Torphins Playgroup/Information for Parents and Carers

We are registered with Social Care and Social Work in Scotland (SCSWIS), formerly the Care Commission, as a pre-school centre and working in partnership with Aberdeenshire Council, we are able to provide commissioned places for pre-school children.

Policy documents pertaining to the running of Torphins Playgroup are available for all parents/carers to read. You are required to read the polices and procedures of the group. The Polices and procedures are also available from the links above.

SCSWIS regulates Playgroup and is an independent non-departmental public body, set up under the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 (the Act), to regulate all care services throughout Scotland. They inspect the group on a regular basis and their reports are available for you to read. They are also available online via the SCSWIS website www.scswis.com. SCSWIS has offices throughout Scotland and the North Region office at Johnstone House, Rose Street, Aberdeen AB10 1UD Tel: 01224 793870, covers Torphins Playgroup.
For your information Mid Deeside Church owns the building we occupy and we rent it from them.

Our aim is to provide safe, structured play in a stimulating and friendly environment for the children, in order to build on their social skills and cognitive development. Activities can include baking, music, art and craftwork, games, story telling, nature walks, sand and water play, gardening and outdoor play.

All children aged 3-5 years are entitled to 5 x 2 ½ hour sessions at a pre-school setting of their parents choice, paid for by Aberdeenshire Council. Please remember that your child can start at Playgroup immediately after their 3rd birthday but the Aberdeenshire Council funding only comes into effect the academic term after your child’s 3rd birthday.

For your child to attend Torphins Playgroup parents or carers must be prepared to help on the duty rota and complete a Disclosure form prior to the child starting. These are requirements and not optional. More information of the role on parents on duty can be found on pages 9-10 of this booklet.

Children can start, if a place is available, when they are 3 years old. In some cases it may be appropriate for children to start Playgroup before their 3rd birthday e.g. if their birthday falls a short time after a term starts then they may attend two sessions a week. In this case the Playleader, Chairperson and the parents/carers will consult together to arrange a suitable start date. We strongly recommend that you visit Playgroup with your child before he or she starts, so that you can all become familiar with the building and the staff.
During your child’s time at Playgroup it is advisable to let the staff know if there any changes to your normal family life e.g. bereavement, as this can affect behaviour. You can be assured that any exchange of information between the staff and parents will be treated with the strictest of confidence

Should your child be unwell at home and be unable to come to Playgroup please let us know.

Our advice would be not to ask other parents to pass on messages as in our experience they tend to forget!

What follows is guidance on the minimum exclusion period for some common infectious diseases and short term illnesses. Please consider these very carefully before bringing your child back to Playgroup. As part of our Health and Safety policy we are at liberty to ask you to take your child home again if we feel they may pass on infections to other children or the staff. What follows is intended as a guide as some children do take longer to recover.

Mumps Until the swelling has subsided but at least a week
from the onset of the illness.

Head Lice Until appropriate treatment has been given. It is important for parents and carers to regularly inspect their children's hair for signs of head lice. Leaflets are available from Playgroup.

What happens if my child is ill while at Playgroup?
If your child is unwell at Playgroup, you will be contacted right away. If we can not contact you then we will get in touch with the emergency contacts you have given us.

Please remember that children aged 3-5 years are entitled to a maximum of 5 x 2 ½ hour sessions at a pre-school setting of their parents choice, paid for by Aberdeenshire Council. Please remember that your child can start at Playgroup immediately after their 3rd birthday but the Aberdeenshire Council funding only comes into effect the academic term after your child’s 3rd birthday.

The fees, only where applicable, are collected termly, preferably by cheque made out to “Torphins Playgroup”. We charge £8.40 per 2½ hour session, this is the same amount paid to us by Aberdeenshire Council for the children who take their commissioned places with us. The amounts and dates due will be issued to you in writing. Prompt payment is essential. Payments should be placed in the treasurer’s tray. In addition we ask parents/carers to contribute 50p per day towards the cost of the daily snack.

Fees, if applicable, are non-refundable. For example if a fee paying parent decides to take a day off or take a family holiday within term time fees will not be refunded. Fees would be refundable only in the event of long-term illness or other extenuating circumstances. The decision to refund fees will be at the discretion of the Chairperson and Treasurer.

