Our Aims

"We stress to give you the best childcare possible with only the high standards that any mum would expect for their child.

I myself am a mother of five children and I fully understand the importance of peace of mind.

I have a vital and active role to play in the running of the Group and strongly support and value the partnership between parents, and staff. Hundred Acre Wood recognises parents as the first and most important educators of their children. Our aim is to welcome and encourage parents, to take an active interest in what their child is doing and learning at the Group.

Therefore you can be assured your child will be in good hands."

Fiona McCoy
(Manager)

Playgroup

We are a privately run group, open from September 2004. We liaise closely and are registered with Social Services and we adhere to the statutory requirements as laid down by Social Services under the terms of registration. We are also members of Early Years the early years organisation for young children.

We offer your child

Specially tailored curriculum to extend their sense of wonder

Experience success and develop a positive attitude towards learning

Fun and friendship with children and other adults

Opportunities for you and your family to be directly involved, in the activities of the group and in your child's progress

 

Catchment Area:

Our catchment area covers all areas of Comber, although children may attend from neighbouring towns such as Newtownards, Killinchy, Ballygowan, Dundonald, Carryduff, Moneyreagh etc.

 

Playgroup Aims:

To provide a safe, secure and stimulating environment. To work within a framework which ensures equality of opportunity for all children and families. To enhance the development and education of children through play in a parent-involving, playgroup.

- Pre School Aged 2years & 10 months, to 5 years

- 6:1 child / staff ratio

- All staff qualified to NVQ 2 & 3 Early Years Care and Education, or equivalent


The Curriculum

We aim in partnership with parents to develop each child’s potential as a unique individual in a secure caring environment. Each child follows a broad balanced curriculum, which fulfils the development needs of all the children attending, through challenging and stimulating play. The group follows the Pre-School Curricular Guidance for Pre-School Education, which is set out under six discrete headings. These are as follows:

Language, Literacy & Communication

  • Occurs when children have access to a wide variety of play activities and are encouraged to talk about their feelings and achievements to one another and to adults during their play.
  • Adults will be available to listen to and talk with children in a relaxed atmosphere.
  • Children have access to well-stocked library.
  • Children have opportunities to listen to stories and rhymes
  • Children enjoy and share books with each other and engage in role play.
  • Children are encouraged to be aware of print in the environment.
  • Children have access to a variety of painting and writing materials.

     Personal, Social and Emotional Development

  • Appropriate opportunities should be provided in playgroup for children to develop personal and social, values and attitudes; .learn to co-operate, take turns, learn to share within play activities
  • Children will experience the therapeutic value of working with materials
  • Children will engage in activities that will help them explore emotions and come to terms with fears for example through stories and hospital play.
     Mathematics
  • Play is an effective vehicle for fostering mathematical concepts and developing positive attitudes to mathematics
  • As children play they will develop awareness of space / size / colour / order and pattern they will also develop an awareness of number in one to one correspondence. ..eg... when they lay the table in home corner
     Knowledge and understanding of the world
  • children will have opportunities to experiment with a wide variety of play materials
  • Talk about topics which arise naturally from children's own experience, for example holidays, festive seasons and birthdays
  • Talk about weather, seasons during the year
  • Talk about themselves, members of family events past as present
  • use senses to explore the immediate inside and outside environment
  • Play with simple floor maps, small vehicles and learn about road safety
  • Encourage to tidy away toys equipment after use
  • Hands on experience in our Outdoor Nature Trail
     Physical Development
  • children will have access to a wide variety of appropriate small and large equipment to development of fine/large motor skills
  • They will for example have opportunities to: button dolls clothes in house corner play - screw on lids in shop play, p our water into narrow necked bottles in water play -use scissors to cut various kinds of material, engage in table top activities, such as jigsaws, use large apparatus climbing frame, balance beams etc. Have opportunities to extend skills of running, hoping, jumping, climbing, throwing and catching.

