BANWELL BUDDIES PLAYGROUP PROSPECTUS

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Printer Friendly (Non PDF) Note: Always print preview first Printer Friendly (PDF Format) Note: You need Adobe, click here to download BANWELL BUDDIES Rear of Banwell Primary School, West Street, Banwell, North Somerset. BS29 6DB Tel: 01934 822233 E-mail: Banwellbuddies@btconnect.com Dear Parents/Carers, Welcome to Banwell Buddies we hope you find this pack a valuable source of information. Starting Pre-school is a big step both for you and your child. We hope your child will feel happy, stimulated and secure at Banwell Playgroup. we endeavour to ensure that the transition into Playgroup is smooth and that your child feels able to take advantage of all the exciting new learning opportunities available to him/her. We believe the best way to achieve this is by working in close partnership with you the parents/carers. There has been a Community run playgroup in Banwell for forty years. It has been on the school site for twenty-five of them. Over the years it has served the local families in the village very well. Throughout its history the playgroup has maintained very strong links with both Banwell Primary School and the local Community. Playgroup sees itself very much as part of the local community and has established links with the Banwell & Winscombe Children's Centre, the Baby and Toddler Group, local services, the annual village carnival and church groups. Banwell Buddies is a community playgroup run by a voluntary Management Committee. It is very reliant on the goodwill of volunteers, committee members and an extremely committed staff team. We hope you will take the opportunity to get involved as much as possible in the running of the service and feel enabled to share your special skills and experience to the benefit of all the children. If you would like further information or would like to arrange a visit please telephone the office on the number above. Yours Sincerely, Vikki Fitzpatrick Management Committee Chair   Banwell Buddies aims to: Provide high quality care and education for children primarily below statutory school age following the foundation stage of the National Curriculum Work in partnership with parents to help children to learn and develop, Add to the life and well-being of its local community; and Offer children and their parents a service, which promotes equality and values diversity. As a member of Banwell Buddies, your child: Is in a safe and stimulating environment, Is given generous care and attention, because of our high ratio of adults to children, 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 your child makes satisfying progress, Is in a pre-school which sees you as a partner in helping your child to learn and develop; and Is in a pre-school in which parents help to shape the service it offers. The service offered by Banwell Buddies We provide care and education for children between the ages of 3 and 5 years. Banwell pre-school Playgroup is open during North Somerset's School term time. We are closed on all Statutory, Bank holidays and Banwell School in service day We are open Monday to Friday 9.00am -11.30am Morning sessions 11.30am - 12.30am Luncheon Club 12.30pm - 3.00pm Afternoon Sessions Nursery funding is available for 38 weeks each year from the term after your child turns 3 years. Before this parents /carers are responsible for payment of fees. Extra sessions may be offered at the beginning or end of the playgroup term. These sessions are additional to the funded sessions and will need to be paid for. These sessions only operate if there are enough Children to cover the staffing and running costs. For more information on this or to discuss the Procedure to book extra sessions please speak to the playgroup leaders. The curriculum provided by Banwell Buddies Children start to learn about the world around them from the moment they are born. The care and education offered by Banwell Pre-school Playgroup helps children to continue to do this by providing all of the children with interesting activities that are right for their age and stage of development For children between the ages of 3 and 5 years, the pre-school provides a curriculum for the foundation stage of education. This curriculum is set out in a document, published by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and the Department for Education and Skills, and called Curriculum guidance for the foundation stage. Preschool follows this guidance. The guidance divides children's learning and development into six areas: Personal, social and emotional development; Communication, language and literacy development; Mathematical development; Knowledge and understanding of the world; Physical development; and Creative development. For each area, the guidance sets out early learning goals. These goals state what it is expected that children will know and be able to do by the end of the reception year of their education. For each early learning goal, the guidance sets out stepping stones, which describe the stages through which children are likely to pass as they move to achievement of the goal. Banwell Pre-school Playgroup uses the early learning goals and their stepping stones to help track each child's progress and to enable us to provide the right activities to help all of the children move towards achievement of the early learning goals. Personal, social and emotional development This area of children's development covers: Having a positive approach to learning and finding out about the world around them; Having confidence in themselves and their ability to do things, and valuing their own achievements; Being able to get on work and make friendships with other people, both children and adults; Becoming aware of - and being able to keep to - the rules, which we all need to help us to look after