Session Information
Availability for all preschoolers
Sessions & prices
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Slots: Sessions run Mon-Fri during term time only. You can choose if you would like your child to attend every session or a few sessions per week. Morning and afternoon sessions are available depending on the age of your child.
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Ages: We welcome children into morning sessions from 2 years old. Afternoon sessions are offered to 3 year olds and children from the Nursery at St. Joseph's RC School.
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Pricing: Fees are £22.50 per 3 hour session. We accept 2 and 3 year old funded children. We also accept childcare vouchers and government childcare account transfers.
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Extras: We ask for a small voluntary donation of £10.00 per 1/2 term to cover fresh fruit and messy play items - for morning children only.
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Applications: We operate a 3-term entry system which must be applied for by the closing date. All children will be offered a minimum of 2 sessions per week up to 15 hours, subject to availability. Spaces are limited so please do get in touch as early as possible to secure a place! :)
Morning 9am-12pm
For our little 2-3 year olds. We welcome them to join the morning sessions the term after their second birthday.
Lunch Club 12-1pm
We offer a lunch club daily from 12 - 1pm for those children who are 3 and either attend mornings at Playgroup or St. Joseph's RC School Nursery. Children are required to bring a packed lunch.
Afternoon 1-3pm
Children who already attend morning sessions at Playgroup can stay in the afternoons after they have turned 3. Children aged 3 or 4 who attend St. Joseph's RC School Nursery are able to attend Playgroup in the afternoon and we are able to share the 30 hours free childcare offering.
A typical session
01.
Register
02.
Play time
03.
Tidy time
04.
Circle time
05.
Snack time
06.
Play time
07.
Story time
08.
Home time
Mornings
Children are eligible to join us at St. Joseph’s Playgroup once they turn 2 years old. Our Playgroup operates a 3-term entry system which must be applied for by the closing date. All children will be offered a minimum of 2 morning sessions per week up to 15 hours, subject to availability.
Children can remain in Playgroup until the end of the summer term after they have turned 3.
Applications for 2025-2026 are open and welcomed. Places will be offered by 16th May 2025.
Please see the link below to our application form. This can be completed and returned via email to stjosephsplaygrouptheark@outlook.com or alternatively they can be returned to the Playgroup or school office.
Lunch Club & Afternoons
Children are eligible to attend Lunch Club at Playgroup from the term after they turn 3, subject to availability. The Lunch Club session runs from 12pm to 1pm every day. Children should bring a packed lunch clearly marked with their name. Each session will cost £7.50 unless your child will be using it as part of their funded hours.
Every child is eligible to 15 hours free universal government funding from the term after they turn 3. Lunch Club can be used as part of these hours.
Children who attend St. Joseph's RC School Nursery can also attend Lunch Club, 12.00 to 1.00pm or full afternoon sessions 12.00 until 3.00pm either as part of the 30 hours free childcare (if you are eligible) or at a cost of £7.50 for 1 hour Lunch Club or £22.50 per 3 hours afternoon session.
If you have any queries, please email us at stjosephsplaygrouptheark@outlook.com.
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We cater for children with SEND
At St. Joseph's Playgroup, we have experience in working with children with special needs including Autism, children with Physical Disabilities, Visual and Auditory, Communication and Language Disorders, Hyper Mobility and Global Developmental Delay.
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Accessibility arrangements:
The Playgroup environment is easily accessible to all. We have a disabled toilet with wheelchair access and hand rail. All our equipment is at child’s level, visually labelled and easily accessible. We have a visual timetable and various visual aids and posters supporting routines. An area of our outside has been transformed into a sensory garden. We have an allocated quiet area with cushions and soft lighting, if children need to rest or just take some quiet time.
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How do we cater for children and families with SEND:
Emma Spears, our Deputy Leader and Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO), has 2 years experience in this role and regularly attends SENCO Clusters and termly Network Meetings. We have good links with our local Family Centre and we work with a wide range of agencies such as Advisory Teachers, Speech and Language Therapists, Health Visitors, Consultants and Inclusion Officers. We have no more than 20 children per session.
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Staff training experience:
Emma Spears, our Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO), regularly completes up to date trainings and termly SENCO Cluster meetings. Emma shares information she has gained from meetings to ensure all our Playgroup staff are kept up to date and well informed.
All staff have attended communication and language training and received accreditation and are trained in promoting positive behaviour.
All staff have had Epi-pen training and have up to date Paediatric First Aid.
Playgroup Open Day
Our annual Open Day is held in May when we welcome new and prospective parents into the Playgroup to meet our staff and have a tour of the environment.
We can also facilitate visits at other times so do get in touch via the Contact Us page and we'd be more than happy to organise a visit for you. We very much look forward to meeting you!
