Harrison playgroup operates within a sunny, spacious hall in which the children can explore many aspects of play. Through our planned activities and experiences, your child will have many opportunities to explore and develop their understanding of seasonal changes, the natural world and multicultural festivals throughout the year.

Playgroup hours

9.15 – 11.30 am (Monday to Friday) during term time

Please do not drop your child off before 9.15 and try to collect promptly at 11.30am. It is important that you sign-in and sign-out your child at the beginning and end of the morning. Remember once you have signed out on the register your child is your responsibility. On entering and exiting the playgroup, please ensure that the safety gate is closed.

If for any reason, you need to bring or collect your child out with these hours or have arranged for another person to collect your child, please let us know.

9.15 - 10.15am

The hall is set up to provide a variety and choice of play experiences for the children. We rotate our toys and create changes to the areas depending on the theme or interest expressed by the children.

The house corner provides an opportunity to explore role-play. In this area, we have a play oven/washing machine, utensils, multicultural food, dressing up clothes, clock, books to compliment the area and a variety of other household items. Through role-play, your child can develop their personal, emotional and social skills.

The story corner is a permanent feature; the children will have access to early literacy and opportunities to develop their language skills. We have a wide range of books and frequently source books from the library to compliment an activity or theme planned by the staff.

The craft table is an area that will enhance your child’s expressive and aesthetic development. Creativity fires the imagination and helps with cognitive development. This area is always popular; we place no restrictions on the children when creatively engaged.

We make our own play dough on a regular basis and have an extensive range of utensils and equipment to scaffold this activity.

We create craft activities in which the children can participate individually or within a group. Painting (on craft table or easel), printing, stencilling, cutting, gluing and sticking are some of the ways children can express themselves and at the same time develop their fine motor skills. Other activities like messy play provide variety and a wealth of enjoyment for the children.

We like to offer the children craft activities that reflect the seasons and wonder of the natural world throughout the year. We observe Easter, Halloween and Christmas. Multicultural celebrations within the Muslim, Hindu, Jewish, Buddhist calendar and other world religions have their place within our setting. This will help your child experience a flavour of our multicultural society and promote positive images of our world family.

Sand and water trays provide tactile sensory play. We introduce different resources into these areas to make them more interesting for the children. Your child will have access to sensory play at all times and freedom to express their own ideas within these and other supervised areas. An adult will make sure your child wears an apron for protection. However, even the most careful of children succumb to the perils of paint/water and other messy activities. Please dress your child in play clothes.

Construction/jigsaws, we have a wide range of these resources. These provide numeracy and sequence for early years children. Building, sorting, grouping and matching all aid these early concepts of numeracy.

Small world toys, trains, cars, farm, happy land set, pirate ships, dolls houses, etc… are rotated throughout the year.

Musical instruments, these resources provide the children with opportunities to explore different sounds, rhythm and expressive development.

Snack time (10.15 - 10.45am)

This is an important part of the morning, encouraging personal, emotional and social growth. The children will have their hands washed before snack. We have a rolling snack policy to allow the children to finish their activity before coming to the snack table.

Throughout this period, staff will attend to the children’s needs and use this valuable time as an opportunity for learning about different foods and encouraging the use of good manners.

Snack time usually lasts about ten or fifteen minutes, after which the children are encouraged to clear away their plate and cup.

Physical play time (10.45 - 11.15am)

The hall is reset for physical development and movement play. Your child can choose from a wide range of equipment. A climbing frame, slides, safety mats and soft play are some of the items obtained from a local development grant. Other equipment within the setting includes bikes, cars, prams and playhouse.

We utilise this space for group games as well as individual play. Your child can join in with rhyming games, movement to music and song time. The children have the freedom of choice, none of the children are forced to partake in any activity that they do not wish to do.

Around 11.15am, the children sit together for story time. This enables them to join in a shared literacy experience and provides a signal that their morning is ending.

We finish the morning with the I love you song. This provides relaxation and continuity for the children.