Monday 10am – 12:30pm (time change to allow staff time to set up for the weeks activities)

Playgroup door opens at 9.30 or 10am, which ever is appropriate. The Playleader will welcome you in. Please come in and help your child/children to hang up their coat/s. Take your child into the Playrooms and have a look around together. This will help your child to settle before you leave. When you are ready to leave please fill in and sign the Children’s ‘Arrival’ sheet, which is on the table in the porch. The children’s safety is paramount and therefore staff will strictly adhere to the written instructions you leave us.

We ask Parents/Carers to arrive at 12noon to collect their children. Please wait outside until you are invited in. In inclement weather please come into the porch and kitchen to wait. If you are running late please try to make contact with us. It is the children who worry if you are late. We will of course be there to reassure them until you arrive or you contact us with alternative arrangements. If your child is to be collected by someone other than yourself you mustlet the Playleader know.

If you drive to Playgroup, for safety reasons, you must use the Church car park. Please do not park outside Playgroup on the road. Unfortunately a great many drivers approaching and leaving the village do not always adhere to the speed limit. In addition we would ask you to avoid parking close to the Manse. Please bring your child into Playgroup using the back door of the building where you will enter through the kitchen. Please remember to provide clothing suitable for the weather conditions i.e. sun hat, a coat for outdoor play and wellie boots.

There will be a variety of activities available to the children which will be organised by the staff. The staff will use their knowledge of the children and children’s interests and abilities when deciding what the activities and resources to use. We also consult with the children on a regular basis and ask them to choose the toys and equipment they would like to play with. Some of our activities can be very messy so please remember to dress your child appropriately i.e. not their ‘Sunday best’. It is useful to provide a small, named bag containing a change of clothing in case of messy play accidents!

At Playgroup the children learn to socialise and play co-operatively through dressing up, playing in the home corner and sharing the resources.

A “write on wipe off” board is situated above the coat pegs in the big play room. Each week, staff will write an outline of our planned activities, and parents and carers are encouraged to add their comments and suggestions, or to contribute directly to the activities. As our planning revolves around the children’s needs and interests, it must be emphasised that these plans are very flexible!

Throughout the year there are visitors from the wider community e.g. doctor, health visitor, and our community police officer, to name but a few. They come to chat to the children about subjects related to our topics of exploration. We are always open to suggestion from both the children and their parents and carers of new areas to explore and actively encourage you as parents and carers to get involved in our sessions.

A snack and drink are provided. Please also provide a named bottle of water in your child’s bag in order that your child has open access to water throughout the session. This we ask in line with good nutrition guidelines. If your child has special dietary requirements, please inform the Playleader.

(Please make a point of reading our Garden Policy, which can be accessed via the link above. Thank you)
We consider the Playgroup garden as one of our most valuable resources and regard outdoor activities as a natural enhancement and extension of our indoor environment. Daily the children are able to choose to explore our outside environment and we endeavour to provide a flow of play between the two. We believe that outdoor play has just as much to offer the children as our indoor environment.

Our aim is to provide autonomous play in a safe environment. For example we have a woodwork bench with hammers and nails and child sized garden tools. We believe that by allowing the children the opportunity to use such resources, the skills to do so safely and confidently can be developed.

There are other possible hazards such as sticks and stones in the garden and therefore staff will do their best to avoid accidents by encouraging the children to be aware of the potential dangers.

At Playgroup we make as much use as possible of our garden for outdoor play, experimenting and exploring and to help us do so we ask you to dress your child accordingly. During the summer months we would respectfully ask that you apply sun screen to your child before they come to Playgroup. We do keep a supply of ‘Tesco’s factor 30 for children’ at Playgroup but as we are sure you are very aware this may not suit all children. At the present time staff are not permitted to apply sun screen to the children.

In the winter months we take advice on closure from Aberdeenshire Council. If Torphins Primary School closes due to bad weather then Playgroup will be closed too. As a parent or carer you can, if you choose, ring the Aberdeenshire Schools Information Service number for up-to-date details, 0870 054 4999 followed by Torphins Primary Schools Pin number 022710.

