Straidarran Community playgroup
Registered with the Charity Commission Northern Ireland- NIC102511
520, Glenshane Road
Claudy- B T474B T
Leaderfs Report- Ortober2022
Agenda September 2022
Safeguarding - no issues at present, all staff signed declaration
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Holidays and finishing date- we finished on Wednesday 30 June with our very graduation and ice cream man
at the end to finish the morning.
Training- Everyone has their core training is current and relevant this includes child protection, food safety,
first aid and designated officer training for Brigid and Ashley, designated officer appointed for committee
member several references requested, still not completed Tara (chair) to follow up
September 2021:
Brigid (l) have taken the role on as playgroup leader and policies and relevant flow charts has been updated to
reflect this.
We have 23 children attending the setting this current year, parents are still not permitted into playgroup at
drop off and collection times, these times will remain staggered in line with the government guidelines in
regards to Covid 19 pandemic. There has been a private social media group for the parents of the children who
are attending playgroup this year and those parents who do not use Facebook there is an alternative
WhatsApp option to communicate with parents and share relevant information such as photos, planners and
newsletters and anything else I feel relevant. Anything that is shared on Facebook is also shared on WhatsApp
so all parents are getting the same information this is in line with our policy of working in partnership with
parents and to ensure that everyone's family is involved with the day to day of playgroup life.
October AGM Each new attendee received a booklet outlining roles for the committee . New Committee in
place and everyone is happy . Forms to be sourced re: signing over of funds, Lisa Graham to contact bank, and
update signatories to include Tara and Emma . Vetting forms and ID to be taken to early years for chair to
become affiliated. Paperwork to be looked at and updated accordingly over the next few weeks. All
completed Tara to receive her fit person report as soon as her paper work is completed and Lisa Browne to
complete handover on completion of this.
Washing machine very kindly donated and installed in playgroup kitchen. All relevant maintenance up to date
pat testing, boiler serviced, fire extinguishers serviced etc.
Do it up days- Invitation for all current families to get involved in the maintenance work needing done both
indoors and outdoors at playgroup i.e. decking area, weeding, power washing, guttering, fence boards needing
replaced. Not only committee memberfs partners but all dads in contact with playgroup are welcome. To be
arranged for Saturdays in 3-4 hour sessions- this was attended by 4 families out of the 23 families that are
using the services this year.
Carpet- Lisa Browne has got a sample from Lisa Houston, she will bring it to playgroup this week to be looked
at. Carpet tiles discussed, not suitable due to daily steaming, roll of carpet to be got and jointed without the
metal strip which is currently in place. Emma Austin to contact supplier this week regarding donation of carpet.
Lino may be an option for joining area at the side where back door opens into playgroup- this was completed
over the summer holidays 2022
Side door- draft coming in through the side door, same needs fixed or replaced. May not be able to replace
due to fire door standards requirement. Brigid recalls this being brought to committee last year but said they
ran out of money. Front door was fitted by Derryork- cost for front door and light £936.00 including vat. This
still to be looked into we have received a quote from Dereck Boyd for £570 not including VAT (September
2022)- we are planning to look for other quotes before this goes forward
Mould in kitchen - we need to get a dehumidifier firstly, then clean and paint. Makes sense to treat the source
of the damp first. Should be possible to buy a dehumidifier for £IOO.00. We could check Roxboroughs as they

donated the microwave oven recently. Brigid completed thls November 2021- de humidifier is viorking well
and all staff are aware how to use it an empty as appropriate, it Is to be on In the main room when the children
area.
are not attendance and in the kitchen on when the children are in as Ihey are not permitted in the kitchen
Toy store- we could arrange to reduce the number of jigsaws. Should we arrange the store into rotation i.e
what you need to bring out each month on separate shelves. Health and Safety concerns around how the store
is currently arranged, built high with items, tl)is needs to be better organised. Folders for jlgsaws rather than
boxes to save space is an option. Maybe arrange a mum's morning in the new year to make a start on this.
this has now been addressed by the staff team and the committee mainly through sorting and dumping
unrepairable equipment and the purchase of the new shed area including new shelves or it- Health and safety
completed a visit on the 23rd of September and noted the decluttering and organisation of the office and stare
area.
Lisa Browne overseen a fundraising event in the Diamond centre (see finance report) that was well attended by
the local community with roles delegated out to committee members and staff team.
Fire alarm and emergency lighting needs serviced- same company will do both, This was completed last year
in Ortober and the fire alarm has been completed in September 2022
Last year due to local covid restrirtions and concerns from staff due to the large number of children in
attendance this year it is agreed that new consents were to be sought after in agreement that the children
were to sing songs and this is to be recorded and shared with parents through the private Facebook group for
the class of 21 and for those parents not on Facebook to be shared through WhatsApp privately.- this worked
well and was well received by all families.
Santa- Ashley's husband usually happy to do Santa and has done for several years-we can buy packs of books
for £20 as a gift for each child, through the get ready to learn funding. - unfortunately this will not be possible
this year due to Ashley having a grandchild in attendance this year and there will be similar issues next year-
Brigid has already sourced the cost of Sperrin fun farm this year for Friday the 9 of December at 9.30,
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therefore the children will not be in attendance in playgroup they will go straight to Sperrin fun farm where a
responsible adult will stay with them for the duration of their stay due to the nature of the visit. Children will
have a party in playgroup on the last day in playgroup before the Christmas holidays.
Emma's raffle- 3 Christmas hampers worth up to £850, tickets £5 per strip.
We had a member of staff leave and another member of successfully employed and joined the team in
February 2022- Chloe who has settled well into the staff team, and employment is continuing into the
academic year 22/23
Our annual inspection took place in November from Early years social services- nothing major came out of the
inspection although there is an action plan in place going forward mainly to support Brigid in the new role as
leader and new committee.
Tara vetting and fit person came through in April 2022 and Lisa Browne completed handover as chair
Due to the high number of pre-schoolers and intense cleaning schedule due to covid 19 we were not able to
accommodate pre pre-school children.
this coming year we do have a growing interest in pre pre-school
places and our preschool numbers are lower than in previous years, the staff team and committee have agreed
that the will accommodate pre pre~schoolers in the new year- more details to follow as details are finalised.
We have 14 pre-schoolers applied for September 2022 there was an information evening for new parents and
an open day followed to introduce the new families to the setting.
Connors cottage with decking and the existing storage shed was dismantled and replaced with one single unit
with a divide on the inside providing a play shed for the children and storage shed for resources.
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we had a surprise visitor for the children on Monday 17 June at 10.30am. Parky the magician. We are also

graduation on Thursday 30 June finishing off with a visit from the ice-cream man.
mbers nextyear- staff team are Brigid the leader S days a week Ashley and Sharon 4 days a week and
and Carol 2 days each a week this alloKvs 3 staff on the floor each day and 4 staff in on Wednesdays and
aays to allow Brigid in the office for paper work. Carol and Chloe day may be extended in January to
Imodate pre pre-schoolers details to be confirmed.
taff teams training timetable is in form early years the organisation. The setting has to close for 5 days to
the whole staff team to take part.