Charlton & District Playgroup – A warm and friendly learning environment for all your child's needs

A warm and friendly learning environment for all your child’s needs

Located in Charlton, our staff have decades of experience providing children with fantastic learning opportunities through our rich indoor and large outdoor spaces. 15 hours funding accepted, term time only and additional hours at £5.50 an hour, with no hidden costs.

Why Choose Us…

EDUCATION – GOOD OFSTED

The setting was last inspected by Ofsted in July 2019 and was rated as ‘Good’. If you would like to see the report, please click here.

Our playgroup offers each child the opportunity to flourish and grow by experiencing a wide variety of learning experiences. We believe that children develop through confidence, enjoyment and satisfaction in what they do. Our aim is to provide support and guidance in an atmosphere which is caring, happy and purposeful. Our curriculum is based on the Early Years Foundation Stage and we follow the statutory requirements set out in the ‘Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage’.

RESOURCES

All our learning aids are set out daily into different zones, over two rooms and a large fenced outside space, making it very easy for us to respond to an individual child’s physical needs. Children very quickly get to know where to find and access the materials and equipment they wish to use. The large fenced, grassed area with ample space to run around is set up with play equipment and resources to encourage physical development, as well as the opportunity to learn about the outside environment and the local community. Our new and developing wild garden area, complete with mud kitchen and sandpit provide the children with plenty of opportunities to garden and observe the natural environment.

We also support the children’s learning by arranging visits from people in the local community, such as fire fighters, to come and visit the children and talk to them about their job and role within our community. The children also benefit and enjoy visits from a dance instructor, imaginative story teller and can engage with animals from a visiting farm.

STAFF

There are currently 10 members of staff, all of whom are employed to work directly with the children and are led by a supervisor. Our staff have not only been selected for their experience and skills, but also for their enthusiasm and love of children. We provide a higher staff to child ratio than legally required to ensure that the children have sufficient individual attention, and to guarantee care and education.

SAFETY

The safety and welfare of your child whilst in our care is of paramount importance to us. The playgroup’s policies and continuous staff training help us to make sure that the service provided is of the highest quality. All staff hold a current pediatric first aid certificate.

More About Us

Charlton & District Playgroup have been operating from St Thomas’ Church in Charlton for many years. We have an equal opportunities policy and provide non-denominational, flexible daytime care and education for children of either gender and from any nationality, from the age of two years six months to rising five. The setting is fully accessible to children and parents with physical disabilities and works with professionals from outside the setting to support children with additional needs. Charlton & District Playgroup is a voluntary organisation, registered with Hampshire County Council, Ofsted, and is a member of the Pre-school Learning Alliance. The setting is managed by a voluntary committee made up from parents with children in the setting and other willing volunteers, and is registered with the Charities Commission. The committee is elected annually during the Annual General Meeting and has adopted the Pre-school Alliance Constitution.