The Sessions

Each session begins with the register, the date, and with the weatherboard being done, which the children love to help with. Each child is then part of a small group, Elephant, Monkey or Lion. The aim of these groups is to enable the child to relate to its peers and to get one-to-one interaction with the adult leader, thus giving every child the chance and time to participate.

This time allows the group leaders to introduce materials and activities to cover the needs of the pre-school curriculum (language, literacy, creative development, physical development, knowledge and understanding of the world, personal development and mathematics). The children then plan their free play time, of course, not all children can think of what they want to do, especially when they are just beginning to learn about planning, so staff may offer some choices. These suggestions would be different for each child, depending on what the adult knew of his or her interests.

This routine enables the group leaders to observe and assess children’s progress and to notice any potential problems. We have lots to capture their imagination – painting, gluing, drawing, sand, water, play dough, construction, dressing-up, and trains, play kitchen, puzzles and more.

The children have a mid-morning snack of milk, water or juice, with a different snack each day (toast, crumpets, biscuits, cheese straws, cake) and a small piece of fruit.

At the end they usually take part in a physical activity eg. the climbing frame or trikes, music and movement or parachute games.

Outings

Encouraging the development of the children’s interest in nature and their surrounding environment is an important part of the playgroup’s philosophy. Regular outings to Westonbirt Arboretum, the library, a farm and Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust are also undertaken.