Kennington Playgroup
Old School Buildings
The Avenue, Kennington
Oxford, OX1 5PP
Telephone 01865 326606
Website
Manager Sarah Thomas
Chairperson Kate Warner
Index
Page No.Welcome to Kennington Playgroup / 3
Sessions and Fees (see also page 9) / 3
Mission Statement / 3
The Committee / 4
Fundraising (see also page 16) / 4
Parental Involvement – committee, trips, outings, birthdays, suggestion book / 5
Parental Partnership / 6
Family Helper / 6
Key Person / 7
Areas of Child Development / 7
Term Themes / 8
Terms Dates & Closure / 8
Government Funded Places & Session Fees / 9
Difficulty in Paying Fees / 9
Clothing / 10
Sun Screen & Hats / 10
Allergies & Dietary Requirements / 10
Snack & Lunch / 11
Illness / 12
Medication / 12
Safety & Accidents / 12
Head Lice / 12
Policies / 13
Information on: Child Protection, / 13
Complaints Procedure, Equality & Diversity &
Non-Collection of Children / 13/14
Toys – Ours and Yours / 15
Help us to fundraise / 16
Welcome to Kennington Playgroup
Kennington Playgroup is situated in the Old School Buildings in the grounds of St Swithun’s Primary School.
Our long established playgroup offers a secure and happy environment where your child is encouraged to learn through play in a child-centred and stimulating environment. Our dedicated staff have a variety of experience and qualifications and the majority are all parents themselves. We have a maximum of 32 children per session.
Children are accepted from 2 years to 5 years old.
Sessions:
Breakfast Club 8.00 – 9.00 a.m.£5.50 (includes breakfast)
(from 3 years old)
Morning Session9.00 – 11.30 a.m.£13.75
Lunch Club 11.30 – 12.30p.m.£5.50
Afternoon Session 12.30 - 3.00 p.m.£13.75
Parents can select which sessions they require for their children, subject to availability.
Mission Statement
We aim to provide accessible, high quality care if a safe and stimulating environment with a well planned program of learning experiences where all children can develop as individuals to their full potential.
The Committee
Kennington Playgroup is a registered charity managed by a voluntary Committee.
The Committee is responsible for:
- Staff – support of staff in the day-to-day running, staff recruitment, staff appraisals, employment procedures
- Standards and Regulations –ensuring standards are maintained and legislation followed under the EYFS guidance
- Premises and Equipment – ensuring buildings are maintained, ensuring resources and equipment are maintained to a high standard of safety
- Fundraising – organisation of various fundraising events and social gatherings
Parents/carers are elected to fill positions at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) held once a year currently in November. Committee meetings are usually held every term and all are encouraged to attend. All Committee members are required to undergo a DBS previously known as a CRB (criminal record bureau)checks.
In order for Playgroup to continue to run successfully we rely on parents and carers being actively involved.
Please Remember: Without a Committee, Playgroup cannot exist.
Being on the committee means you are actively involved in many of the decisions made regarding your child’s care.
Fundraising
We have to raise funds to buy resources. This is done by various fund raising events throughout the year and we appreciate parents support for these events, either by helping out or by attending.
Please also see page 16 for the easiest way to help us fundraise.
How parents take part in the setting.
Playgroup recognises parents as the first and most important educators of their children, and staff work in partnership with parents to provide care and education for their child. There are many ways in which parents take part in making the setting a welcoming and stimulating place for children and families, such as:
- exchanging knowledge about their children's needs, activities, interests and progress with the staff
- helping at Playgroup sessions
- sharing their own special interests with the children
- helping to provide, maintain and look after the facilities, equipment and resources
- being part of the management of Playgroup
- taking part in events and informal discussions about the activities and curriculum provided by Playgroup
- joining in community activities in which Playgroup takes part
- building friendships with other parents in Playgroup
We aim to work in partnership with our parents to provide the best care possible for their children.
Sharing information about your child’s interest’s, likes and dislikes, family, friends, behaviour and the many things you as parents know, helps us to provide a better environment. This is ever changing, and therefore an ongoing process while your child is at Kennington Playgroup. We believe in a two way flow of information in order to achieve a partnership for the happiness and development of the children in our care
Family Helper
We would encourage all our families to provide a helper at least once a term if at all possible. A diary is available so you can pick which session best suits you and enter your name. We welcome dads, mums, child minders, grannies and granddads…………
Although the family helper is naturally an extra pair of hands the most important thing is that it makes a stronger link between home and playgroup.
