Portglenone Community Playgroup Trustees Report 2022/23
Portglenone Community Playgroup Gortgole Road Portglenone BT448HT Playgroup Mobile Number: 07398886769
Charity Number: 100654
Portglenone Community Playgroup is a voluntary, community based preschool setting which operates from the local Community Centre. We have an equal opportunities policy in place for both staff recruitment and child admissions. We currently have three full-time staff members. All staff are fully qualified and continually update their training when necessary and in line with the Minimum Standards for Childminding and Daycare NI. The playgroup is operated by a Management Committee made up of a Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and parents of children who attend the Preschool or have recently attended. This committee meets four to five times in an academic year. The first meeting is an AGM were the election/re-election of Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer take place. The Committee discuss fundraising ideas, resources for the Playgroup to function and allocates the provision of staff time and money along with other important decisions.
We are currently registered for 24 children aged three and four years old through Social Services. We are also inspected by ETI and are members of Early Years who provide us with up to date, specialist Early Years support and guidance. We closely follow the preschool curriculum under the 6 key areas. These are:
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Personal, Social and Emotional
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Language
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Physical
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The Arts
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Early Math
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World Around Us
Our aim is to educate and meet the needs of all individual children in a safe and caring environment. Each child has a key worker and are closely observed to ensure that their needs are being fully met and that they are progressing daily through a variety of suitable play opportunities and resources. Staff use these observations to plan for each child's specific needs. All children are encouraged to become independent and sociable, and through this we aim to prepare each child for primary
education. We operate from 09.00 am to 12.00 noon, Monday to Friday. Children have the opportunity for physical play, small/large group play, story/song time and a healthy snack each day.
A Social Services Inspection report stated that all minimum standards were being met and we always receive positive feedback from parents of the children through a variety of correspondence including questionnaires.
Portglenone Community Playgroup is funded by the Education Authority. Money received corresponds with the number of individual children registered with and attending the setting. This money is released to the organisation on a monthly basis and is used to pay staff wages, cover overheads including rent and is spent on resources required to enhance the provision and quality of play experiences available. Money received also covers costs of trips which include the following:
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Autumn and Spring trip to the local Forest
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Local Primary School for Christmas Nativity and Fun Day
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Opticians
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Library
We also have several visits each year from outside professionals such as Dentist, Nurse NIFRS, PSNI and teachers from the local Primary School. We have several parents who visit and discuss their job role with the children. In 2017, we developed our outdoor area spending over £25,000 on fixed equipment and fencing to secure this area. We will continue to invest more in this area to ensure all learning is being continued outdoors.
The public benefit of our setting is that the children attending receive first class care and support from a committed staff team in a suitable learning environment, tailored to their individual needs. This enables children to develop the foundation for Primary School readiness.