More Information
The First Days
We want your child to feel happy and safe at Happy Faces. To make sure that this is the case, the practitioners will work with you to decide on how to help your child to settle in. We have a policy about helping children to settle into the playgroup - a copy is available upon request.
Clothing
Although we do provide protective clothing for 'messy' activities, it is best to send children dressed in clothes which are easily washable and not too new. We do have 'Happy Faces Playgroup' polo shirts and sweatshirts available to purchase should you so wish (further information will be provided to you in your welcome pack).
We encourage children to gain the skills which help them to be independent and look after themselves. These include taking themselves to the toilet and taking off - and putting on - outdoor clothing. Clothing which is easy for them to manage will help them to do this.
The Curriculum
Children start to learn about the world around them from the moment they are born. The care and education offered by Happy Faces helps children to continue to do this by providing them with interesting activities that are right for their age and stage of development. For children between the ages of 2 years 6 months and 5 years, we provide a curriculum for the Early Years Foundation Stage of education. This curriculum divides children's learning and development into seven areas:
- Communication and Language
- Physical Development
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the World
- Expressive Arts and Design
For each area, the curriculum guidance sets out early learning goals. These goals state what the children are expected to know and be able to do by the end of the Reception year of their education. For each early learning goal, the guidance sets out stepping stones, through which children are likely to pass as they move towards achievement of the goal. Happy Faces uses the early learning goals, and the Early Years Foundation Stage, to help us to trace each child’s progress and to enable us to provide the right activities to help all of the children achieve these goals.
If you would like to find out more about the playgroup then please visit us or call our Administrator on 07791 141176.
Dates for 2023/24
| Bank Holiday (playgroup closed) | Monday 1st January 2024 |
| Spring Term start | Playgroup commences Tuesday 2nd January 2024 |
| Half Term | Playgroup closes Tursday 8th February 2024 |
| Inset day (playgroup closed) | Friday 9th February 2024 |
| Playgroup re-opens Monday 19th February 2024 | |
| Spring term end | Playgroup closes Thursday 28th March 2024 |
| Bank holiday (playgroup closed) | Friday 29th March 2024 |
| Summer Term start | Playgroup commences Monday 15th April 2024 |
| Bank Holiday (playgroup closed) | Monday 6th May 2024 |
| Half Term | Playgroup closes Thursday 23rd May 2024 |
| Inset day (playgroup closed) | Friday 24th May 2024 |
| Playgroup re-opens Monday 3rd June 2024 | |
| Summer Term end | Playgroup closes Friday 19th July 2024 There will be no lunchtime or aftrenoon playgroup sessions on this day |
Dates for 2024/25
| Autumn Term start | Playgroup commences Tuesday 3rd September 2024 | |
| Half Term | Playgroup closes Friday 25th October 2024 | |
| Inset day (playgroup closed) | Monday 4th November 2024 | |
| Playgroup re-opens Tuesday 5th November 2024 | ||
| Christmas Play | Thursday 12th December 2024 There will be no lunchtime or aftrenoon playgroup sessions on this day |
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| Christmas Party | Friday 20th December 2024 There will be no lunchtime or aftrenoon playgroup sessions on this day |
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| Autumn Term end | Playgroup closes Friday 20th December 2024 | |
| Bank Holiday (playgroup closed) | Monday 1st January 2025 | |
| Spring Term start | Playgroup commences Monday 6th January 2025 | |
| Half Term | Playgroup closes Thursday 13th February 2025 | |
| Inset day (playgroup closed) | Friday 14th February 2025 | |
| Playgroup re-opens Monday 24th February 2025 | ||
| Spring Term end | Playgroup closes Friday 4th April 2025 | |
| Bank Holiday (playgroup closed) | Friday 18th April 2025 | |
| Summer Term start | Playgroup commences Tuesday 22nd April 2025 | |
| Bank Holiday (playgroup closed) | Monday 5th May 2025 | |
| Half Term | Playgroup closes Thursday 22nd Mday 2025 | |
| Inset day (playgroup closed) | Friday 23rd May 2025 | |
| Playgroup re-opens Monday 2nd June 2025 | ||
| Summer Term end | Playgroup closes Friday 19th July 2025 There will be no lunchtime or aftrenoon playgroup sessions on this day |