     Creative / aesthetic development

  • Children will be given opportunities to work with large amounts of dough and clay to explore
  • children will participate in simple musical activities
  • Children will have opportunities to work with materials of different textures they will be encourage to make pictures and models
  • opportunities for painting and drawing with paper of different colours, shapes and sizes      

     Children will develop these experiences in a holistic way through play

      Play Activities Include
  • Playing with NATURAL MATERIALS such as water, sand, paint, dough, clay etc.
  • MANIPULATIVE PLA Y with small/large scale toys such as Lego, blocks, interlocking shapes, Quadro, Duplo, puzzles, shape-fitting etc.
  • PHYSICAL PLA Y with climbing equipment, moving equipment, bikes and rides, climbing through equipment etc.;
  • ROLE PLAY e.g. home, shop, hospital, dentist, hairdresser
  • OTHER CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES include music, woodwork, nature, songs and rhymes, story-time and outdoor play
  • EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES a dentist, librarian, DOE road safety, policeman and fireman; will be invited to visit the group.
  • OUTINGS will also be included throughout the year for the Playgroup to places like the Open Farm etc.

Within the group, all children are supported in developing their potential at their own pace. A high level of adult input enables us to meet the needs of individual children. The curriculum is underpinned by guidance from Early Years, D.E.N.I. and Social Services. Hundred Acre Wood recognises that observation is a useful tool, which enables the assessment of a number of aspects of our playgroup setting that are directly relevant to the planning of the curriculum. By observing how children respond to activities, staff will be able to evaluate if their activities and resources they have provided meet the needs of the children and helps them to plan a broad, balanced and appropriate curriculum. Observations also enable staff to provide challenge and extension so that each child is able to progress in all areas of learning and development throughout the year.

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Location & Surroundings

We are situated on a 10 acre site in the countryside part of Comber surrounded by fields and with a view of Scrabo Tower.

The children will have the opportunity to play outside all year round in a healthy environment. We have included outings into the garden, which comprises of a nature trail to develop their knowledge of nature and seasons of the year. We have a safe enclosed outside play area for the children which is approximately ¾ acre and the children will have the use of outdoor equipment suitable for their age group and stage of development.

The building itself includes one large communal area where most activities will take place, a quiet room for story time and music time.

We have a wet play area for water and sand, separate girls and boys toilets and a disabled toilet, a kitchen area for break time and snacks and a staff room. There will also be an area where all of your children’s work will be layed out for you to collect each day with their own tray or peg.

The entrance hall has a peg with each child’s name on it where they can leave their coat and a spare change of clothes in the event their clothes may get soiled.

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Our Opening Times

Playgroup

Monday – Friday         9:00 am to 11:45 am   12:15pm to 2:45 pm    (Term time only)

Lunch Club

Monday – Friday         11:45 am  to  12:30 pm

Holidays:
These will mainly coincide with local primary schools. Parents will be informed of dates at the start of each year.

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Our Staff

Playgroup Staff
The Playgroup comprises of the Playgroup Leader, Deputy Leader and two Playgroup Assistants. All staff are qualified to N.V.Q. LEVEL 3 & 2 in Childcare and Education. In addition we will be having occasional help from volunteers and students. The staff are committed to ongoing training and staff development and training. Our Early Years membership ensures that we are in touch with new thinking in the field of childcare and education. We have regular advice and support from an Early Years adviser and have access to a range of professionally produced publications.

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Starting your child with us...

Preparation For Starting The Hundred Acre Wood Playgroup

Before Joining the Playgroup

It is a big step to leave the home environment and join the community at playgroup and some children find it easier than others.

Preparing for playgroup is extremely important if your child is to be happy.

Below are some points you might find useful in helping your child to make the transition from home to playgroup as painless as possible.

Always emphasise the enjoyment to be had in playgroup and the interesting things that can be done there.

Try to show no anxiety yourself about the new venture.

To give your child the start he/she needs:

a) can your child attend to their toilet needs and wash hands

b) can your child put on and take off coat/jumper

c) help your child to recognise name and symbol when they start playgroup

d) take him/her to library and spend time selecting books

e) talk and listen to him/her

f) answer questions fully

g) teach your child basic nursery rhymes and children's songs

h) arouse curiosity by pointing out and exploring the interesting things around him/her

i) allow your child to help with simple household chores eg. setting the table, sorting cutlery, laundry, shopping etc

j) let your child play with interesting education toys eg. building blocks, construction toys, simple jigsaws etc

k) play with him/her throwing and catching a ball

l) let your child have use of safety scissors

m) encourage your child to tidy away toys


The first days of playgroup

as already mentioned, the change from home to playgroup is a very big one, the staff understand thus you will find them helpful and sympathetic.

