Uplands Playgroup
What to expect from your days at Uplands Playgroup
Play helps young children to learn and develop through doing and talking, which research has shown to be the means by which young children learn to think. Our setting uses the practice guidance Early Years Foundation Stage 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 equipment and, in others, an adult takes the lead in helping the children to get the most out of the task. In all activities information from ‘Development Matters’ the Early Years Foundation Stage has been used to decide what equipment to provide and how to provide it.
Role Play
Role play is very important at Uplands Playgroup. The team create realistic role play experiences for the children including ‘real’ equipment and materials where it is safe to do so. Children are given the opportunity to play with real items such as china cups and saucers as well as real fruit and vegetables in the home corner. Ceramic models in a nativity set, and perfume bottles and hair brushes in the salon. This encourages children to play and re tell stories and experiences while promoting fine motor skills.
Story Telling
At Uplands Playgroup a large amount of learning is based on traditional story telling following the Pye Corbett Story Teller Project. This encourages early reading, writing and literacy skills through stories.
A day at Playgroup
9.00 - Meet playgroup staff at entrance gate, children take in any bags, fruit donation, letters and wow vouchers. Staff take the children into playgroup.
9.15 - Register on the carpet and sharing news from hame and wow vouchers.
9.30 - Free choice play, inside and outside and adult led activities.
10.30 - Hands washed then snack time.
11.00- Return to playing.
11.45 - Story time, singing.
12.00 - Home time or packed lunch time!
13.00 - Free choice play, inside and outside and adult led activities.
14.30 - Buffet snack available, fresh fruit, breadstick and milk or water.
14.45 - Circle time: stories and singing.
15.00 - Home time.
How can Parents get involved?
We see ourselves as a big part of the Uplands Community and hope you want to be part of it too. There are many ways that you can help your children settle in and feel part of the community as well as amazing ways to support the playgroup.
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Our setting recognises parents as the first and most important educators of their children. The staff work in partnership with parents and carers to providing education and care for their child whilst at playgroup. There are many ways in which parents can help make the setting a welcoming and stimulating place for all the families in our community.
Helping your child settle in:
Exchanging knowledge about their children’s needs, activities, interests and progress with the staff.
Completing wow vouchers for achievements outside of playgroup, and sending in news from home to share with their friends.
Sharing your own special interests and skills with the children at playgroup.
Helping out at playgroup events.
Attending the toddler group before your child starts.
Helping to provide, make and look after the equipment and materials used in the children’s play activities.
Dressing your child in the playgroup t-shirt or jumper so they feel like part of the team (this is not compulsory but most children enjoy it).
Second hand uniform items are available from playgroup for a small donation or new can be purchased from Batemans Stroud
https://www.batemanssports.co.uk/schools-colleges/pre-schools-playgroups
and MyClothing.com
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How you can help support the playgroup:
Being part of the playgroup committee
Taking part in playgroup events.
Taking part in informal discussions about the activities and curriculum provided by the setting.
Joining in community activities in which the setting takes part (such as school fayres and sports days, parish events).
Getting involved with fundraising
Building friendships with other parents and carers.
Volunteering your time to help with maintenance.
Bringing fruit for the children to share at snack time.
Sharing your specific skills with the playgroup.
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The toys, literary resources, books, indoor and outdoor play areas and buildings are regularly replaced and updated. Maintenance work is constantly reviewed and completed where funds allow. The committee and families work hard to ensure works are completed - either by hosting fundraising events or applying for grants. We encourage parents and carers to get involved with these events.
All maintenance is carried out by local trades and materials sourced from Stroud based companies. If you are a tradesperson we would love to support you.
Our Playroom and gardens are constantly changing but here is an idea of what you might find when you are at playgroup.