ourselves, other people and our environment; Being able to dress and undress themselves, and look after their personal hygiene needs; and Being able to expect to have their ways of doing things respected and to respect other people's ways of doing things. Communication language and literacy: This area of children's development covers: Being able to use conversation with one other person, in small groups and in large groups to talk with and listen to others; Adding to their vocabulary by learning the meaning of - and being able to use -new words; Being able to use words to describe their experiences; o getting to know the sounds and letters, which make up the words we use; Listening to - and talking about - stories; Knowing how to handle books and that they can be a source of stories and information; Knowing the purposes for which we use writing; and Making their own attempts at writing. Mathematical development This area of children's development covers: Building up ideas about how many, how much, how far and how big; Building up ideas about patterns, the shape of objects and parts of objects, and the amount of space taken up by objects; Starting to understand that numbers help us to answer questions about how many, how much, how far and how big, Building up ideas about how to use counting to find out how many; and Being introduced to finding the result of adding more or taking away from the amount we already have. Knowledge and understanding of the world This area of children's development covers: Finding out about the natural world and how it works, Finding out about the man made world and how it works, Learning how to choose - and use - the right tool for a task, Learning about computers, how to use them and what they can help us to do; Starting to put together ideas about past and present and the links between them, Beginning to learn about their locality and its special features; and Learning about their own and other cultures. Physical development This area of children's development covers: Gaining control over the large movements which we can make with our arms, legs and bodies, so that they can run, jump, hop, skip, roll, climb, balance and lift; Gaining control over the small movements we can make with our arms, wrists and hands, so that they can pick up and use objects, tools and materials; and Learning about the importance of - and how to look after - their bodies. Creative development This area of children's development covers: Using paint, materials, music, dance, words, stories and role-play to express their ideas and feelings; and Becoming interested in the way that paint, materials, music, dance, words, stories and role-play can be used to express ideas and feelings. Play helps young children to learn and develop through doing and talking, which research has shown to be the means by which young children think. Banwell Preschool Playgroup uses the early learning goals and their stepping-stones to plan and provide a range of play activities, which help children to make progress in each of the areas of learning and development. In some of these activities children decide how they will use the activity and. in others, an adult takes the lead in helping the children to take part in the activity. In all activities information from the early learning goals and stepping-stones has been used to decide what equipment to provide and how to provide it. Working together for your children Banwell Pre-school Playgroup has a high ratio of adults to children in the setting. (1 adult to 4 children for under 3's and 1 adult to 6 children over 3 years) This helps us to: Give time and attention to each child; Talk with the children about their interests and activities; Help children to experience and benefit from the activities we provide; and Allow the children to explore and be adventurous in safety Paid members of staff who work at Banwell Buddies are: Playgroup Leaders: Enid Clark, Pat Jones Playgroup Deputy Leaders: Melanie Bullock, Jaky Salewski Playgroup Assistants: Teresa Brammer Lucy Boulton, Lisa Gwyn, Julie Williamson Playgroup Administrator/Co-ordinator: Wendy Lloyd How parents can get involved As a member of the Pre-school Learning Alliance, Banwell Playgroup recognises parents as the first and most important educators of their children. All of the staff team see themselves as co-workers with you in providing care and education for your child. There are many ways in which parents take part in making the pre-school a welcoming and stimulating place for children and parents, such as: Exchanging knowledge about their children's needs, activities, interests and progress with the staff; Helping at sessions of the pre-school; Sharing their own special interests with the children; Helping to provide, make and look after the equipment and materials used in the children's play activities; Being part of the management committee of the pre-school Playgroup; Taking part in events and informal discussions about the activities and curriculum provided by the pre-school; Joining in community activities in which the pre-school takes part; and Building friendships with other parents in the pre- school Playgroup The parents' rota Banwell Playgroup has a dated rota, which you can sign if you would like to help at a particular session or sessions of the Playgroup. Helping at the session enables you to see what the day-to-day life of the pre-school is like and to join in helping the children to get the best out of their activities.Joining the rota is not the only means of taking part in the life of the pre-school. You can offer to take part in a session by sharing your own interests and skills with the children, Please let your child's key worker know of any particular skill you are willing to share at Playgroup. Do feel free to arrange to drop into Playgroup, if you would like to see it at work or to speak