It is really good for the children to see an important person from their home life being with staff at playgroup. This reinforces that playgroup is a safe place to be, making them feel secure, and therefore in the best frame of mind to explore and learn. Most children are proud that it is their helpers turn to stay. This can sometimes lead to a bit off showing off or clinging behaviour. If this happens do not worry, it is quite normal. It also provides an opportunity to speak to your child’s key person.
While you are at playgroup we may ask you to do something, such as read a book in the book corner, however, if you sit in one of the playing areas the children will soon approach you. If you see something that needs doing such as picking up toys, mopping spills, naming a picture, organising or joining in a puzzle or board game – then go ahead. Do what you feel comfortable with. Speak to a member of staff with any questions but please just join in! Family Helpers are not allowed to help with toileting, or to prepare snack.
Key Person
When your child starts Playgroup they will be allocated a member of staff as their Key Person. The Key Person will be your child’s ‘special person’ while they are at playgroup. They will spend time with you during the settling in sessions and ask you about your child’s interests and anything we should know. They will plan a settling in routine with you, and will regularly speak to you about your child’s day and their general progress. They will keep a record of your child’s development and use this to plan activities which your child is interested in and to provide them with resources which allow them to progress. You are welcome to see your child’s records, please speak to their key person to arrange this.
Please speak to your key person with any information which may affect your child. For example moving home, loss of a family member, sick pet – anything which may cause a behaviour change which we can support, and to be sure we are talking to your child about it in a manner you are comfortable with.
The key person may not be at every session your child attends, but all staff work in pairs – the other staff member will usually be at any sessions the key worker is not. When allocating a key worker we naturally try to match your child’s sessions to those the key worker is at playgroup.
Over the School year you can expect to have 2 formal meetings with your child’s key person discussing their learning and development.
Areas of Child Development
It is our aim to provide a caring environment where every child may fulfil their individual potential through various planned and spontaneous activities. Children’s development is noted under the 7 areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS):
Personal, Social & Emotional
Communication & Language
Physical Development
Expressive Arts & Design
Literacy
Understanding the World
Mathematics
The child’s key person will be responsible for watching and recording your child’s progress within these areas, and will provide you with feedback. Again it is beneficial if we can also hear from you what they are doing at home.
Term Themes
Although we follow children’s interests, we also include a theme each term. This allows us to plan special activities and resources. At the start of each term you will be given a brief outline of the theme week by week. This is so that you are aware of what we are doing at Playgroup and can discuss this with your child if you wish.
We welcome any parental involvement, so if you are able to come and join in or offer information regarding any of our themes or activities please speak to a member of staff. We are always grateful for parental input. Just a few things that parents have done in the past are : drumming, cooking, showing special clothes, bringing in resources, bringing in work resources/information/talks to name but a few.
We always welcome information regarding ethnicity, culture, religion and recognise that we cannot know all the intricacies. We are grateful for any input you can offer to help us.
Term Dates and Closure
As we operate a term time opening Playgroup, we follow the same dates and closing times as Oxfordshire County Council’s schools term dates. However we do not close in general when St Swithun’s School has an inset day. We will inform you of any closed days at the beginning of the term by email, newsletter and on notice boards.
If the school closes due to bad weather for example snow, then playgroup will as well. Announcements are usually made on local radio, and the school website. We will also email everyone who is signed up to our email list.
Government Funded Places and Session Fees
2+ Year Olds: Some 2 year olds within Oxfordshire are eligible for up to 15 hours of free early education of childcare a week. Early education and childcare is great for children. They can learn through play, make new friends, try different activities and get a good start to their education. To find out if you are eligible apply at or contact the Family Information Service or 08452 26 26 36.
3+ Year Olds: All children are entitled to receive free, part-time early education from the start of the term following their 3rd birthday. The funding is available for a maximum of 15 hours a week, 39 weeks of the year. The hours can be used as required within the sessions (subject to availability). Additional hours can be paid for at the normal rates.
Date of 2nd3rd Birthday Eligible for Funding From
1 January – 31 MarchApril (term 5 & 6)
1 April – 31 AugustSeptember (term 1 & 2)
1 September – 31 DecemberJanuary (term 3 & 4)
Until funding is available all children are required to pay privately for each session attended at the normal current hourly rate. We accept childcare vouchers please ask a member of staff for more details.
