Welcome to Godinton Playschool
All About Us
Established for over 25 years, we are a friendly and welcoming Playschool run by dedicated staff who are constantly striving to provide our children with the highest possible standard of
preschool provision.
At Godinton Playschool, we are dedicated to creating a nurturing, stimulating and welcoming environment for all children, while always keeping the child’s best interest in mind and allowing for hands-on, experiential learning.
The hall is divided into individual sections to encourage the children's development within the seven areas of learning. Being a pack-away setting, we are constantly reviewing the learning environment that we are providing and ensuring that the equipment and resources are varied and suitably challenging.
The Playschool has its own large secure outdoor play area behind the hall, to allow outdoor play everyday. The children take part in many activities including arts and craft, messy play, science experiments and song time to name a few.
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Characteristics of Effective Learning (CoEL)
"The ways in which the child engages with other people and their environment - playing and exploring, active learning and creating and thinking critically - underpin learning and development across all areas and support the child to remain an effective an motivated learner."
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- Development Matters in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
Children learn in different ways depending on their individual stage of development.
We incorporate this in our activity planning and how we organise our learning environment, we use our observations of the children to assess their development, allowing us to provide guidance and support where required and to set learning goals to strengthen the skills needed to build a foundation for their overall learning and development.
The Seven Areas of Learning
We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Guidelines, which sets standards to support each child’s learning, development and care. We believe that children settle and develop best when they have a key person to care for them. The key persons role is to ensure that the child for whom they have special responsibility feels individual, cherished and thought about by someone in particular whilst they are away from home. We pride ourselves on the relationships we have with our children’s parents/carers, working in partnership to enable the children to develop to their full potential.
Personal, Social & Emotional Development
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Making Relationships
Self Confidence & Self Awareness
Managing Feelings & Behaviour
Physical Development
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Moving & Handling
Health & Self Care
Communication & Language
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Listening & Attention
Understanding and Speaking
Literacy Development
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Reading & Writing
Mathematics
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Numbers
Shape, Space & Measure
Expressive Art & Design
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Exploring & Using Media & Materials
Being Imaginative
Understanding The World
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People & Communities
The World
Technology
What we get up to
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09:00 - 09:15 Doors Open.
Registration. Children put their bags and coats on their pegs, find their name badge on the board and post it in the letterbox.
Free play indoors whilst other children arrive and settle. Doors close at 09:15.
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09:15 - 09:30 Good Morning Circle Time.
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All children are encouraged to sit together to say Good Morning, we talk about which day it is, which month and season we are in and what the weather is doing outside.
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We also have a look at the activities/resources we have set up that day.
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09:30 - 10:00 Snack Time.
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Snack is provided for all children, they come to the snack table in groups of six, we encourage children to get their own plate and cup, help themselves to snack (buttering their own crackers etc) & clearing away their plate and cup.
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Free play indoors and in the garden.
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10:00 - 11:30 Free Play.
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Children to explore different areas of learning indoors and in the garden.
Observations and adult led activities within this time.
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11:30 - 11:40 Tidy Up Time
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Children are encouraged to work together to help tidy away the resources ready for lunch.
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Staff to set up lunch tables.
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11:40 - 12:00 Group Circle Time.
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Group circle games (Developing turn taking and listening to instructions.)
Story time and songs.
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Children staying for lunch to wash their hands, collect their lunchboxes and find a seat at a table.
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Doors open for parents/carers to collect the children attending the morning session only.
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Morning Session Ends
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12:00 - 12:30 Afternoon Session Registration.
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Lunchtime.
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12:30 - 13:20 Free Play.
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Children to explore different areas of learning indoors and in the garden.
Observations and adult led activities within this time.
13:20 - 13:30 Tidy Up Time
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Children are encouraged to work together to help tidy away the resources.
13:30 - 14:00 Group Circle Time.
Group circle games (Developing turn taking and listening to instructions.)
Story time and songs.
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Doors open for parents/carers to collect their children.
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Afternoon Session Ends.