I. Don't be worried if your child cries -this happens in a few cases but rarely lasts long after parents leave.

2. Allow your child to bring a favourite toy if you think this may help.

3. Always make sure the staff know of any problems your child has -eg speech, eyesight, hearing or other medical factors.

4. Always show an interest in your child's work and progress -this is a great encouragement to him/her.

5. REMEMBER, we are here to help. If you are worried about anything.

Attendance
Regular attendance is essential for children to make progress in playgroup.

We look forward to welcoming you and your child and hope that you will take the time to read the parents information booklet as this will provide you with vital information about what we at the Playgroup are striving to achieve for your child.

Settling in...
Families will be welcome and supported in each group for as long as it takes to settle their child. Flexible admission procedures, are in place to meet the needs of individual families and children. Reassurance is given to parents whose children seem to be taking a long time to settle It takes longer for some children than for others and parents should not feel worried by this Before the child's first term, the child and parent may spend time in the group to allow the child to become familiar with the staff and the playroom. Parents are encouraged to remain with their child for as long as necessary during the settling-in period. We encourage parents, where appropriate, to separate from their children for brief periods at first, gradually building up to longer absences. Parental Involvement

Partnership with Parents
The playgroup recognises that parents are the first educators of their children and the aim of the group is to support parents. In order to do this - Parents will have access to all written records of their children, both formal and informal observations recording the child's progress will be shared with parents. This information will be shared each term with parents, however Key workers will be available at any time throughout the year to discuss children's progress or any concerns parents may have about their child.

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Safety & Security

We have installed a very modern CCTV system which will monitor every room of the building and both gates for the safety of all the children and the staff alike.

Recordings will be stored for 30 days, therefore if you have any reason to contact us this should be done within the 30 days.

To gain entry to playgroup during sessions please use buzzer at gate.

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Policies & Procedures

All our policies are designed to offer the best possible experience for the children and their families.

The full version of all our policies are kept in a file in the reception area.

Parents are encouraged to read these policies at any time.

Break Policy
We operate a healthy eating policy, which states that nutritious snacks will be given at break. These will include; Toast, Fresh Fruit, Vegetables, etc. We will also give children the opportunity to try different foods throughout the year, as we introduce various cultures through play. For example we celebrate the Chinese New Year by cooking and tasting Chinese food. We operate a flexible break to promote independence and social skills.

Illness
Parents are asked to keep their children at home if they have any infectious illness, and to inform us as to the nature of the infection. This will allow us to alert other parents as necessary and to make careful observations of any child who seems unwell.

Equal Opportunities
It shall be the policy of the group that each child and their family will be valued as unique individuals, irrespective of class, race, gender, disability or religious beliefs.

Complaints Policy:
Children and their parents are entitled to expect that careful attention will be paid to their needs and wishes. Our intention is to work in partnership with parents, and we welcome suggestions on how to improve our service to you.

A parent who is unhappy about any aspect of the group should, in the first instance, approach the group Leader. If there is no satisfactory outcome, or if the problem reoccurs, the parent should then put his/her concerns in writing, or request a meeting with the Manager.

Child Protection
 We are committed to creating a safe environment for children which is free from abuse and where any suspicion of abuse is dealt with promptly and appropriately. We will comply with Health and Social Services Guidelines on Child Protection and will appoint designated persons to deal with Child Protection issues. (See full policy statement for details).

Behaviour Management
We believe that children and adults flourish best in a environment in which everyone knows what is expected of them and children are free to develop their play and learning without fear of being hurt or hindered by anyone else. We aim to work towards a situation in which children can develop self -discipline and self -esteem in an atmosphere of mutual respect and encouragement.

Other Policies are:

  • Settling in
  • Health & Hygiene Safety
  • Administration Of Medicine
  • Equal Opportunities Policy
  • Special Needs - Policies And Procedures
  • Behaviour Management
  • Parental Involvement
  • Confidentiality Policy
  • Child Protection -Policies And Procedures
  • Staffing And Employment Student Placement
  • Selecting Play Equipment And Toys

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Hundred Acre Wood Playgroup is a member of

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