Welcome Booklet
Ofsted Registered: 254499
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Welcome We would like to welcome you to St Thomas’ Church Playgroup. To help you find out more about us we have prepared an information booklet for you to read at your leisure.
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tarting playgroup is a big milestone in your child’s life and we want the experience to be exciting, enjoyable and constructive in a stimulating and safe environment. As a parent/carer you need to know that your child is well cared for by trained supervisors. To help you and your child settle into our playgroup you will have one of the team as a Key Person. It is her role to build up a special relationship with both you and your child, and to keep you informed about your child’s progress. At any time should you need to speak to the Playgroup Manager, your Key Person or a Supervisor you will be most welcome to do so.
As we value our partnership in the care of your child, our Policies and Procedures are available to be viewed at any time. We will also be asking you to fill in some forms for our records. Our playgroup is inspected regularly by Ofsted and there is a report issued after every visit. We are also visited by a representative from Education Walsall, Early Years Unit. We look forward to welcoming both you and your child and hope that you find this booklet informative. If there are any other questions you want answered please do not hesitate to telephone phone or visit.
Contents Admissions Policy 5 Aims & Objectives 6 Complaints Policy 7 Safeguarding Children 8 Clothing & Activities 9
10 Behaviour Policy 11 Payment of Fees 12 Parental Responsibility 14 Exclusion Periods for Illness 16 Contact 3
The Team
Rachel Taylor
Lisa Mellor-Hunt
Bernadette Hoben-Roach
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t Present we have five permanent members of staff: Rachel Taylor (Playgroup Manager), Karen Neachells, Lisa Mellor-Hunt, Bernadette HobenRoach and Sarah Evans (Playgroup Supervisors). A Management Committee also oversees the team. Appropriately qualified and trained practitioners will staff the childcare provision. Individual supervision and appraisals will assist in their personal professional development. Access to appropriate training will assist in their
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Karen Neachells
Sarah Evans
professional development. Students and volunteers will be supervised. All members of staff are qualified or working towards NVQ Level 3 in Childcare and Early Years Education, all members of staff have a Paediatric First Aid Certificate and are checked by the Criminal Records Bureau. At St Thomas’ Church Playgroup we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage and all staff are trained to meet the individual needs of each and every child.
Every Child Matters
Admissions Policy
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e welcome any family who applies for a place with us regardless of ability, gender, race, religion or culture. We have a very good rapport with the Walsall Inclusion Team and therefore offer support to children with additional needs, ie speech and language. For this Makaton is widely used at Playgroup as this helps with their communication. The Playgroup will promote children’s positive self-image, value a child’s individuality, and celebrate diversity. Children will be admitted from the age of two years. We understand that some children are not fully toilet trained and need to wear nappies. Please inform us if this concerns your child. Only a qualified member of staff will be allowed to take your child to the toilet and to change nappies.
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Aims and Objectives
We aim to provide a safe, healthy, secure and happy environment for the children in our care. By being caring in our attitudes, we endeavour to create a warm atmosphere that will encourage the very best development of childhood.
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hildren will have access to high quality toys and equipment that will meet the developmental needs of all children attending. The playrooms are bright with lots of natural light and adequate heating and ventilation. All children will have access to safe and stimulating outdoor play areas. There are a wide variety of activities provided at Playgroup. Therefore, it is unnecessary for children to bring their own toys. However, we understand that comfort objects such as dummies, teddies and blankets may be needed whilst a child is settling into playgroup. During all activities we will stimulate social interaction and be good role models, therefore encouraging positive
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behaviour. Parental Involvement: We have a “Working with Parents� policy. This, we hope, will enable parents to enjoy their child’s time with us. We ask our parents to join us once a month at a playgroup session on a rota basis. We also welcome other family members, eg. Nans, Grandads, Aunties. Comments: the Playgroup is very keen to hear your comments about the service you have received. From time to time you may be asked to complete an evaluation questionnaire which will help us address any issues and, therefore, deliver a better service. There is a box in the reception area for any suggestions you may have on the services we deliver.
Complaints policy
In the event of a complaint, parents are requested, in the first instance, to discuss the matter with the Playgroup Manager.
