race, culture, religion, diet and family values.Develop a ‘partnership’ with parents/prime carers to aid giving and receiving information about their child’s activities, eating/sleeping patterns etc and to build up trust, always considering confidentiality.Encourage the child to take part in activities that will help with his/her development; building on strengths and encouraging them to learn new skills.Exchange information with other staff.Keep simple records showing the child’s achievements; assessing and extending their learning.Build a relationship with all children in the setting, not just their key group and allow other staff to do the same.Allow each child to develop at their own pace.
Educational Programme
The educational programme at Tas Valley Pre-School & Playgroup has been drawn up to provide a sufficiently broad range of experiences for children to develop the skills, knowledge and attitudes necessary to achieve the first steps towards the Early Learning Goals. The programme is reviewed regularly by the staff and the committee. Comments and suggestions from parents and carers are welcome at any time.
The emphasis is on learning through play within this framework. Through play children can develop the confidence needed for learning, the social skills needed for personal development, and communication skills.Many of the Playgroup activities are planned on a half-termly basis and are centred on a particular topic, for example: People Who Help Us. An example of a half-termly plan is given in Appendix 2 and the details of the Early Learning Goals are provided on page 6.Anita Potter Playgroup Leader Katrina Butler Playgroup Assistant Jill Casson Playgroup Assistant Wendy Chapman Playgroup Assistant Term Starts Half Term Term Finishes Spring Mon 6 Jan 17-21 Feb Fri 11 April Summer Mon 28 April 26-30 May Mon 21 July Autumn Mon 1 Sept 27-31 Oct Fri 19 Dec
Inspection
Tas Valley Pre-School & Playgroup is regularly inspected by Ofsted. Ofsted inspect the provision of childcare and ensure we have an educational programme which enables children to work towards achieving the Early Learning Goals (ELGs).Tas Valley Pre-School & Playgroup’s last inspection was in March 2002. Copies of the inspection reports are available for parents to read from the Chairperson or are available at playgroup sessions.
Staff
Tas Valley Pre-School & Playgroup has a small but dedicated team of staff whose aim is to provide a safe, caring and stimulating environment in which to play and learn. Regular volunteers and parents ensure we maintain a high adult to child ratio.
Sessions
Tas Valley Pre-School & Playgroup currently operates 6 sessions a week, although this may fluctuate as it is dependent upon child numbers. The sessions are on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday between 9.30am and 12.00 noon, and on Tuesday and Wednesday between 12.30pm and 3.00pm. Currently Wednesday is for pre-school children, and Tuesday afternoon is for over 3s, whilst all other sessions are general (open to all ages), with activities targeted at different developmental levels. In the summer term we run the pre-school session at Preston Primary School in Tasburgh for the children who would be attending the school the following term. The aim is to familiarise the children with the school setting, the school staff and make use of facilities and equipment that the playgroup doesn’t normally have access to. Details of changes are circulated in the regular playgroup newsletters.
Terms
Tas Valley Pre-School & Playgroup follows the usual 3-term pattern used by all Norfolk schools and set by Norfolk Education Authority. (NEA are currently considering a 6 term year). However if a school term starts or ends in midweek we reserve the right to start a term at the beginning of the following full week or finish a term at the end of the previous full week.Term dates, holidays and half-terms will be confirmed in Newsletters. The anticipated dates for year 2003 are:
Fees
Fees are charged for each session a child attends. They should be paid to the Registration Secretary or any committee member in advance on the first day of the half term. Fees must be paid in full and cannot be refunded for absence due to illness, holidays or odd days missed.
The current fees are:£5.50 per session where parents agree to help during sessions.
Nursery funding - How it works
Tas Valley Pre-School & Playgroup is registered to receive government funding in the form of a Nursery Education Grant.By 2004 all 3 year olds will be entitled to funding from the term after they are 3. At the present time some 3 and all 4 year olds receive funding.The funding is claimed by us each term from Norfolk County Council and when your child is eligible there are no fees to be paid. The funding covers 11 weeks of a term.This area is ever changing depending on how much money is available in each county, so speak to the Committee Chair or Norfolk County Education Department for further information.
