Traditional Values - Contemporary Curriculum

Ouseburn playgroup was established in 1966 by a group of mums wanting to provide their children with a caring and safe environment, in which they could learn whilst playing.  This has remained the ethos of Ouseburn playgroup and is something which all involved with the playgroup take pride in.  The original group of mums obviously knew what they were doing, as it is now widely recognised that children can learn a great deal through play.  

Ouseburn playgroup, like other pre-school Foundation Stage settings, follows the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum.  This guidance helps to ensure a smooth transition from pre-school experiences to your child's reception class and is divided into six areas:

• Personal, social and emotional development
• Communication, language and literacy development
• Reasoning, problem solving and numeracy
• Knowledge and understanding of the world
• Physical development
• Creative development

For each area, the guidance sets out early learning goals which are divided into age related bands of attainment.  Playgroup uses these to trace each child's progress and to plan and provide the right activities to help each child move towards achieving the learning goals.

Ouseburn playgroup has a high ratio of adults to children in the setting and this helps us to:

• Give time and attention to each child
• Talk with the children about their interests and activities
• Help children to experience and benefit from the activities we provide
• Allow the children to explore and be adventurous in safety

"Children clearly enjoy their time at playgroup and are happy to participate in the variety of activities provided.  They relate well towards members of staff, as they confidently approach and initiate conversations with them.  Staff respond to them with warmth and kindness."- Ouseburn playgroup OfSTED report Nov 2009

As required by OfSTED, each session is led by at least one member of staff who has a level 3 diploma of pre-school practice.  (More information on staff qualifications can be found on the staff page).

At Ouseburn playgroup we operate successful Key Worker system, which means each member of staff is responsible for a particular group of children.  Your child's Key Worker will help your child to settle when they first start at playgroup and will help to take forward his/her learning and development by building on what he/she already knows and can do.
 

"The Key Worker system is effective and offers children a real sense of belonging from secure relationships... individual needs are well known and met by the member of staff... children spend their time in the setting happily and progress well"

Ouseburn playgroup OfSTED report Dec 2006.