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f a satisfactory conclusion cannot be reached, then the Playgroup Management Committee will be convened. Contact: Pauline Woodhall Tel. 01922 455502. St Thomas’ Church Playgroup comes under the control of Ofsted, and their contact details are; Ofsted The National Business Unit Ofsted Piccadilly Gate Store Street Manchester M1 2WD Tel: 0300 123 1231 www.ofsted.gov.uk/parents St Thomas’ Church Playgroup.
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Safeguarding Children
It is the responsibility of everyone to ensure the safe welfare of children. Therefore, should the Playgroup Staff have any concerns about the wellbeing of a child in their care; they will follow the procedures set out by Walsall’s Safeguarding Board. Parents/carers will be notified, and included in any such concerns.
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ealth and Safety is taken very seriously at the Playgroup. Risk Assessments are carried out for general activities in and outdoors and for special activities, including outings. The member of staff who witnessed them will record all accidents and incidents. Parents/carers will be asked to counter sign all entries. Relevant information will be shared with Playgroup Staff on a ‘need to know’ basis. Fire drills will be carried out regularly
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and recorded. The Playgroup operates a ‘No Smoking’ Policy. Snacks: Children will be encouraged in healthy eating. They will be offered fresh fruit and vegetables at snack time. Fresh water is always available.
Clothing
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e encourage all children to be creative and this often means they get a little messy. We do supply aprons to protect your child’s clothing, but we do recommend that as your child will be working, you send them in clothes that can be easily laundered. Getting messy can be fun so we must not spoil an exciting time by worrying about clothes. From time to time your child may have an ‘accident’ and wet/ soil their clothes. Please put a change of pants, trousers in their bag in case this happens. We do have a supply of clothing, but at times we do not have sufficient to cover all accidents. Please remember to mark all your child’s clothing and Shoes clearly, especially the bag.
Activities
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hese will be planned to help nurture and build upon your child’s energy, enthusiasm, curiosity and sense of humour. They will encourage self-esteem, independence and confidence - and be fun. The Early Years Foundation Stage document will be used as a framework to record your child’s development while focusing on learning through play. Planning for focused activities will be carried out by Playgroup Staff and complement Nursery themes. St Thomas’ Church Playgroup.
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Receiving Your Child’s Work!
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our child has worked hard at Playgroup creating a picture or collage for you to take home. Can we suggest you view it with encouragement? If you don’t recognise the subject, rather than ask, “What is it?” Ask your child to tell you all about it, and how they made it. Then the answer usually comes!
Behaviour Policy
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e believe in promoting positive behaviour at all times.
We aim to encourage consideration for each other at all times. We expect children to follow Playgroup rules. If we feel that a child is being continually unkind to other children within the setting we will monitor the situation. In cases of unacceptable behaviour, we may inform parents/carers of the situation to ascertain reasons for the behaviour in order to work together to try to ensure consistency between Playgroup and home. Outside agencies will be consulted if necessary.
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Payment of Fees Playgroup fees are currently £10.00 per session, plus a one off fee of £2 towards your childs individual learning journey.
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his being essential in order to ensure the continued smooth running of the Playgroup. Should we need to increase our charges parents / carers will be notified 1 month in advance of the change. We request fees be paid monthly in advance to secure your child’s placement. If payment is not received, the place will automatically be offered as an available session, thus ensuring the correct ratios of staff are always in place from week to week. We offer a reduction in fees for siblings, please ask the Playgroup Manager for details. If you wish to terminate your place we require two weeks notice. If your child is unable to come to Playgroup please inform us by telephone. If a place is booked then you are required to pay the full cost of the session. We are able to offer you the Government Three to Four Funding for your child the term after their third birthday. This is where your child will receive teaching as set out in the National Curriculum. Please speak to the Playgroup Manager for further details.
Time 2 Start We are also able to offer two year old funding for children who meet the required criteria, more information on time 2 start can be found at www.mywalsall.org/ professional or you can ask staff for more details.