Parents’ Help
Tas Valley Pre-School & Playgroup is able to maintain its ratio of adults to children only with the help of parents and carers. We therefore ask everyone to be prepared to join the group on a rota basis to help with play, kitchen duties, door security and other tasks.
Keeping In Touch
We encourage parents and carers to become involved in their child's life at Playgroup by keeping in touch with our activities. We send home regular half-termly newsletters and hold parents’ meetings. We also have Home Books, which contain the children’s play plans and observations we have made, as well as examples of their work. These are sent home at the end of each half term, for parents to add their own comments, but can be viewed at any time.Staff are always available at the end of playgroup sessions to discuss any aspect of Playgroup's activities.
The Foundation Stage
The Foundation Stage is the period of education from age three to five. The last year of the foundation stage is often called the reception year, as many children join a school reception class during that time.It is called the Foundation Stage because it gives children secure foundations for later learning. Childhood is important in itself and we all want children to have enjoyable and satisfying experiences. Early experiences also affect children’s attitudes to learning. They create the basis for later learning, in school and beyond.The period is a distinct stage with its own ‘early learning goals’. Most children should be able to reach these by the end of the Foundation Stage. This prepares them for the work on the National Curriculum at Key Stage 1 in primary school.
The Foundation Stage is organised into 6 areas of young children’s development and learning:
All children learn best from experiences that are suitable for their stage of development. Play is key to the way children learn. Through play your child can develop, for example: the confidence needed for learning; the social skills needed for personal development; and the skills needed for writing. In that way your child will become more independent and will be able to tackle simple problems. More details of the Early Learning Goals are given in Appendix 1.
Fundraising
Being a voluntary organisation we rely heavily on fund-raising. Many events are organised throughout the year which not only involve the children and their parents but also draw in the wider community.Our most successful fund-raiser is a bi-monthly collection of waste paper in the village. Please save your waste paper and watch out for details of when the paper skip is at Tasburgh Village Hall - it will be advertised in parish newsletters and by a sign on the village green.
Special Educational Needs
Tas Valley Pre-School & Playgroup is committed to the integration of children with special needs and its provision. Our setting is accessible to wheelchairs and the activities we provide are arranged and varied in such a way as not to exclude children with disabilities. We welcome children with special needs and would work closely with parents to ensure that special requirements were catered for.We would also work in partnership with outside bodies where necessary, i.e. Social Services, Health Service, Education Authority or other.Anita Potter (Playgroup Leader) is our designated Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO).
Preston Primary School
Most children from Tas Valley Pre-School & Playgroup will go on to attend Preston Primary School in Tasburgh. We maintain a close working relationship with the school to ensure a smooth transition for the children.In the Summer Term (after Easter) we hold one session a week at the school for the children who be leaving playgroup to go there the following September. The aim is to introduce children to school life, allowing them and school staff to get to know one another and to use equipment at the school. Children who will not be attending Preston Primary School are also welcome to attend the sessions at the school.
Partnership
The term before their fourth birthday, children are entitled to five sessions of government-funded nursery education a week. Being in a rural area with a small catchment area, Tas Valley Pre-School & Playgroup is sometimes unable to provide five sessions. It has however formed a partnership with Newton Flotman Playgroup should you want your child to attend on the days Tas Valley Pre-School & Playgroup doesn't operate. For more details on this scheme please speak to the Playgroup Leader or Chair.
Policies and Procedures
Tas Valley Pre-School & Playgroup has a range of policies to ensure the smooth running of the playgroup. These policies are available for inspection by parents/carers at Playgroup sessions or from the Chair or Secretary.The Playgroup Committee reviews each policy on a rolling cycle to ensure each is re-examined at least once every year.
The areas covered are:
Tas Valley Pre-School & Playgroup follows the model constitution set by the Pre-School Leaming Alliance. A copy is also available from the Committee Chair.
