St Mary's Playgroup

St Mary’s Playgroup practitioners are experienced in carrying observations and assessments, including the progress check at age two, Every Child a Talker audit tool; along with a range of other assessment records, that enable them to identify possible gaps in children’s development, make referrals and support children and families with differing needs, including speech and language, global developmental delays. St Mary’s Playgroup also uses information shared from parents, other settings and agencies for example health visitors.

St Mary’s Playgroup encourages parents to be involved in their children’s learning and contribute to their child’s learning journey, parents can have informal conversations daily with their child’s key person/buddy. Staff would speak to parent’s if any concerns regarding their child were raised, as soon as possible. Child development meetings for all children are held to discuss children’s progress, online learning journeys include observations and progress trackers, these can be viewed by parents through the secure app, parents can also write comments and add pictures to contribute to their child's learning journey. Parents are also involved in the writing of targeted plans and personalised plans. Parent’s permission is sought to enable the playgroup to request support from outside agencies if/when required.

St Mary’s Playgroup plans for individual children using their interests, observations and information gained from parents to establish children’s starting points. The child’s key person will plan interesting and differentiated activities for each child using this knowledge to scaffold learning, next steps are created to move children’s learning and develop towards the next stage. If during observation and assessments the key person identifies gaps in a child’s learning requiring additional support targeted/personalised plans would be written around individual children’s needs, using our own knowledge of the child and advice/strategies from outside agencies, we ensure targets are realistic and specific to each child.

Playgroup St Mary’s Playgroup plans for children’s needs incorporating recommendations from outside professionals. Staff at St Mary’s use a variety of visual supports including now and next boards and time lines, Staff have had training in the use of Makaton. The Special Education Needs Co-ordinator liaises with outside agencies to ensure recommendations are carried out. Staff have the use of a ‘Quiet area’ to offer a variety of interventions to children in small groups or one to one depending on the needs of the child, interventions used include, Clever Hands, Black Sheep Narrative, Mr Tongue, Lego and Every Child a Talker Strategies.

St Mary’s Playgroup works to build strong relationships with parents and carers working closely with them in the best interests of their child. The Manager and SENCo are always available to discuss any concerns, offer advice and support to families, example sharing techniques and strategies to supports children’s behaviour and development, completing paperwork and referring to outside agencies to ensure children’s need are met and they reach their full learning and development potential. Staff have opportunities to attend additional training. The setting may also be able to access additional funding to support individual children’s needs where appropriate, example Special Educational Needs Inclusion Fund (SENIF), Disability Access Fund (DAF), Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP)

Your child’s key person will plan activities using their like and interests, using information gained from parents and carers, observations written in each child’s learning journey are linked to the seven areas or the Early Years Foundation Stage Development Matters, parents are able to view their child’s online learning journey, and are encouraged to contribute to this, giving a complete picture of the child’s learning and development. Parent’s are invited to attend child development review meetings, where your child’s development, progress or concerns can be discussed. For children with Targeted or Personalised plans in place these are reviewed termly with parental involvement in the process.

St Marys Playgroup aims to wherever possible ensure all activities are accessible to all children attending the setting.  We regularly review the settings activities through self-evaluation and whole group progress tracking to ensure we are meeting the needs of the children attending the setting, then putting into place plans for improvement where necessary. Activities are differentiated to ensure all children have the opportunity to participate.  The setting asks for parent helpers for our weekly walks, in some cases we may ask parents to accompany their child depending on the location and needs of the child. Appropriate risk assessments are carried out.

Currently there is no wheelchair access to the playgroup building.

St Mary’s Playgroup attends a transition meeting with teachers from local schools, this enables staff to share information with your child’s chosen school, supporting your child’s transition into reception class. For children with additional needs we will attend a separate meeting involving the SENCo from St Mary’s Playgroup, the reception class teacher, the Specialist Teacher and the child’s parents, to ensure that everything is in place for the child to start school.

The setting assesses overall effectiveness through self-evaluation, staff meeting meetings, developmental progress of children made highlighted on the whole group/individual progress trackers. Feedback from parents on questionnaires, targeted/personalised plans and review meetings.

Parents should contact St Mary’s Playgroup via telephone, email or Facebook to pre-arrange a time to view or they can just pop into the setting.  Staff are available to answer any questions or concerns you may have regarding your child’s development, behaviour or any additional requirements.

St Mary’s Playgroup operates an open door policy, parents are able to contact the manager directly via the telephone, Facebook, email or by popping into the setting. If a parent wishes to make a complaint, we ask that in the first instance they speak with the manger of the setting, then follow this up in writing, the playgroup complaints procedure will be followed. Parents can also make a complaint to the playgroup committee if they are not satisfied with the outcome. Parents are able to review the service we provide on our Facebook page.  Parents can also leave feedback in the settings comments book and questionnaires. Parents can also join the playgroup committee.