Afternoons

We run one sessions of playplus (depending on numbers) on a Tuesday afternoon in the Village Hall.

The aim is to start to get children ready for school The groups are small so that we can work more closely with the children and work is planned to develop all aspects of the Early Learning Goals (for more information on these, please see Karen or Alison).
The staff for these sessions are Karen Best 4+ Supervisor, and Ena Pyner voluntary helper, and Sarah Cordwent. These staffing levels can change depending on numbers.

12.55pm Children arrive and are registered by the supervisor. Parents can come in and settle their child if they wish but in most cases the children already know all the staff so are usually quite ready to join us.

1.30pm. Karen and Ena work alongside children on worksheets or practical activities that encourage number skills, counting, shape recognition, phonics, language, pen control, colouring, cutting, writing names, matching, drawing, listening, sharing and concentration etc. in the Community Room.
In between these activities the children are able to have free and imaginative play and to use puzzles, small world toys, number tiles, sand, and paint etc. in the Village Hall.
During this time one member of staff listens to reading books that go home every week starting from the half-term before school entry. These are for children and parents to look at together to encourage enjoyment, that words have a meaning and go from left to right across the page, to talk about what is happening in the pictures and recognition of familiar words. Point to each word as you read the story and encourage your child to do the same. We also practice ball skills.
Sometimes we follow up topic work from playgroup or topical areas such as Firework Night, Pancake Day, Autumn, Christmas etc. Our main aim though is to cover areas from the foundation stage for the early years so that children can reach the early learning goals within the foundation stage through stepping stones that identify developing knowledge, skills, understanding and attitudes that children need to achieve. For further information on these goals please ask Karen or Alison.

2.30pm Children have refreshments where they can practice sharing and pouring out their drinks. Children are encouraged to drink Milk or Water but parents can provide another healthy drink if preferred. A biscuit and fruit is provided.

2.45pm. Free choice play or table top games – listening, taking turns, sharing, concentration, co-operation, following instructions, rules. Games appropriate to worksheet or theme or chosen by the child or to help in target areas e.g. numbers on dice etc.

3.15pm Storytime

3.25pm End of session to enable parents with older children to get to School by 3.30pm.

All of the children’s work is kept in their own folder and dated so that when parents look at it they can see a progression. Parents are welcome to see the folders on any Tuesday session but it is generally easier to let everyone look the week before half-term and at the end of term.

Thursday Afternoons

The afternoon session starts at 1 o' clock in the Village Hall. The children have a time of free play before visiting Bow Primary School. Karen, Sarah and Ena assist the children at these sessions.

We have the use of the Reception Classroom whilst that class is having PE, and then join with them for outdoor play, weather permitting. We end the session with a storytime with the Reception Class children and teacher. Parents/ carers pick their children up from the outer classroom door at 3.25pm.