Parents and Carers children will receive a call from a member of the Playgroup staff or committee. However, if you are in any doubt please do not hesitate to call Ha’berry (82978) or Carole Elrick at home (82506).

To purchase new toys and equipment the committee organises fund-raising events during the year. Where we can, we try to involve the children, sometimes by a sponsored event. We urge you to support these events if possible. During the Summer Term we have our annual outing. This is a fun way to end the year and very much enjoyed by the children, parents and staff alike. In June we hold our Annual General Meeting and your support is vital here too.

The Parent/Carer Rota system we have adopted is an essential part of the running of Playgroup. Duties can be carried out by Mums, Dads or Carers of the children who attend. Parents who help on the rota are required to have a ‘disclosure check’. You cannot nominate an adult without a disclosure, for Playgroup, to do a duty for you. Disclosure checks are free of charge for volunteers and are initiated by filling in a form. The form is sent to the CRBS (Central Register Body Scotland) who verify the information supplied. Having ‘disclosure checks’ done helps us to ensure a safe environment for the children. For more information please speak to the Playleader or visit the CRBS website at www.crbs.org.uk

To help you to settle into your role when on duty we asked you to attend a one off briefing session. A member of the Playgroup staff will contact you by telephone to make the necessary arrangements.

When on duty, please arrive at 9:15 to help set up and to discuss the session’s activities. Please remain behind at the close of the session to help with clearing up once the children have been collected (details of our cleaning routines can be found in the ‘Good Practice’ leaflet which comes as part of your Starter Pack). If you know in advance that you are unable to do your duty please swap with another parent/carer and make the necessary changes on the duty rota on the notice board in the porch. Please do not expect the Playgroup staff to find a swap for you. Please do not forget about your duty as by law we are required to have 4 adults present at all times. Should you fail to make alternative arrangements and not turn up for your duty you will incur a charge of £20 to allow us to employ an emergency substitute. If we are unable to find cover the session may be cancelled.
Please note that although we, the staff, take full responsibility for the care and discipline of the children when parents are absent, when on duty parents are the first line of authority for their own child.

Exemptions to doing rota duty:
(i) maternity leave will be for a maximum period of 26 weeks, to be taken at the mums’ discretion, with due notice to the rota secretary, any time after the 26th week of pregnancy. Medical advice will be followed in the case of ill health.

(ii) working parents will not be exempt from duty unless the parent is fulfilling an office-bearing role on the committee. This exemption will be solely at the committees’ discretion.

As a duty parent/carer during the session
On arrival the Playleader will brief you on the morning’s activities and explain which area you will be supervising. Following the briefing you may be asked to set up an activity for example filling paint pots. While on duty you may be asked to prepare and serve the snack. Please remember to take time for yourself whilst on duty, e.g. prior to snack being prepared, go into the kitchen and make yourself a cup of tea or coffee, hectic duties can be very tiring!

Allow the children to work at their own pace and in their own way.
Please remind the children about putting on aprons, for messy play e.g. paint, sand and water.
It can be very intimidating for the children, and tiring for you, if you stand all morning, so please sit down to be at their level.

Encourage the children to be tidy and to help at ‘tidy up time’. Always praise them for their efforts.

At the end of the session you will be required to help clean the playrooms the kitchen and the toilets. Cleaning may also include washing paint pots, brushes, water/sand toys etc. Cleaning will include hoovering and the washing of the floor areas. NB Hoovering and the washing of the floors should only be done once the children have left the building. Some clearing away of equipment may on occasions also be required.

Try to divert the attention of aggressive or destructive children and, if you need assistance, ask the Playleader for help. The children should not be shouted at and never smacked.

Swearing and bad language are not pleasant but the best way to deal with this is to ignore it.
We are sure you appreciate that smoking anywhere in Ha’berry is not permitted.
Always move and react slowly, except in a real emergency, and try to keep a calm voice. If there is an accident please encourage the child to tell you exactly what happened. If the accident is caused by defective equipment please tell the Playleader.
Any accidents, however small, must be reported to the Playleader for inclusion in the accident book.
Lots of children tend to want to take a book or toy home from Playgroup. Don’t worry about it, just tell the Playleader and they can be returned later.

