Bengeo Playgroup has been fitted with a fantastic blue, non slip flooring, which has transformed the room. The work was co-ordinated and managed by our School Head, Mrs Purrett and School Governor Mark Smith following the flood that damaged our carpet at the beginning of term.

The temporary relocation ran smoothly and the children loved their special ‘big school’ room. Its now back to business as usual and we’re all set for Christmas:-

“At Christmas play and make good cheer,
For Christmas comes but once a year”
Thomas Tusser 1524-1580

School Governor Mark Smith, known as Sergeant Smith outside of school, visited Playgroup on Monday to talk to the children about what policemen do.  He explained “I sometimes help people when they’re lost or in trouble.”  He then went on to explain “but if someone is naughty then I must arrest them and take them to the police station.”  Mark then went on to show the children all the equipment he has to carry with him – a torch, a baton, walkie-talkie, high vis jacket, hat and handcuffs.  Although the children were too shy to ask any questions, when Sergeant Smith asked a question the children gave some great answers!  Welll done boys & girls!

Well, what haven’t we got for the children to explore and learn about this half term?! With three very special festivals taking place over the coming weeks – Diwali, Hanukkah and Christmas – the children will have plenty of natural opportunities to be introduced to different cultures from around the world. Whether the children will be exploring maps and globes, making diya candles or decorating stars of David, everyone will have the chance to show an interest in the world around them and remember and talk about significant events in their own experiences.

Main Links To The EYFS

• Communities – is about how children begin to know about their own and other people’s cultures in order to understand and celebrate the similarities and differences between them in a diverse society
• Time – is about how children find out about past and present events relevant to their own lives or those of their families.
• Place – is about how children become aware of and interested in the natural world and find out about their local area, knowing what they like and dislike about it.

The children sat and listened in awe to storyteller Kate Milner on Friday, who visited Playgroup to tell the tale of ‘Little Red Riding Hood’.  They watched the story unveil with the help of spoon puppets and listened attentively to find out what happened the day Little Red Riding Hood visited her Grandma……..

This term the children are going to be having fun down on the farm with the animals and learning about the forthcoming harvest.  The theme throughout the resources and equipment will be based around three of our wonderful story sacks – Little Red Hen, Old Macdonald and Itchy Bear. The children will have the chance dig up vegetables, transport them on the tractor and sell them at the vegetable market!

Main Links to the EYFS

Being Creative – is about how children respond in a variety of ways to what they see, hear, smell, touch or feel and how, as a result of these encounters they express and communicate their own ideas, thoughts and feelings.

Reading – is about how children understand and enjoy stories, books and rhymes, recognising that print carries meaning, both fiction and fact.

The Playgroup staff would like to give a very BIG thank you to parents, Mrs Skidmore, the school nursery and local business Norbury’s who have kindly made a donation to the setting over the past couple of months. Every contribution is hugely appreciated and everything works towards improving our provision and the service we give to the families and their children. Thank you very much to ……

• Playgroup Assistant Mrs Skidmore for providing the frogspawn and countless buckets of pond water!
• Anna’s mum Sonja for kindly re-stuffing our Bertie Bear
• Thomas’s mum Charlotte for securing a discount when we bought our new children of the world rug from LFC
• Nursery Teacher Mrs Parker for donating the play castle – the children love it!
• Nathen’s mum Alison for donating the kitchen ‘station’ for the playhouse
• Norbury Fencing & Building Materials for giving (free of charge) two sheets of plywood for an outdoor easel
• Paul Archer, husband to Karen our Committee Secretary, who sealed and put up the plywood!!

Our playground is now looking brighter with its fun and colourful new equipment.  There is a spectacular big blue gazebo to give the children shade from the sun as well as cover from the rain, providing more opportunity for continuous outdoor play.  The fences are displayed with brightly coloured signs as well as a make-shift easel for drawing.  There is a bright red crab sandpit for year round sandcastles and some new stepping stones to learn balancing and jumping – yippeee!!

The funds to buy all these wonderful new resources were raised at our Spring Fun Day so a very big thank you goes out to everyone who helped pull it together and to everyone who came along on the day.  In addition a special mention must be given to Simon Higgs (Jake’s daddy) and Paul Archer (Gemma’s daddy) for very kindly giving their time to bring this all together.

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Thank you to everyone who attended last night’s AGM.  A mix of current and new parents joined staff and school governors for a very relaxing evening.  The lovely warm weather meant we were able to hold the meeting outside, which was a perfect opportunity to showcase our wonderful new gazebo!

The main “next steps” for the Committee is to appoint a Chairperson, Fundraising Chairperson and Treasurer for the forthcoming academic year 2010/11 as Liz, Sam and Anita stepped down at the AGM.  If you are interested in coming on board we would love to hear from you.  To find out more please come and speak to a member of staff or help yourself to a copy of the ‘Roles & Responsibilities’ and our Committee Policy for full details.

A BIG thank you to everyone who came along to visit Herford’s Children’s Centre at Sele School today.  A wonderfully hot afternoon meant a proper picnic outside in the garden, which gave plenty of relaxing time for mums and dads to catch up and have a good chat, whilst the children ran around freely exploring all the new toys.   The session ended with a story, “We’re All Going On A Bear Hunt” read by the Selections Centre Manager Valerie Wrangles.  We might not go on a bear hunt again, but we may certainly return to the Children’s Centre!

Don’t forget the Children’s Centre will be providing an arrange of fun activities during the summer holidays – to find out more contact call 01992 581 258 or visit www.hertschildrenscentres.org.uk/selections/.

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£1,648.53 was raised on Saturday 8th May at our Family Fun Day. A huge thank you to everyone who helped out – whether you baked a cake, ran a stall or turned up on the day, each and everyone of you made it a success. The cold weather didn’t keep you away, as families kept on arriving throughout the afternoon. There was plenty to do, plenty to buy and plenty to eat!

Sam West, our Fundraising Chairperson said, “Seeing it all come together, the children enjoying themselves and raising lots of money makes all the hard work worth while!”

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