Welcome to Playgroup! Information for parents/carers! by

Who we are and what we offer

40418283 — 2025-02-27 14:20:56 UTC

Our fun and colourful playgroup is situated in the centre of Finaghy, Belfast! We enjoy our learning and play experiences in the Church hall. There is plenty of space for us all to thrive! We enjoy playtime in the main hall and continue this outside in our large outdoor area. All of our toys and equipment is approved and checked before entering the setting.

History behind our playgroup

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Our playgroup opened its doors for the first time in 1975 (50 years ago!) We began in a small mobile building beside the primary school before being offered the lovely large space in the church hall we have today!

Ratios and capacity

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We can facilitate up to 16 little ones between the ages of 2.5-4 years of age. By law (NSPCC), we must have one adult:four children (1:4 ratio) to ensure every child is taken care for efficiently. We can assure you that your child will always be looked after! Currently, in our room we have two managers and three assistants.

Our routine

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We know children love to know what is ahead of them during the day, here is a quick run down of our everyday routine:

8.30am arrival/handover

8.30-10am freeplay

10am snack (please contact us with any dietary requirements!)

10:30am circle time and story corner

11am songs, music, dance

11:15am freeplay

12:30pm home time!

Uniform

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You can purchase our polo shirts and jumpers in playgroup at anytime! Feel free to wear any joggers and trainers!

Sensory room

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For children who require a safe sensory experience, we have got you covered! We have a colourful and quiet space perfect for your child when the classroom gets a bit overwhelming! This is available for every child in our playgroup to use!

Seeking a diagnosis

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If you suspect your child may have an additional need please do not hesitate to contact us for support! We want to help you make this smooth and easy process for you. We are happy to complete observations and refer your child to the correct agency.

If you wish to proceed with this personally, we recommend speaking to your GP/healthcare professional. You can also visit the EA website linked below to submit your request for assessment!

https://send.eani.org.uk/statutory-assessment/statutory-assessment-and-review-service/request-statutory-assessment

Parental support

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Coming to realise your child may require additional support can be stressful and scary! Please know, it is not a bad thing and there are many support groups available to you (both carers and children!) ParentingNI is a great organisation that can specifically help your current situation! https://www.parentingfocus.org

We as a playgroup are also here to support you! Let us know how we can help!

How we carry out observations

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Observations are done on a regular basis to monitor and help your child develop holistically throughout their time at playgroup. All observations are kept confidential and are only shared between staff and parents/carers.

Other useful organisations

40418283 — 2025-03-03 14:05:13 UTC

https://helpkidstalk.co.uk

https://www.communityni.org/organisation/helping-hands-autism-support-group

Here are a few resources that may be helpful!

We respect your privacy

40418283 — 2025-03-03 14:26:32 UTC

Whether you are a child or an adult, we all experience severe life events that cause traumatic responses to us. You may have been involved in a car accident, escaped abuse, been through divorce or injuries... whatever it is, there is help for you. The video below educates us on how traumatic events affect us! https://youtu.be/xYBUY1kZpf8?si=tUVwWyRUVAyvD1-M

What trauma can lead to

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Many children who live through traumatic events may experience what is known as 'adverse childhood experiences'. ACEs can lead to poor mental health, PTSD, anxiety, chronic illness and a poor start for adult life. Preventing ACEs can allow a child to thrive and put a stop to passing it down generations.

Support groups and workshops

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If you need support and want to reach out to a professional, below are some organisations you can call upon.

-NOVA trauma support service [Barnardos]

-Family Trauma Centre

-Wave trauma centre

-Parenting NI

-Childline

Counselling

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We, as an early years' setting are here to support you and are happy to refer you to counselling specialists for your situation. Please don't hesitate to contact us.

Additional language support

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We welcome many new-comer families who are settling into Northern Ireland, many not confidently knowing the English language. Educare offers a budget friendly course for parents and children to help improve their linguistic skills.

Bilingual staff members

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We have assistants and many connections in the early years sector who may speak your language, allowing your child to feel more comfortable. For example, in our staff team we have... 1 Spanish, 2 Indian, 1 Chinese.

We use more than just verbal communication!

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In playgroup, we teach the basics of makaton to our little ones. Makaton is a great form of non-verbal communication and is accessible to everyone! We encourage this method daily, making it fun for our classroom. See the linked video to learn some of the basics for yourself!

https://youtu.be/flXsU4V0zz8?si=pTOL2I0P0iguKKrx

We also promote the use of visual cue cards - these can also be helpful at home.

Celebrating different cultures

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From day one, we introduce the children in playgroup to cultures and traditions outside of Northern Ireland! As you enter our premises, we have a large sign displaying the word "welcome" in multiple different languages. We celebrate festive events such as Chinese New Year and Christmas. We introduce foods from different countries during snack time, along with a discussion about the food, where it is from and what that country is like!

Learning in school and at home

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https://www.parentkind.org.uk/for-parents/home-and-school/supporting-learning-at-home

Learning happens best when it is consistent. We highly encourage parents to take what has been learnt in the setting into the home. We provide the children with worksheets and playful tasks to motivate them to proceed with learning. There are many ways to make learning fun! Celebrate milestones, even if they are small!

Why we promote healthy eating and hygiene at snack time

40418283 — 2025-03-04 20:25:55 UTC

Page 21 of the CCEA pre-school curricular guidance informs us how getting into good habits surrounding food and hygiene at an early age is beneficial. Having a balanced variety of foods ensures young children have the energy they need to function and learn throughout the day.

Our snack routine

40418283 — 2025-03-04 20:39:11 UTC

We believe independence should be introduced early on. At playgroup, the children wash their hands then sit at the snack table. They self-serve the foods they'd like using spoons and tongs, allowing them to choose (under-supervision). Children are given a wipe to clean their station on completion.

Outdoor play / exercise

40418283 — 2025-03-04 20:49:49 UTC

Our children are given at least one hour of outdoor play per day, if it rains, we get our coats and boots on! We have a large and safe outdoor space for your young ones to freely run around, play and use their imagination.

PODCAST

40418283 — 2025-05-02 12:07:08 UTC