Notice Board

Please read the notice board (just inside the entrance door) for event dates, rota lists and general notices. Please also remember to check your child’s tray (located in the vestibule) for their art work and any individual notices.

An enthusiastic, hard working and dedicated team waits to support your children’s attendance at Playgroup.

The Acting Playleader, Mrs Carole Elrick started employment at Playgroup in November 2007 and gained the position of Assistant Playleader in April 2010. Carole has 2 children, Clodagh and Bronia, both of whom attended Playgroup. In her time as a Playgroup parent, Carole held the position of rota secretary on the Playgroup committee. In addition, she has been treasurer of a number of pre-school groups in Torphins. She continues to volunteer as a Rainbow Guider and is pursuing an SVQ III qualification in Children’s Care, Learning and Development to assist in her role as Assistant Playleader. At this time, Carole will undertake the position of Acting Playleader until such times as a suitable replacement can be sought.

Playhelper, Mrs Gillian Smith started employment at Torphins Playgroup in January 2010, prior to which she was a voluntary helper. Gillian has 3 children, Alec, Cameron and Coll, who all attended Playgroup. Gillian is a past Treasurer and Wages Clerk of the Playgroup Committee, and has also been a member of the Torphins Primary School PTA. Gillian has recently begun studying to gain an SVQ III qualification in Children’s Care, Learning and Development.

Playhelper Mrs. Angela Elliott started employment at Torphins Playgroup in August 2010, having worked with Lumphanan Playgroup for 2 years. Angela has 2 teenage sons, Benjamin and Daniel, and a daughter Alisha, aged 12, all of whom attended Playgroup (some time ago now!). Angela has recently completed her SVQ Level III in Children’s Care, Learning and Development.

Mondays          Mrs Carole Elrick and Mrs Gillian Smith
Tuesdays         Mrs Angela Elliott and Mrs Gillian Smith
Wednesdays   Mrs Carole Elrick and Mrs Jayne Clarke (Volunteer)
Thursdays       Mrs Carole Elrick and Mrs Angela Elliott
Fridays           Mrs Angela Elliott and Mrs Gillian Smith

Please note that planned changes will be intimated to you by written bulletin or via e-mail.

In the event that a member of staff is unable to come to Playgroup, because of illness or other unforeseen personal circumstance, staff will cover for each other. In the event that this is not possible the Chairperson of the group can stand in. In addition we have standby personnel who are fully disclosed and can attend in place of a member of staff and in some cases duty parents.

The aims and objectives of our Playgroup as set out in our constitution are as follows:


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Activities
Activities		General Information The Organisation of Playgroup What happens at Playgroup Starting Playgroup What do I do if my child is ill? Payment of Fees A Typical Day The Playgroup Garden Sunshine and Snow Committee Events Rota Duty Staff Aims of Torphins Playgroup The Playgroup Curriculum Policies and Procedures Working with Parents/Carers Child Protection Confidentiality Policy Documents Constitution Children in Nappies Absent Children Evacuation of the Building Arrival and Collection Routine Playgroup Garden Policy Early Years Group Constitution The Organisation of Playgroup We are registered with Social Care and Social Work in Scotland (SCSWIS), formerly the Care Commission, as a pre-school centre and working in partnership with Aberdeenshire Council, we are able to provide commissioned places for pre-school children. Policy documents pertaining to the running of Torphins Playgroup are available for all parents/carers to read. You are required to read the polices and procedures of the group. The Polices and procedures are also available from the links above. SCSWIS regulates Playgroup and is an independent non-departmental public body, set up under the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 (the Act), to regulate all care services throughout Scotland. They inspect the group on a regular basis and their reports are available for you to read. They are also available online via the SCSWIS website www.scswis.com. SCSWIS has offices throughout Scotland and the North Region office at Johnstone House, Rose Street, Aberdeen AB10 1UD Tel: 01224 793870, covers Torphins Playgroup. For your information Mid Deeside Church owns the building we occupy and we rent it from them. Click here to go to the top of the page What happens at Playgroup? Our aim is to provide safe, structured play in a stimulating and friendly environment for the children, in order to build on their social skills and cognitive development. Activities can include baking, music, art and craftwork, games, story telling, nature walks, sand and water play, gardening and outdoor play. All children aged 3-5 years are entitled to 5 x 2 ½ hour sessions at a pre-school setting of their parents choice, paid for by Aberdeenshire Council. Please remember that your child can start at Playgroup immediately after their 3rd birthday but the Aberdeenshire Council funding only comes into effect the academic term after your child’s 3rd birthday. Click here to go to the top of the page Starting Playgroup For your child to attend Torphins Playgroup parents or carers must be prepared to help on the duty rota and complete a Disclosure form prior to the child starting. These are requirements and not optional. More information of the role on parents on duty can be found on pages 9-10 of this booklet. Children can start, if a place is available, when they are 3 years old. In some cases it may be appropriate for children to start Playgroup before their 3rd birthday e.g. if their birthday falls a short time after a term starts then they may attend two sessions a week. In this case the Playleader, Chairperson and the parents/carers will consult together to arrange a suitable start date. We strongly recommend that you visit Playgroup with your child before he or she starts, so that you can all become familiar with the building and the staff. During your child’s time at Playgroup it is advisable to let the staff know if there any changes to your normal family life e.g. bereavement, as this can affect behaviour. You can be assured that any exchange of information between the staff and parents will be treated with the strictest of confidence Click here to go to the top of the page What do I do if my child is ill? Should your child be unwell at home and be unable to come to Playgroup please let us know. Either telephone Playgroup on 013398 82978 – If the Playgroup staff have not arrived for work then please leave a message on the answer phone. Contact a member of staff at home Our advice would be not to ask other parents to pass on messages as in our experience they tend to forget! Guideline on exclusion because of illness What follows is guidance on the minimum exclusion period for some common infectious diseases and short term illnesses. Please consider these very carefully before bringing your child back to Playgroup. As part of our Health and Safety policy we are at liberty to ask you to take your child home again if we feel they may pass on infections to other children or the staff. What follows is intended as a guide as some children do take longer to recover. Sickness/Diarrhoea 2 days after the symptoms have cleared. Chickenpox 7 days from the appearance of the rash Measles 7 days from the appearance of the rash German Measles 4 days from the appearance of the rash Mumps Until the swelling has subsided but at least a week from the onset of the illness. Head Lice Until appropriate treatment has been given. It is important for parents and carers to regularly inspect their children's hair for signs of head lice. Leaflets are available from Playgroup. What happens if my child is ill while at Playgroup? If your child is unwell at Playgroup, you will be contacted right away. If we can not contact you then we will get in touch with the emergency contacts you have given us. Click here to go to the top of the page Payment of Fees only where applicable. Please remember that children aged 3-5 years are entitled to a maximum of 5 x 2 ½ hour sessions at a pre-school setting of their parents choice, paid for by Aberdeenshire Council. Please remember that your child can start at Playgroup immediately after their 3rd birthday but the Aberdeenshire Council funding only comes into effect the academic term