with the staff. Key Workers Banwell Playgroup has a key worker system. This means that each member of staff has a group of children for whom she/he is particularly responsible. Your child's key worker will be the person who works with you to make sure that what the Playgroup provides is right for your child's particular needs and interests. When your child first starts at the pre-school, she/he will help your child to settle and throughout your child's time at the pre-school, she/he will help your child to benefit from the pre-school's activities. Records of achievement The pre-school keeps a record of achievement for each child. Staff and parents work together on their children's records of achievement. This is one of the ways in which Pre-school and parents work in partnership. Your child's record of achievement helps us to celebrate together her/his achievements and to work together to provide what your child needs for her/his well-being and to make progress. Your child's key worker will work with you to keep this record. To do this you and she/he will collect information about your child's needs, activities, interests and achievements. This information will enable the key worker to identify your child's stage of progress. You and the key worker will then decide on how to help your child to move on to the next stage. Learning opportunities for adults As well as gaining qualifications in early years care and education, the pre-school staff team takes part in further training to help them to keep up-to-date with thinking about early years care and education. The pre-School also keeps itself up-to-date with best practice in early years care and education through the Pre-school Learning Alliance's magazine Under Five and publications produced by the Pre-school Learning Alliance. The current copy of Under Five is available for you to read. From time to time the pre-school holds learning events for parents. These usually look at how adults can help children to learn and develop in their early years. Courses on similar topics are held locally by the Pre-school Learning Alliance: watch out for information about these or see the parent notice board. The pre-school's timetable and routines Banwell Pre-school Playgroup believes that care and education are equally important in the experience, which we offer children. The routines and activities that make up the pre-school's session are provided in ways that: Help each child to feel that she/he is a valued member of the pre-school; Ensure the safety of each child; Help children to gain from the social experience of being part of a group; and Provide children with opportunities to learn and help them to value learning. The Playgroup session Banwell pre-school Playgroup organises its sessions so that children can choose from - and work at - a range of activities and, in doing so, build up their ability to select and work through a task to its completion. The children are also helped and encouraged to take part in adult-led small and large group activities, which introduce them to new experiences and help them to gain new skills, as well as helping them to learn to work with others.Outdoor activities contribute to children's health, their physical development and their knowledge of the world around them. The children have the opportunity - and are encouraged - to take part in outdoor child-chosen and adult-led activities, as well as those provided in the indoor playroom/s. Links with Banwell Primary School Banwell Play group works in close partnership with Banwell Primary School to ensure a smooth transition to School. From January each year one morning session is reserved for children starting school in September, priority for these sessions is given to children who will be starting Banwell School in that year. They go into the reception class and enjoy story time with the reception class teacher. Please speak to your children's key person if you require further information on the current timing of this session. Snacks The Playgroup provides a snack. This is a social time at which children come together with adult supervision. We plan the menus for snacks so that they provide the children with healthy and nutritious food. Do tell us about your child's dietary needs and we will make sure that these are met. For Lunch we ask children to bring in a healthy packed lunch. Please no fizzy drinks, chocolate, sweets and no nuts. As part of the National free milk Scheme - Milk is provided for all children. Policies Copies of the key pre-school's policies are enclosed with this prospectus. If you would like to see copies of all the current policies these are available at playgroup. If you would like to see these policies please speak to one of the playgroup leaders or your child's key worker. The pre-school's policies help us to make sure that the service provided at Banwell playschool is of high quality and that being a member of Banwell pre-school Playgroup is an enjoyable and beneficial experience for each child and her/his parents. The staff and parents of Banwell Pre-school Playgroup work together to adopt the policies and everyone has the opportunity to take part in the annual review of the policies. This review helps us to make sure that the policies are enabling the preschool to provide a quality service for its members and the local community. Special needs As part of the pre-school's policy to make sure that its provision meets the needs of each individual child, we take account of any special needs, which a child may have. The pre-school works to the requirements of the 1993 Education Act and The Special Educational Needs Code of Practice (2000). Banwell Pre-school Playgroup Special Educational Needs coordinator is Enid Clarke. Toilet training We are able to accept children that are not toilet trained. Please supply nappies, wipes and nappy sacks for