Isle Abbotts Playgroup - Learning and Fun

Welcome to Isle Abbotts Playgroup

Isle Abbotts Playgroup is a small friendly playgroup offering a safe welcoming environment where children between 2 and 5 years can learn through play. Based at the Village Hall in the idyllic hamlet of Isle Abbotts, a short drive from Curry Mallet, Ilton, Fivehead, Hatch Beachamp, Wrantage and North Curry, Isle Abbotts playgroup was started in 1982 and has proved to be an important focal point of the community.

Session Times:

Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Friday 9.15am – 1.00pm

Children bring a packed lunch for between 12 and 1pm. Younger children often just stay until 12.00pm, we can be flexible.

Children can join Isle Abbotts Playgroup at the age of 2 years. The playgroup operates within the Somerset Education Department term times and at the discretion of the staff and committee.

Open: Monday to Friday (exc Wed) 9.15am - 1pm in term times. Children bring lunch for between 12 pm and 1pm.

We offer a wide variety of activities supervised by our experienced staff. Activities include art & craft, cooking, music, and we spend much of our time having fun in the countryside. We encourage the children to learn to appreciate our beautiful surroundings as they grow towards their Early Learning Goals as part of the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum. Visit the gallery to see the fun we have and view some of the facilities of Isle Abbotts Playgroup.

Staff

Playgroup Supervisor: Christine Blake
Christine is an extremely experienced playgroup leader and has been with Isle Abbotts Playgroup since 1999. Christine continues to provide an enthusiastic and dedicated service to the playgroup. She is the playgroup SENCO (Special Education Needs Coordinator), ENCO (Equality Needs Coordinator), and Safe-Guarding Children Coordinator. Christine is also our designated First Aider.

Christine – "I gained my certificate in education in 1978 and then taught for two years in a private school. After getting married I did 3 years doing supply work in the local primary schools where I lived in Devon. I then had two children, beginning playgroup work after doing the PPA initial playgroup course in 1989. I had my 3rd child in 1993 and began playgroup again in 1999. In 2006 I did my APEL level 3 Certificate in Work with Children bringing my qualifications up to date."

Playgroup Assistant: Anne
She's the cheeky one who is lots of fun with lots of experience!

Aims of Isle Abbotts Playgroup

	to enhance the development and education of children under statutory school age, in a community-based group where parents are actively involved
	to provide a safe, secure and stimulating environment within a framework which ensures equality of opportunity for all our children.
	to offer your child individual care and attention made possible by the high ratio of adults to children.
	to offer fun and friendship to you and to your child/ren.
	to provide opportunities for you to become directly involved in the activities of the playgroup and in your child’s progress.

Curriculum

The Early Years Foundation Stage – EYFS - covers both the Learning and Development and Welfare Requirements given in the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage, for children from birth to the end of the reception year in school.

*The overarching aim of the EYFS is to help young children achieve the five Every Child Matters outcomes of “Staying safe”, “Being healthy”, “Enjoying and achieving”, “Making a positive contribution”, and “Achieving economic well-being”.

The EYFS is based around four Themes:

A Unique Child
Positive Relationships
Enabling Environments
Learning and Development

Each Theme is linked to an important Principle:

A Unique Child
Every child is a competent learner from birth who can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured.

Positive Relationships
Children learn to be strong and independent from a base of loving and secure relationships with parents and/or a key person.

Enabling Environments
The environment plays a key role in supporting and extending children's development and learning.

Learning and Development
Children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates and all areas of Learning and Development are equally important and inter-connected.

The Learning and Development comprises three elements

the early learning goals – knowledge, skills and understanding which young children should have acquired by the end of the academic year in which they reach the age of five;
the educational programmes – the matters, skills and processes which are required to be taught to young children;
the assessment arrangements – the arrangements for assessing young children to ascertain their achievements.

The six areas covered by the early learning goals and educational programme are found in the Practice Guidance for the Foundation Stage:

	Personal, Social and Emotional Development PSED
	Communication Language and Literacy CLL
	Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy PSRN
	Knowledge and Understanding of the World KUW
	Physical Development PD
	Creative Development CD

None of these areas of Learning and Development can be delivered in isolation from the others. They are equally important and depend on each other to support a rounded approach to child development. All the areas must be delivered through planned, purposeful play, with a balance of adult-led and child-initiated activities. *

*Taken from the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage

Committee 2010/2011:

Isle Abbotts Playgroup is a registered charity (no. 10229955), and is run by a voluntary committee consisting of three officers and at least two committee members. Most of these are parents of children at the playgroup. Committee meetings are held regularly and all parents are invited to attend and help with various aspects of running the Playgroup, especially fundraising. Details of the current committee are:

Sarah Lucas - Chairperson, Tracy Lanfear - Treasurer, Lisa Turner - Secretary. Other commitee members include: Selina Jervis, Amanda Collins, Teresa Richards and Ali Sweeting.

If you would like to know more about our playgroup please do not hesitate to contact us and book an appointment to come and see us. We look forward to meeting you and your child/ren, why not join us for a fun day or trial morning.

Curry Mallet Toddler Group

Isle Abbotts Playgroup has a close association with Curry Mallet Toddler Group held on Thursdays 10 - 11.30am at Curry Mallet Village Hall, Curry Mallet, Somerset TA3 6SY.

Curry Mallet Church of England Primary School

Isle Abbotts Playgroup is the main feeder playgroup for Curry Mallet School. To find out more about Curry Mallet School click here.

Our aim is to educate through play and create a happy environment to give children a fantastic start in their early years education we would love to welcome your child or children.