after your child’s 3rd birthday. The fees, only where applicable, are collected termly, preferably by cheque made out to “Torphins Playgroup”. We charge £8.40 per 2½ hour session, this is the same amount paid to us by Aberdeenshire Council for the children who take their commissioned places with us. The amounts and dates due will be issued to you in writing. Prompt payment is essential. Payments should be placed in the treasurer’s tray. In addition we ask parents/carers to contribute 50p per day towards the cost of the daily snack. Fees, if applicable, are non-refundable. For example if a fee paying parent decides to take a day off or take a family holiday within term time fees will not be refunded. Fees would be refundable only in the event of long-term illness or other extenuating circumstances. The decision to refund fees will be at the discretion of the Chairperson and Treasurer. Click here to go to the top of the page A Typical Day Monday 10am – 12:30pm (time change to allow staff time to set up for the weeks activities) Tuesday – Friday 9:30am – 12 noon Playgroup door opens at 9.30 or 10am, which ever is appropriate. The Playleader will welcome you in. Please come in and help your child/children to hang up their coat/s. Take your child into the Playrooms and have a look around together. This will help your child to settle before you leave. When you are ready to leave please fill in and sign the Children’s ‘Arrival’ sheet, which is on the table in the porch. The children’s safety is paramount and therefore staff will strictly adhere to the written instructions you leave us. We ask Parents/Carers to arrive at 12noon to collect their children. Please wait outside until you are invited in. In inclement weather please come into the porch and kitchen to wait. If you are running late please try to make contact with us. It is the children who worry if you are late. We will of course be there to reassure them until you arrive or you contact us with alternative arrangements. If your child is to be collected by someone other than yourself you mustlet the Playleader know. If you drive to Playgroup, for safety reasons, you must use the Church car park. Please do not park outside Playgroup on the road. Unfortunately a great many drivers approaching and leaving the village do not always adhere to the speed limit. In addition we would ask you to avoid parking close to the Manse. Please bring your child into Playgroup using the back door of the building where you will enter through the kitchen. Please remember to provide clothing suitable for the weather conditions i.e. sun hat, a coat for outdoor play and wellie boots. There will be a variety of activities available to the children which will be organised by the staff. The staff will use their knowledge of the children and children’s interests and abilities when deciding what the activities and resources to use. We also consult with the children on a regular basis and ask them to choose the toys and equipment they would like to play with. Some of our activities can be very messy so please remember to dress your child appropriately i.e. not their ‘Sunday best’. It is useful to provide a small, named bag containing a change of clothing in case of messy play accidents! At Playgroup the children learn to socialise and play co-operatively through dressing up, playing in the home corner and sharing the resources. A “write on wipe off” board is situated above the coat pegs in the big play room. Each week, staff will write an outline of our planned activities, and parents and carers are encouraged to add their comments and suggestions, or to contribute directly to the activities. As our planning revolves around the children’s needs and interests, it must be emphasised that these plans are very flexible! Throughout the year there are visitors from the wider community e.g. doctor, health visitor, and our community police officer, to name but a few. They come to chat to the children about subjects related to our topics of exploration. We are always open to suggestion from both the children and their parents and carers of new areas to explore and actively encourage you as parents and carers to get involved in our sessions. A snack and drink are provided. Please also provide a named bottle of water in your child’s bag in order that your child has open access to water throughout the session. This we ask in line with good nutrition guidelines. If your child has special dietary requirements, please inform the Playleader. At playgroup we are all very conscious of environmental issues. We compost all the waste food from snack time and use the recycling facilities in the village as much a possible. We try to limit our use of paper and to this end we send a great deal of information about up and coming event via the internet. This includes newsletters, bulletins, holiday dates and planned staff changes. If you would prefer not to receive such information via email, please advise a member of staff as soon as possible, thank you. Click here to go to the top of the page The Playgroup Garden (Please make a point of reading our Garden Policy, which can be accessed via the link above. Thank you) We consider the Playgroup garden as one of our most valuable resources and regard outdoor activities as a natural enhancement and extension of our indoor environment. Daily the children are able to choose to explore our outside environment and we endeavour to provide a flow of play between the two. We believe that outdoor play has just as much to offer the children as our indoor environment. Our aim is to provide autonomous play in a safe environment. For example we have a woodwork bench with hammers and nails and child sized garden tools. We believe that by allowing the children the opportunity