every session. A member of staff will change your child as necessary. Parents are requested to inform their child's key worker if their child requires this type of support. Valuing Diversity and Equal Opportunities Banwell Pre-School Playgroup recognises that all children need to feel valued and to be free from discrimination. Our Equality and diversity policy ensures that equality of opportunity and Anti-discriminatory practice is integral to all aspects of the service provided. The service is carefully organised and monitored to ensure that all children and their families have access to the full range of activities. The management of Banwell Buddies A parent management committee - whose members are elected by the parents of the children who attend the pre-school - manages Banwell Pre-school Playgroup. The elections take place at the Pre-school's Annual General Meeting, which is held in October each year. The committee is responsible for: Managing the pre-schools finances; Employing and managing the staff; Making sure that the pre-school has - and works to - policies which help it to provide a high quality service, Making sure that the pre-school works in partnership with the children's parents. Management of the building Fund raising Current membership of the management committee can be found on the parent's notice board. Annual General Meeting The Annual General Meeting is open to the parents of all of the children who attend the Pre-school Playgroup and Out of School Club. It is their forum for looking back over the previous year's activities and shaping the coming year's activities. Fees The fees are £7.00 per session, A payment agreement form is included in this pack and should be completed and returned with the registration form. Arrangements can be made to pay fees termly /monthly/weekly or daily in advance with the co-coordinator The playgroup coordinator will issue a statement at the beginning of each term indicating the amount due. For your child to keep her/his place at Banwell Preschool you must pay the fees or we must receive nursery education funding for your child. Should payment fall into arrears by two weeks your child is at risk of losing their place. Fees must still be paid if children are absent without notice for a short period of time. If your child has to be absent for over one week please talk to one of the leaders and an appeal may be made to the committee. Fees can be wavered in cases of illness as long as a doctor's note is provided. During the settling in period the sessions are free as long as you remain with your child Joining Banwell Buddies The first days We want your child to feel happy and safe at Banwell pre-school Playgroup. 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 Playgroup. The pre-school has a policy about helping children to settle into the pre-school: a copy is enclosed in this prospectus. Clothing The pre-school provides protective clothing for the children when they play with messy activities. . However parents are encouraged not to dress children in clothes that matter for playgroup. The pre-school encourages children to gain the skills, which help them to be independent and look after themselves. These include taking themselves to the toilet and taking off - and putting on - outdoor clothes. Clothing which is easy for them to manage will help them to do this. Please can you also leave a complete spare change of clothing on your child's peg in case of accidents, a warm coat in winter and a pair of Wellington boots with a clip for outdoor play. Daily register At the start of each session your child needs to be registered and signed into playgroup. The information needed includes an emergency contact number, the name of the person who will be collecting your child and a signature. If some one else brings your child to Playgroup please make sure they are also aware of the 'signing-in' policy and procedure. Some Important safety reminders Cars should not be driven up the School drive to Playgroup. The iron fence between School close and Playgroup should not be climbed over or used as a short cut. No one under the age of sixteen years may collect a child from Playgroup If you have a complaint about Banwell Playgroup Banwell Pre-school Playgroup hopes that you and your child enjoy being members of the Pre-school Playgroup and that you both find taking part in our activities interesting and stimulating. The staff team is always ready and willing to talk with you about your ideas, views, questions or concerns. Please raise anything you are concerned about with your child's Key worker. Alternatively you may prefer to speak to one of the playgroup leaders or the chair of the management committee. You might prefer to speak to someone outside of Banwell Playgroup. The following people and organisations have a strategic role and responsibility in the development of the service provided at Banwell Pre-school Playgroup The Pre -School learning Alliance Tel 0171 8330991. The Education Department North Somerset Council Town Hall Weston Super Mare North Somerset BS23 1UJ Tel 01275 5884140 OFSTED Freshford House Redcliffe Way Bristol BS1 6NL Tel 0845 6014772 Banwell Pre-School Playgroup is registered and regularly inspected by OFSTED. A copy of the most recent inspection report is available at Playgroup or on the Playgroup website --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PROSPECTUS - EVALUATION Dear Parents and Family, We wish to make this prospectus as helpful and informative as possible for parents and would be grateful for your comments and suggestions to achieve this. Your feedback will help us improve the prospectus for next year. Please return this form to playgroup Is there any information you would find helpful which is not included in the current prospectus? Is there any information we could make clearer for you? Any other comments?