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The group is run in the Youth Centre of Cippenham Baptist Church with access (weather permitting) to a fenced outside play area surrounding the building.

Playgroup is open during Slough school terms on all weekdays from 9.30am until 12.00pm (morning session) and all weekday afternoons from 12.30pm until 2.30pm (afternoon session).  We also offer Wrap-Around care from 9.30am until 2.30pm; parents will need to provide their child with a packed lunch and a piece of fruit.

We can accommodate a maximum of 26 children per session; children may begin attending playgroup after they become 2 years old.  For children aged 2-3 we have one adult per 4 children, for children aged 3-5 we will have one adult per 8 children.  All of our staff are qualified and very experienced in working with young children.

Funding

Children will be eligible for 6 funded sessions per week from the term after their third birthday.

Fees

Fees are calculated every term, you may wish to pay weekly, monthly or half-termly.  Please ensure payments are paid in advance.  If your child is unwell or you are going on holiday, please let the Playgroup manager know.  Fees must be paid for all periods of absence with no exception.  If you have any problems with payments please speak to the manager in confidence.

Refreshments

Your child will be required to bring one piece of fruit into Playgroup for every session they attend.  Fruit will be washed, prepared, and put onto trays for each table to share.  Your child will be offered milk and water; also water will be freely available throughout the session.

Keyworkers

Our Keyworker system gives each member of staff responsibility for a small group of children, which can make settling into the group much easier.  The Keyworker works with parents through shared record keeping to ensure that all children are supported in reaching their full potential.  Parents can talk to their child’s Keyworker at any time, there are also twice-yearly parents evenings where records are shared, and parents can discuss in details their child’s progress. 

Cippenham Baptist Playgroup ensures that all staff have adequate ongoing childcare training.  We are required to have four training days each a year, to include first aid, food hygiene, behaviour management, child protection, special needs, and various other training workshops.

Other Languages

We welcome families who are bi-lingual or multi-lingual and aim to communicate clearly any necessary information.  We will do this in as many languages as necessary, but are aware of our own limitations in this and would greatly appreciate any help with translation work.

Fundraising

We rely on parents to help with any fundraising events as these provide necessary funds to enable us to update our equipment.

Moving On

Please let us know immediately if you accept a place for your child at Nursery or School.

Church Liaison

The Playgroup operates on the Cippenham Baptist Church site and the church is very happy to welcome any parents and/or children to its other activities.  Junior Church, which includes a department for Playgroup-aged children, runs at the same time as the Morning Service -10.30 on Sunday mornings.  Details of the adult and youth programmes are available on request.

Parents

Parents are encouraged to help in the group on a regular basis.  This helps to maintain a high ration of adults to children in our group, it also gives parents the opportunity to take an active part in the group, to see normal session routine and children learning through play, and discuss the session afterwards with their own child.  Children also enjoy their parent participating in the group.

Staff

All staff are police checked and are highly experienced in all areas of child development.  Cippenham Baptist Playgroup allow students on placements, students will not be left unsupervised with children at any time.  Parents helping at playgroup will not be permitted unsupervised access to children or are not allowed to change children or accompany them to the toilet, staff only are permitted.  Cippenham Baptist Playgroup also have details of local childcare training, please ask the manager for details.

Feedback

The Parents Book of Comments is situated on the table by the exit.  For any comments you may have please date and sign, for complaints or delicate matters you may talk to the manager in confidence.

The Playgroup is open to all children of the appropriate age from whatever type of family background.  We have no formal catchment area.  On application the child's name is placed on a waiting list until a place becomes available.  In the event of a shortage of places older children will be given priority.  Priority will also be given to the following categories:

            a. Children defined to be "in need".

            b. Children who move to the area and have previously been in pre-school/education.

We will make every effort to accommodate children with special needs having satisfied ourselves in each case that we are equipped to do so after consultation with parents and relevant social and care agencies.

Families

The Playgroup recognises that there are different kinds of family units and that each can successfully love and care for their children.

Parental Involvement

Children thrive best when their parents are actively interested in their education.  Therefore we encourage parents to take as much interest in the group and its activities as possible.  Parents are welcome to come into the group at any time to share in what's going on or to discuss anything with us.

Home Circumstances

We would be grateful if you could inform us of any happenings at home which might cause distress to your child, e.g. any serious illness or death.  We will treat such information in strictest confidence but it will help us to understand and deal sympathetically with your child.

Health & Safety issues

The Youth Centre building in which the Playgroup meets belongs to Cippenham Baptist Church.  It was purpose-built as a Youth Centre in 1968 and the Church takes care to implement all recommendations on safety and cleanliness as recommended by inspectors for the Fire Service and Social Services.  The staff carry out fire drills every half-term.

Playgroup staffs are diligent in maintaining the main floor and toilet areas.  Since all the equipment used has to be stored away after each session, it is regularly under inspection and any faults are quickly attended to.

Children are supervised at all times.  In the event of any accident, staff will assess the seriousness of an injury and respond accordingly.  A minor injury will be dealt with by a qualified First-Aider and recorded in the accident book.  When you collect your child you will be informed of the accident and asked to sign the book.  If the injury is of a more serious nature appropriate action will be taken and you will be contacted immediately.  For this purpose it is vital that you maintain an up to date record of your playgroup-time telephone contact number.  It is your responsibility to ensure that this is done.

For security, the internal exit door is always kept on a security bolt during indoor play sessions.  Also for security, it is important to inform us in advance if someone other than the normal person is to be collecting the child.  We also need to know of any person who is denied contact with the child.

If you require to contact us in emergency the number to phone is 07960 379772 or 01628 605718 which is the Church Office number.  They will relay a message to us.

How we see things

We are registered with OFSTED who inspect us regularly.

We consider it a privilege to be involved in this vital and formative part of a child's life.  We respect and aim to nurture and develop the individuality and potential of each child.

We are committed to providing a relaxed and welcoming environment.  We are committed to providing Playgroup facilities to children of any and all backgrounds free from any kind of prejudice or discrimination.

Also in the appointment of staff we will always appoint the best person for the job, treating all applicants fairly and without discrimination.

We recognise the importance of play as a means for children to develop and learn in a non-pressurised environment, interacting with each other, with staff members, parents and other visitors.  Playgroups do not offer formal teaching.  Our Playgroup works to a "theme-based curriculum" which we devise ourselves each half term having in mind the "Early Years Foundation Stage Learning Goals" issued by the Department for Education and Employment.  This means that while the children are only conscious of the play and the fun, we are providing this in a structure designed to help them develop the necessary skills in Personal and Social Development, Language and Literacy, Mathematics, Knowledge and Understanding of the World, Physical Development and Creative Development required to begin their formal education at 5 years of age.

A typical session consists of activities such as painting, playdough, sand and water play, constructional toys, puzzles and matching games, dressing up clothes, supervised handcrafts, and a variety of climbing apparatus.  There is also a book corner, and part of the session includes story time, with discussion and singing.  Outside play, with a wide variety of outdoor apparatus, is included whenever possible.

How to apply

Application forms are available from  Playgroup, or downloadable from the website.  Please fill one in and return it to the Playgroup during session time or by post to the address on the form.  We will contact you when a place is available for your child and confirm dates for starting etc.