to use such resources, the skills to do so safely and confidently can be developed. There are other possible hazards such as sticks and stones in the garden and therefore staff will do their best to avoid accidents by encouraging the children to be aware of the potential dangers. Click here to go to the top of the page Sun Shine and Snow At Playgroup we make as much use as possible of our garden for outdoor play, experimenting and exploring and to help us do so we ask you to dress your child accordingly. During the summer months we would respectfully ask that you apply sun screen to your child before they come to Playgroup. We do keep a supply of ‘Tesco’s factor 30 for children’ at Playgroup but as we are sure you are very aware this may not suit all children. At the present time staff are not permitted to apply sun screen to the children. In the winter months we take advice on closure from Aberdeenshire Council. If Torphins Primary School closes due to bad weather then Playgroup will be closed too. As a parent or carer you can, if you choose, ring the Aberdeenshire Schools Information Service number for up-to-date details, 0870 054 4999 followed by Torphins Primary Schools Pin number 022710. Parents and Carers children will receive a call from a member of the Playgroup staff or committee. However, if you are in any doubt please do not hesitate to call Ha’berry (82978) or Carole Elrick at home (82506). Click here to go to the top of the page Committee events throughout the year To purchase new toys and equipment the committee organises fund-raising events during the year. Where we can, we try to involve the children, sometimes by a sponsored event. We urge you to support these events if possible. During the Summer Term we have our annual outing. This is a fun way to end the year and very much enjoyed by the children, parents and staff alike. In June we hold our Annual General Meeting and your support is vital here too. Click here to go to the top of the page Rota Duty The Parent/Carer Rota system we have adopted is an essential part of the running of Playgroup. Duties can be carried out by Mums, Dads or Carers of the children who attend. Parents who help on the rota are required to have a ‘disclosure check’. You cannot nominate an adult without a disclosure, for Playgroup, to do a duty for you. Disclosure checks are free of charge for volunteers and are initiated by filling in a form. The form is sent to the CRBS (Central Register Body Scotland) who verify the information supplied. Having ‘disclosure checks’ done helps us to ensure a safe environment for the children. For more information please speak to the Playleader or visit the CRBS website at www.crbs.org.uk To help you to settle into your role when on duty we asked you to attend a one off briefing session. A member of the Playgroup staff will contact you by telephone to make the necessary arrangements. When on duty, please arrive at 9:15 to help set up and to discuss the session’s activities. Please remain behind at the close of the session to help with clearing up once the children have been collected (details of our cleaning routines can be found in the ‘Good Practice’ leaflet which comes as part of your Starter Pack). If you know in advance that you are unable to do your duty please swap with another parent/carer and make the necessary changes on the duty rota on the notice board in the porch. Please do not expect the Playgroup staff to find a swap for you. Please do not forget about your duty as by law we are required to have 4 adults present at all times. Should you fail to make alternative arrangements and not turn up for your duty you will incur a charge of £20 to allow us to employ an emergency substitute. If we are unable to find cover the session may be cancelled. Please note that although we, the staff, take full responsibility for the care and discipline of the children when parents are absent, when on duty parents are the first line of authority for their own child. *Exemptions to doing rota duty:* (i) maternity leave will be for a maximum period of 26 weeks, to be taken at the mums’ discretion, with due notice to the rota secretary, any time after the 26th week of pregnancy. Medical advice will be followed in the case of ill health. (ii) working parents will not be exempt from duty unless the parent is fulfilling an office-bearing role on the committee. This exemption will be solely at the committees’ discretion. As a duty parent/carer during the session On arrival the Playleader will brief you on the morning’s activities and explain which area you will be supervising. Following the briefing you may be asked to set up an activity for example filling paint pots. While on duty you may be asked to prepare and serve the snack. Please remember to take time for yourself whilst on duty, e.g. prior to snack being prepared, go into the kitchen and make yourself a cup of tea or coffee, hectic duties can be very tiring! Allow the children to work at their own pace and in their own way. Please remind the children about putting on aprons, for messy play e.g. paint, sand and water. It can be very intimidating for the children, and tiring for you, if you stand all morning, so please *sit down* to be at their level. Encourage the children to be tidy and to help at ‘tidy up time’. Always praise them for their efforts. At the end of the session you will be required to help clean the playrooms the kitchen and the toilets. Cleaning may also include washing paint pots, brushes, water/sand toys etc. Cleaning will include hoovering and the washing of the floor areas. NB Hoovering and the washing of the floors should only be done once the children have left the building. Some clearing away of equipment may on occasions also be required. Try to divert the