- Fees are payable 6 times a year
- Fees are due during the first week of each term
- There is no rebate for absence (including sickness and holidays)
- Fees are non-refundable if your child stops attending during the term
- There will be admin charges applied of £10 for duplicate copies of invoices or statements. The same will be applied to chasing late fee payments more than once.
Difficulty in Paying Fees
We do understand that some families can experience financial difficulties and we will always try to be flexible if we can. This can be discussedin confidence with the Manager. We will provide what assistance we can, and will be aware of schemes that may be able to assist.
Flexibility
Sometimes parents may have occasion when they require extra sessions (e.g. hospital appointment). We will assist if we can subject to session availability. Extra one off sessions must be paid for in advance. We are unable to swap sessions around.
Clothing
We do offer messy activities and suggest that you bring children to playgroup in clothes that can get messy (paint, sand, mud, water, gloop etc.). We do provide and encourage the use of aprons but they are not fail-safe. A change of clothes (or two) is always a good idea to be left on your child’s peg. We will put dirty clothes in a carrier bag and hand these back at the end of the session/day. We do have a supply of spare clothes at playgroup, but some children feel more comfortable in their own clothes. We also offer playgroup T-shirts for sale, these are not intended as a uniform but can be worn for messy clothes instead of, or over the top of, other clothes.
Due to health and safety reasons please do not put any plastic bags on your children’s pegs. In addition do not leave any medication or food/drink items in their bags. Please speak to a member of staff for clarification.
We recommend clothes that encourage the children to be independent i.e.: no tight belts, buttons or dungarees which children can find difficult to fasten on their own.
We do go outside in all weathers so please leave a coat on your child’s peg.
Sun Screen and Hats
As the weather gets warmer please send you child with sunscreen already applied. Children at playgroup are not usually able to safely apply sun-screen themselves. Therefore, we will apply sun-screen after lunch to children who are with us all day. This will only be done if there is a bottle of sun-screen with your child’s name on it left at playgroup.
We do have a box of sun hats which we insist the children wear on sunny days. This can be easier than keeping track of many individual hats, but we understand if your child has a special hat they like to wear.
Allergies and Dietary Requirements
We try to accommodate any specific dietary or allergy requirements. Please complete the section on the Registration Form with as much detail as possible. Please discuss these with your child’s key person during your visits.
At snack time a detailed list alerts staff to any special requirements. We do cook with the children and endeavour to provide recipes that all children can have access to and enjoy
Snack
During each session your child will be offered milk or water and a healthy snack. This usually consists of fruit, vegetable and a carbohydrate. We try to make this interesting and varied. We also sometimes make sandwiches or have toast or crumpets. Sometimes for a treat or perhaps a birthday we have cake or biscuits.
We ask for a contribution6 times a year to cover the cost of this and our cooking activities. This is included as part of the terms fees.
Lunch
Lunch bags should be put onto the table in the back room as you go in, staff will then put these into the fridge in the kitchen. No nuts or nut products should be included. Although we have no other set rules about the contents of your child’s lunch box we do encourage healthy eating. Please speak to your child’s key worker if you would like any information regarding this.
We will NOT cut up fruit and vegetables in your child’s lunch box, and so request that you prepare food in a way your child can eat safely. We do request that grapes, cherry tomatoes and similar sized items be cut in half length ways to prevent a choking hazard. Items that staff deem a hazard will be removed and given back at the end of the day. We also do not heat up food.
Sometimes we notice out of date items, we will remove these. We understand use by dates can have passed for example something has been frozen. Please let us know if this is the case.
Medication
In some circumstances, with written authority and clear written instructions, it may be possible for a member of staff to administer medication prescribed by a doctor.
Illness
If your child has been unwell in the last 48 hours please DO NOT bring them to Playgroup. They will need time to recover and may not be up to the session or may pass on any infectious illness.
Please inform us if your child has an infectious disease, this will be treated in confidence. However, we may need to alert other parents to be vigilant for symptoms e.g.: Chicken Pox.
If your child becomes unwell during a session you will be contacted and requested to collect your child as soon as possible.
On your child’s first day back after an illness please tell a member of staff as your child may not have as much energy as usual and may prefer to do quieter activities.
Safety and Accidents
We take every precaution to ensure the safety of the children. All our equipment is regularly checked for risk. Both indoor and outdoor areas are checked and secured before children are allowed to enter. Activities are monitored and adapted as necessary.
All Level 2 & 3 qualified staff are paediatric first aid trained. Any accidents are recorded and you will be advised and asked to sign the report when you collect your child.