Kingsgatehall
Playgroup
Information for Parents & Careers
Take a look at our policies:
Admissions:
Kingsgate Hall Playgroup is open to every family in the community, however there are limited places.
Due to regulations put in place by the local authority to accommodate the community, places are not awarded on a first come first serve basis but a system which ensures that the playgroup reflects the diversity of our community where possible.
We look first at the age of the child and then go on to allocate places to achieve a balance of gender, ability and need.
Settling your Child:
You will be asked to stay with your child during the whole session for the first few days, and then leave for short periods as agreed with staff until your child is happy to be left for the entire session.
The length of time this takes varies from child to child.
Be assured this is time well invested - our experience has shown us that a child who is pushed towards being left before they are ready may feel insecure and become very clingy.
Collection of children
Please inform staff if there are any changes to the people authorized to collect your child. Staff will not allow your child to leave with an unauthorized person. Please make sure that your child knows that someone else will be collecting them, this can sometimes be upsetting to the child if they are unaware.
All children must be collected on time, not only is it distressing for the child but it can also be dangerous when staff are busy clearing away furniture etc. If you know you are going to be late please telephone the setting. If a child is not collected by the time staff are ready to leave and they have not been able to contact any of the emergency contacts provided, arrangements will be made for the child to be placed in the care of the Social Service Department. Members of staff are not permitted to take any children home with them or to any other place of work.
A late charge of £5 will be payable by the parent/carer, increasing by £5 for every 15 minutes incurred.
Health & Safety
Our policy is to provide and maintain safe and healthy conditions for users, staff, students, volunteers and other visitors.
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Illness - Please keep your child at home if they are ill, for their own comfort and also to prevent the spreading of infections.
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We refer to the Health Protection Agency Guidelines for infection control, this can be found at www.hpa.org.uk
Snacks - We always provide a healthy snack with milk. Water is always available.
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If your child has specific dietary requirements, please speak to a member of staff so that we can work with you to accommodate this.
Please do not allow your child to bring in any sweets or crisps to the group.
This can be upsetting to your child and other children when they are taken away.
Equal Opportunities
Kingsgate Hall Playgroup operates an anti-racist, anti-sexist policy. We acknowledge and welcome the fact that we live in a multi-racial, multi-cultural society and it is our policy to reflect this in every way possible. We will actively challenge racist and/or sexist comments or behavior
We aim to ensure that our resources do not contain any materials that are either racist or offensive in content.
No child or family will be excluded from the groups’ activities on the grounds of age, gender, sexuality, social class, family status, disability, gender, ethnic origin, cultural religion or belief.
Special Educational Needs
It is our intention to welcome all children into our group if the parent/carer and staff agree the provision is suitable.
We aim to build on children’s strengths whilst recognizing their needs and finding the most appropriate ways for each child to learn and develop at his/her own pace.
We value each child as an individual and offer opportunities for developing skills at a rate suited to the child. Children with S.E.N have access to the full pre-school curriculum.
We adopt a staged approach to identify any additional needs a child may have. We work in partnership with parents/carers.
Named S.E.N.C.O: Frances Ruddiman
Complaints:
Our intention is to work in partnership with parents. If you have any worries or concerns you should talk them over with Frances. If you are not satisfied with the outcome the following procedure should be followed.
Put your concerns or complaint in writing and request a meeting between yourself and the chairperson of the management committee. Most complaints should be resolved informally at this initial stage.
In serious circumstances it may be necessary to contact OFSTED. This should happen if a child appeared to be at risk or where there seemed to be a possible breach of registration requirements.
We believe that it is in the best interest of the playgroup and parents that complaints should be taken seriously and dealt with fairly whilst respecting confidentiality.
OFSTED TELEPHONE NUMBER: 0300 123 1231
WEBSITE: www.ofsted.gov.uk/parents
Fees:
£10.00 per 3 hour session.
Snack fee: is £2.00 per week
All new children are required to pay a deposit of £10.00, this will be kept until the child leaves or becomes funded. If your child leaves without the required four weeks’ notice, we reserve the right to retain your deposit.