attention of aggressive or destructive children and, if you need assistance, ask the Playleader for help. The children should not be shouted at and never smacked. Swearing and bad language are not pleasant but the best way to deal with this is to ignore it. We are sure you appreciate that smoking anywhere in Ha’berry is not permitted. Always move and react slowly, except in a real emergency, and try to keep a calm voice. If there is an accident please encourage the child to tell you exactly what happened. If the accident is caused by defective equipment please tell the Playleader. Any accidents, however small, must be reported to the Playleader for inclusion in the accident book. Lots of children tend to want to take a book or toy home from Playgroup. Don’t worry about it, just tell the Playleader and they can be returned later. Please note: Only members of the Playgroup staff are permitted to change children. If you discover a child requires changing please advice a member of staff immediately. Only staff and adults in possession of a valid ‘Disclosure Certificate’ are permitted to supervise children with hand washing and toileting in the toilet area. You are of course free to take your own child to use the toilet. Additional information about disclosures is available from the Playleader. Notice Board Please read the notice board (just inside the entrance door) for event dates, rota lists and general notices. Please also remember to check your child’s tray (located in the vestibule) for their art work and any individual notices. Click here to go to the top of the page Staff An enthusiastic, hard working and dedicated team waits to support your children’s attendance at Playgroup. The Acting Playleader, Mrs Carole Elrick started employment at Playgroup in November 2007 and gained the position of Assistant Playleader in April 2010. Carole has 2 children, Clodagh and Bronia, both of whom attended Playgroup. In her time as a Playgroup parent, Carole held the position of rota secretary on the Playgroup committee. In addition, she has been treasurer of a number of pre-school groups in Torphins. She continues to volunteer as a Rainbow Guider and is pursuing an SVQ III qualification in Children’s Care, Learning and Development to assist in her role as Assistant Playleader. At this time, Carole will undertake the position of Acting Playleader until such times as a suitable replacement can be sought. Playhelper, Mrs Gillian Smith started employment at Torphins Playgroup in January 2010, prior to which she was a voluntary helper. Gillian has 3 children, Alec, Cameron and Coll, who all attended Playgroup. Gillian is a past Treasurer and Wages Clerk of the Playgroup Committee, and has also been a member of the Torphins Primary School PTA. Gillian has recently begun studying to gain an SVQ III qualification in Children’s Care, Learning and Development. Playhelper Mrs. Angela Elliott started employment at Torphins Playgroup in August 2010, having worked with Lumphanan Playgroup for 2 years. Angela has 2 teenage sons, Benjamin and Daniel, and a daughter Alisha, aged 12, all of whom attended Playgroup (some time ago now!). Angela has recently completed her SVQ Level III in Children’s Care, Learning and Development. Early Years Coordinating Teacher, (EYCT), Sally Milne. There are 17 coordinating teachers 1 for each CSN across Aberdeenshire. They have been appointed by Aberdeenshire Council in response to the Scottish Government’s pledge that every ante and pre-school child will have access to a qualified teacher. Sally works with all the staff at Playgroup, teaching the children on a regular basis. She has over 20 years experience teaching pre-school children & has worked closely with the team at Torphins Playgroup since January 2009 Her qualifications are: Bachelor of Education Durham University Post graduate Certificate in Education, PGCE, in Learning & Teaching, Strathclyde University Chartered Teacher point 4 Staff Time Table Mondays Mrs Carole Elrick and Mrs Gillian Smith Tuesdays Mrs Angela Elliott and Mrs Gillian Smith Wednesdays Mrs Carole Elrick and Mrs Jayne Clarke (Volunteer) Thursdays Mrs Carole Elrick and Mrs Angela Elliott Fridays Mrs Angela Elliott and Mrs Gillian Smith Please note that planned changes will be intimated to you by written bulletin or via e-mail. Contingency Plan for Staff Absence In the event that a member of staff is unable to come to Playgroup, because of illness or other unforeseen personal circumstance, staff will cover for each other. In the event that this is not possible the Chairperson of the group can stand in. In addition we have standby personnel who are fully disclosed and can attend in place of a member of staff and in some cases duty parents. Click here to go to the top of the page The Aims of Torphins Playgroup The aims and objectives of our Playgroup as set out in our constitution are as follows: Provide a safe and stimulating environment in which children can feel happy and secure To enable all the children to become Successful Learners, Confident Individuals, Responsible Citizens and Effective Contributors Respect and promote the individual views and wishes of the parents/carers, children and staff Promote the welfare of children Encourage children to explore, appreciate and respect their environment Provide opportunities to stimulate interest and imagination Extend children’s abilities to communicate ideas and feelings in a variety of ways Encourage other charitable activities through which parents/carers may help the children Evaluate the quality of what we do and provide and plan for improvement; and Encourage parents/carers and staff to work together for the benefit of the group Click here to go to the top of the page
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