BALLINDERRY BRIDGE PLAYGROUP

Public benefits

The Children within the community from all backgrounds regardless of culture, race, religion, gender, and disability, will benefit from the services provided by the Playgroup. The group follows the guidelines set out by The Early Years Organisation for young Children and follow the curriculum in the six areas of learning set out by the Department

of Education to promote the child's Personal, Social and Emotional wellbeing through Play. Children will benefit from Social Interactions, making new friends with other children, Become familiar with other adults, reducing anxiety in new surroundings, self-identity, independence, being able to use own initiative, engaging in play and learning routines and coping with rules through play activities. They will learn how to share, and turn take promoting acceptable behaviour and boosting confidence and self esteem. Children will also benefit from Language development through play activities being able to understand and speak simple language, Mathematical language, Language associated with the environment, music activities and being able to follow instructions and talking about experiences, express choices and showing interest in books, Language difficulties and any Special Needs will be quickly detected and intervention will be sought from the Language and Communication service and Psychology services within the Department Of Education. Children will benefit from Physical development through the many physical activities planned for on a daily basis promoting Enjoyment, Safety, Co-Ordination, Confidence, and promoting both Gross and Fine Motor Skills. Children will benefit from being encouraged to express their own ideas through art, using a variety of media to create pictures and being able to use their own imagination promoting good self esteem and creativity. Children will benefit from learning about their environment through outdoor play in the natural play area, promoting health, safety, curiosity and imagination. These benefits are evident through applications from the community on a yearly basis wanting to use the facility, meetings and feedback each term with parents and children's keyworkers on their childs progress, Parents also have the opportunity to leave comments in the comments box available. Evaluations from our Open Day, links with the two local primary schools were visits are made by the children for activities, both schools also receive yearly reports on children to attend. Verbal comments from both schools on the ease of childrens entry to primary school when having attended playgroup. Regular Committee meeting, visits from language and communication officers, Evaluations and Reports from inspections from the Department of Education, Yearly Inspections from Health and Social Trust and Public Health inspector. Monthly Reports on observations within the setting by the early years adviser. Staff and Committee training is ongoing on a regular basis. Staff have written evaluations and Plan on a daily basis to ensure these benefits. There is no harm flowing from the purpose. There is no private benefit.

What your organisation does

We provide Preschool education and activities in the six areas of the curriculum to 3-4 year olds for 2.5 hours on a daily basis. The children are provided with a variety of activities both indoor and outdoor to develop their personal, social emotional and physical wellbeing.