Bratton Fleming Playgroup

logoContact Details

Jo Bradley - Chairperson
Telephone: 01271 850132
Address: C/O Bratton Fleming Community Primary School, Bratton Fleming, Barnstaple, North Devon EX31 4SB
Email: jochair2009bfpg@googlemail.com

About us

Bratton Fleming Playgroup is a small and friendly community playgroup with charity status. It is run by a committee made up of parents of children attending the group and we have been providing a safe and stimulating environment for children to learn through play since 1972.

We currently employ 2 full time members of staff (1 Playleader, 1 Senior Play Assistant) and training is ongoing at all times.

photophotophoto

Our staff are:

  • Playleader: Lynn Gresham (NVQ3 Childcare, NNEB Nursery Nurse)
  • Senior Play Assistant: Julie Cooper (Diploma Pre-School Practice, NVQ3 Childcare)

Our Committee Officers are:

  • Chair: Jo Bradley
  • Vice-Chair: Helen Tompkins
  • Treasurer: Annie Jones
  • Secretary: Gail Ridd-Jones

We are registered with OFSTED and the Devon Early Years Development & Childcare Partnership and provide 5 three hour sessions per week. Our times are:

  • Monday - 9am – 12 noon
  • Tuesday - 9am – 12 noon
  • Wednesday - 9am – 12 noon
  • Thursday - 9am – 12 noon
  • Friday - 9am – 12 noon

photophotophoto

Bratton Fleming Playgroup runs for 3 hours sessions, Monday to Fridays, and each child can access up to a maximum of 38 weeks per year, as required by the Early Years Entitlement Funding Team. Anything over 15 hours a week will be charged for at a rate of £2.50* per hour.

  • Additional sessions that are not covered by funding are £7.50*
  • 3 year olds not yet eligible for funding (funding commences the term following their 3rd birthday) will be charged £6.00* per session

*charges correct from 1st January 2010

Playgroup aims

All children will be encouraged to develop at their own pace with support. We offer a curriculum incorporating the nationally approved learning outcomes and prepare the children to progress with confidence to the National Curriculum at the age of five.

The children will be encouraged to extend their vocabulary and speech fluency by listening through songs and nursery rhymes. They will also be encouraged to develop their writing skills freely and to recognise their own names.

photophotophoto

Within a nurturing environment, the children will be supported in developing confidence, autonomy and self-respect. The Playgroup has a large selection of equipment to encourage group and role play. Thus, through learning activities, they may learn how to express themselves and share and co-operate with other children and adults.

By means of adult supported practical experience, the children will become familiar with sorting, matching, ordering, sequencing and counting activities.

By using various topics, the children will develop an understanding of their environment. They will explore and present events in their own lives and learn to pick out features of the world. We use a range of safe and well maintained equipment to enable the children to extend their technological understanding using simple tools and techniques as appropriate to achieve their intentions and to solve problems.

We will endeavour to help children develop physical control, mobility, awareness of space, and manipulative skills with equipment both indoors and out. The children will also be supported in their fine motor skills using tools including pens, pencils and scissors, etc.

By introducing the children to a variety of materials, they will be encouraged to explore colour, sound, shape, texture, smell, sight and imaginative play. The aim will be to develop each child’s imagination and communication skills and express themselves in a creative way.

*Click here for a link to our Playgroup’s Prospectus* - coming soon

photophotophoto

Pre-School New Build

In May 2009, we obtained Planning Permission for a new purpose-built preschool which will be housed in the grounds of the Community Primary School. A dedicated New Build Committee are working hard on this project and updates are given monthly at Playgroup Committee Meetings where we all work hard alongside each other to develop this new, exciting environment for the children of the village and surrounding areas.

Bratton Fleming Baby & Toddler Group

We run every Wednesday from 9:30am to 11:30am during term time in the room beside Playgroup at Bratton Fleming Village Hall. We have close ties with the Playgroup (being right next door to them) and this helps to foster the children’s transition between the two groups.

We are a group of parents and carers of small people who meet with the aim of providing a safe and friendly environment in which carers and children can socialise and play. There are lots of friendly people to meet and lots to do. We are breast feeding friendly and we have changing mats and child toilet training seats but we do ask for any nappies to be taken home with you for health and safety reasons.

Who can attend?

Anyone who cares for babies and toddlers from birth to 3 years old.

What activities are there?

  • A selection of toys to suit all ages
  • An area for Mums with small babies
  • A craft table for children with artistic inclinations
  • Refreshments for both adults and children
  • Singing
  • Book Corner
  • Special Events: e.g Christmas parties, summer parties, birthday parties, occasional themes, etc

Is there a charge?

For each session there is a charge of £2.50 for Toddlers aged 6 months – 3 years and £1 for babies aged 0- 6 months (50p extra for each additional child/sibling). This covers the running costs and any profit will be put back into the group to pay for new toys/equipment. The first session you and your child/children attend is free.