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Our Team
Clare
Manager
Designated Safeguarding Lead
BAhons Degree in Early Years Level 6
ADCE Level 4
NAMCW Level 3
Corrinna
Deputy Manager
Designated Safeguarding Officer
Early Years Practitioner
Level 3 Diploma in Preschool Practice
Hayley
Assistant Deputy
Designated Safeguarding Officer
SENCO & Early Years Practitioner
CACHE Level 3 EYE Diploma
CACHE Level 2 CYPW
Julie
Health & Safety Officer
Designated Safeguarding Officer
Early Years Practitioner
Level 3 Diploma in Preschool Practice
Abigail
Early Years Practitioner
CACHE Level 2 CYPW
Kendall
SENCO
Early Years Practitioner
Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People’s Work Force
Heather
Early Years Practitioner
CACHE Diploma LEVEL 3 Childcare & Education
Claire
Committee Chairperson
Jess
Treasurer
Our Testimonials
My son joined Godinton Playschool 3 months before he turned 3. He was slightly behind with his speech & I had my concerns but since attending playschool he has come on leaps & bounds & is now at the level he should be. The ladies are fantastic with all the children & even the parents. Everyone feels welcome. My son would run in happily & would come out smiling every day. All the staff go to so much effort with the activities making them engaging, fun and educational. I would wholeheartedly recommend Godinton Playschool to anyone. I can’t thank you ladies for all you’ve done for him. We will miss you all so much!
I have sent both of my girls to Godinton Playschool and I could not recommend it any more highly. The staff here are really what makes it a fantastic place for the kids, who come home full of smiles and funny stories.Â
My daughter absolutely loves all of the staff here, who are all dedicated to providing a safe and fun environment for the children, they are also passionate about their jobs, you can tell they genuinely care. The hall is full of fun things to do and they make an effort to do a wide range of activities which are going to engage brains, bodies and hearts!
I am actually a bit sad that I don't have any more children to send here now!
Mrs. Hall
Mrs. Gilhooly
Both of my children have attended Godinton Playschool over the past 5 years and it has been a great experience. The staff are amazing, kind, caring and put the children's needs first.
Our second child needed help adjusting to going to Playschool and the team were brilliant, from her key worker up to management. They were very reassuring and set an action plan to support her.Â
Our time at Godinton Playschool is slowly coming to an end and I will genuinely miss the team.
Our daughter has absolutely loved her time at Godinton Playschool. Since attending, she has gained confidence and independence and we always felt she had the best of care from all the staff. They were always approachable and helpful and nothing was ever a bother! The children's activities were varied and fun; providing the best start to education for our daughter. She felt happy and safe there. As parents, we were so pleased we chose it and we would recommend it to everyone.
Ms. Pile
Mrs. Morris
Opening Hours
Monday 09:00-14:00
Tuesday 09:00-14:00
Wednesday 09:00-14:00
Thursday 09:00-14:00
Friday 09:00-14:00
(Morning sessions are available 09:00 - 12:00)
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Snack & Lunches.
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We provide all children with snack mid-morning, the options vary daily and will consist of a range of fruit and vegetables, yoghurts, breadsticks and crackers etc with the option of milk or water.
If your child is attending for a full session, please provide them with a packed lunch and drink, we promote healthy food and drink choices in lunchboxes and we are a nut free environment.
Term Dates
2020 - 2021
We are a term time only setting and follow the KCC Calendar to ensure that all children who are in receipt of their funding receive their allocated hours.
Our calendar may differ from local schools.
Term 1
Monday 7th September 2020
to Friday 23rd October 2020
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Autumn Half Term
Monday 26th October 2020
to Friday 30th October 2020
Term 2
Monday 2nd November 2020
to Friday 18th December 2020
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Christmas Holidays
Monday 21st December 2020
to Friday 1st January 2021
Term 3
Monday 4th January 2021
to Friday 12th February 2021
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Spring Half Term
Monday 15th February 2021
to Friday 19th February 2021
Term 4
Monday 22nd February 2021
to Friday 26th March 2021
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Easter Holidays
Monday 29th March 2021
to Wednesday 14th April 2021
Term 5
Thursday 15th April 2021
to Friday 28th May 2021
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Half Term
Monday 31st May 2021
to Friday 4th June 2021
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Bank Holiday
Monday 3rd May 2021
Monday 31st May 2021
Term 6
Monday 7th June 2021
to Wednesday 21st July 2021
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Summer Holidays
Friday 23rd July 2021
to Tuesday 31st August 2021
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Thursday 22nd July 2021
Replacement Session for
Monday 3rd May 2021
(Funded children only.)
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Contact Us
Interested in learning more about Godinton Playschool? Please feel free to get in touch and a member of our team will get back to you as soon as possible.
Godinton Village Hall, Loudon Way, Ashford TN23 3JJ, United Kingdom
07982 829678
