Arriving at Playgroup

Each child's presence is registered on arrival at Playgroup and they are then able to join in play activities immediately. When all children are present the group meets together in a carpeted area for "registration". During this period the register is called and children take turns to record the number of children and adults present and also find out and record the day's weather on the group's weather board. This is also a time for sharing news, talking about things of special interest and for introducing and using Welsh words and phrases.

Exploring & Experimenting

The next part of the morning revolves around "free play". This means that the children will be able to move between the indoor and outdoor activities offered, their play being supported by the staff. The activities will have been planned to develop the various aspects of the seven areas of learning and may centre on a current topic or theme. During this time groups of children will also use the "quiet area". This room provides a quieter environment and is used for a wide range of activities such as science experiments, discussions, listening games etc.

Here is a taste of some of the activities they might be involved in and what they will be learning as they play:

Sensory Play

Water

Soil	Sand
Dough	Rice

Skills and learning opportunities:
creativity, imagination, experimentation, problem-solving and observation; manipulative skills; mathematical concepts such as 3D shape, volume, capacity and weight etc.

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Creative Role Play

At the Lighthouse	Saving the Animals
Billy Goats Gruff	Vets' Surgery
Hospital	Builders' Yard
Dressing up

Skills and learning opportunities:
imagination, creativity, manipulative skills, expression, social skills, language development;mathematical concepts such as weight, numeracy, measuring, sorting...

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Tabletop Games & Activities

Skills and learning opportunities:
manipulation skills, listening skills, sharing, concentration, co-operation turn taking, mathematical concepts: 3D shape, sets, measurement, size, colour, etc.

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Creative Craft

Skills and learning opportunities:
awareness of pattern, line, shape, form, colour, tone, texture and space; exploration of materials, creative skills, pre-writing skills, manipulative skills, etc.

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ICT

 

Pre-reading & Writing Skills

Sharing books with friends
Building an awareness of print in the role-play areas	Choosing books from the Mobile Library
Experimenting with mark-making
Drawing: a valuable pre-writing skill
Using clipboards to record information in the garden	The role-play office

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Physical Fine / Gross Motor Skills

Weaving	Using chopsticks
Cutting daisies	Stirring and mixing
Using construction toys	Using tools
Balancing
	Co-ordination with a Chinese New Year dragon!

Skills and learning opportunities:
confidence, spatial awareness, imaginative and creative movement, social skills, concentration, etc.

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Discovery Areas

Autumn wildlife	Wood
Pattern	Frogs
Colour and light

Skills and learning opportunities:

observation, problem-solving, concentration, prediction

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Out & About in our Community

Harvesting apples	A visit to the pond
Wildlife and Learning Garden
Techniquest	RNLI Station, St Donats

 

We are fortunate to have an extensive range of equipment and resources so no two mornings at Playgroup will be exactly the same.

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Break time

At approximately 11am the children are encouraged to take responsibility for tidying away some of the equipment and then follows an opportunity to share books in small groups with an adult and take part in songs, rhymes and circle games together.

The children are then encouraged to visit the toilet and wash their hands in preparation for snack time which takes place in our quiet area. Here the children share news, listen to rhymes and stories etc. as they enjoy their snack of fruit or vegetables and a drink.

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Large Space Play

The last part of the session takes place in the main hall, which by this time has been transformed into an area suitable for larger scale physical activities. This varies from day to day but includes an obstacle course, parachute games etc, as well as music and movement, creative music making and singing.

Pictures, paintings etc are distributed to the children to take home at the end of the session.