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Parental Responsibility What is Parental Responsibility? Parental Responsibility (PR) is where an adult is responsible for the care and well being of their child and can make important decisions about the following points: • • • • •
Food Clothing Education Home Medical Treatment
Who Has Parental Responsibility? A married couple who have children together both automatically have Parental Responsibility. Parental Responsibility continues after divorce. Mothers automatically have Parental Responsibility. Where the parents are not married, the unmarried father has Parental Responsibility if: • His name is registered on the birth certificate – this is the case for births registered after 1 December 2003. Fathers can re-register if their names have not been placed on the birth
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certificate before this date. • He later marries the mother • Both parents have signed an authorised Parental Responsibility Agreement. • He obtains a Parental Responsibility Order from the Court • He obtains a Residence Order from the Court • He becomes the child’s guardian. Others, such as grandparents and step-parents, do not have Parental Responsibility. They can acquire it by: • Being appointed as a guardian to care for a child if their parent dies. • Obtaining a Residence Order from the Court for a child to live with them. • Adopting a child.
Why Would Someone Want Parental Responsibility? If you are living permanently with a child, in a parental role, you may feel that you want the authority, stability and recognition. This is especially so if the other parent has no contact, or is abroad, unknown or dead. Without Parental Responsibility you cannot make the decisions about a child’s life, such as choice of school or religion,
Parental Responsibility surname or guardian on your death. If you are a step-parent, you cannot automatically have the child live with you on the death of a resident parent unless you have Parental Responsibility and so the other parent (providing that he or she has Parental Responsibility) will take the child.
If Someone New Gets Parental Responsibility, Do Others Automatically Lose It? No. Several people can have Parental Responsibility at the same time. Adoption and care proceedings are different. Parental Responsibility can be lost where: • In the case of parents their child is adopted. • In the case of a person having acquired Parental Responsibility through a Court Order, that Order later being revoked by the Court. • In the case of a Local Authority with Care Order and the Court later revoking the Care Order. • In the case of a guardian where the Court appoints another guardian.
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Infectious/Notifiable Diseases Minimum Exclusion Periods for Illness and Disease Disease
Period of Exclusion
Antibiotics prescribed Chicken Pox Conjunctivitis Diarrhoea Diphtheria Gastro-enteritis, food poisoning, Salmonella and Dysentery Glandular Fever Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease
First 24 hours 7 days from when the rash first appears 24 hours or until the eyes have stopped ‘weeping’ 24 hours 2 – 5 days 24 hours or until advised by Doctor
Hepatitis A Hepatitis B High temperature Impetigo Infective Hepatitis Measles Meningitis Mumps Pediculosis (lice) Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Plantar Warts Poliomyelitis Ringworm of Scalp Ringworm of Body Rubella (German Measles) Scabies Scarlet Fever and Streptococcal Infection of the Throat Tuberculosis Typhoid Fever Vomiting Warts (including Verrucae) 14
Until certified well During acute phase and while rash and ulcers are present 7 days from onset of jaundice and when recovered Until clinically well 24 hours Until the skin has healed 7 days from the onset 7 days from when the rash first appeared Until certified well 7 days minimum or until the swelling has subsided Until treatment has been given 21 days from onset Should be treated and covered Until certified well Until cured Until treatment has been given 4 days from onset of rash Until treatment has been given 3 days from the start of treatment Until declared free from infection by Doctor Until declared free from infection by Doctor 24 hours Exclusion not necessary. Sufferer should keep feet covered.
Parental Contract Your Copy
I wish my child to be enrolled into the St Thomas’ Church Playgroup. I agree to pay all fees in monthly in advance. Cheques should be paid to St Thomas’ Church Playgroup and supported by a valid cheque card. I agree to deliver and collect my child safely and ensure they are signed in and out daily. I understand that failure to collect my child on time from the Playgroup at the end of their session will result in a late collection fee of £5. Late collection of half an hour will result in a £5 fee. Thereafter it will be £5 per 15 minutes, calculated from the end of the session. I undertake to keep the Playgroup up-to-date with medical information and emergency contact numbers regarding my child. I understand that I must pay the full fee if I withdraw my child to take on holiday during term-time. Two weeks notice of termination of contract is required by both parties. Failure to keep the contract will result in termination. Signed ……………………………………………………………………………… Child’s Name ……………………………………….. Date of Birth………………… Address ……………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………Post code …………………….. Home Telephone No ………………………………..
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CONTACT DETAILS Telephone: 01922 745106 (Playgroup Hours Mon- Fri 9 am-12.30pm.) 01922 455502 (After Hours 12.30 – 6.00 pm)
Email: stthomasplaygroupaldridge@gmail.com
Address: St Thomas’ Church Playgroup St Thomas’ Close Aldridge West Midlands WS9 8SL