Fees are an essential contribution and they must be paid weekly. If your child is absent due to illness or holidays, the weekly fee is still payable. We always try to take individual circumstances into consideration, therefore if you are having any difficulties with payment, please see a member of staff before your fees accumulate. We are always here to help.
Funded Places:
3 & 4 year old funding: 30 or 15 hours depending on eligibility
2 year old funding: 15 hours depending on eligibility
Involving Parents & Carers
The process of learning begins from the moment a child is born. Parents and carers provide a variety of early experiences, which influence the development of their children.
Parents are the prime educators of their children and know their children best. Therefore it is a requirement that all parents/carers must be part of the parents’ committee, not only to voice their opinion but also to support the playgroup.
Parents/carers are required to attend the playgroup for at least one library session per month. Without your input the children will not be able to attend their weekly library session. We require 1 adult for 2 children - this puts your mind and other parents’ minds at ease when they are not on the premises. You also benefit by sharing this experience with your child as you will meet their friends and hopefully make new friends yourself.
You are also welcome to share any special skills you have with the group. They could be cooking, singing or sharing your family’s cultural ideas with us.
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All new ideas are welcome in our setting.
Behaviour Policy
Our aim is to encourage an atmosphere of sharing, co-operation, politeness and respect for others.
Our policy applies to adults and children alike.
We encourage positive behavior by praising and by setting a good example.
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Every effort will be made to see that justice is done if conflicts arise.
We will seek this by talking to the children concerned and making our own observations.
At all times, we will reiterate that it is the behavior which is unacceptable not the child.
In order to minimize conflict, we at the playgroup aim to provide more equipment, make sure there is more staff involvement and plan smaller group activities to encourage sharing.
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All children involved in difficulties will be supported.
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We keep rules to a minimum and make adults and children aware of them. We set realistic goals with parents/carers/staff and children in order to achieve acceptable behavior.
Aggressive behavior by adults or children will not be tolerated at Kingsgate Hall Playgroup.
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Any verbal or physical abuse aimed at staff or students will be taken very seriously and will result in you and your child being asked to leave.
Nappy-Toilet training
We welcome all children in our setting, there is no requirement for a child to be toilet trained before entry.
We request that if your child wears nappies, you put a fresh nappy on each morning just before coming to playgroup. We will change children if they soil their nappy or if it becomes soaked.
Parents are asked to supply nappies and wipes for their child, please check each day to see if more supplies are required. If your child has a soiled nappy and no supplies to change into, we will call you to collect asap.
We have a changing table that we use to change nappies, however, if a member of staff feels it is unsafe (either for the child or the worker) to lift the child on to the changing table, the wipeable mat will be brought down to floor level to ensure safety for all parties.
If you think your child is developmentally ready to start using the potty we will endeavor to support you and your child to the best of our ability.
Please be aware that it can take longer for a child to potty train at playgroup as there is so much more happening within the environment than at home. For this reason, we may request that you start potty training your child at home for a short period before it is introduced at playgroup.
Please be aware of the following protocol that your child’s key worker will follow.
· Once you have introduced potty training to your child at home, we will start encouraging your child to sit on a potty at playgroup. We will try to copy your routine as close as possible to maintain continuity for your child.
· We request that your child arrives at playgroup in a ‘pull up’ to encourage them to use them as ‘pants/knickers’ when using the potty rather than taking off a nappy.
· Your child needs to wear suitable clothing when potty training (no belts, dungarees or baby grows).
· Whilst your child is potty training their key worker will keep you informed on their progress. When you feel your child is ready to wear knickers/pants to the nursery we ask that you discuss this with your child’s key person.
· If your child has three accidents in one day they will be put back in to ‘pull up’ training underwear, and we will try again on their next session.
· Accidents will be dealt with calmly, sympathetically and in a way which does not make the child think they have done wrong.
· We request that if your child is potty training you bring in sufficient spare clothes for the staff to dress your child if they should happen to have an accident. (This includes spare socks)
We understand that due to changes in routines or at home some children may regress If your child has been dry for a while and they begin to have accidents, staff will work with you and support your child through this time. They will not be put back into ‘pull-ups’ as this may make them more insecure but will be encouraged more than usual to use the toilet.