Longford Pre-School Playgroup

Photographer: the photos taken today will be at playgroup in approximately 2 weeksPhotographer: the photos taken today will be at playgroup in approximately 2 weeks

Hello Playgroup Family,
It's Friday again and hard to believe how quickly this term is going! Fortunately we have lots of superheroes to look after us today.
Another busy week has seen the children in the kitchen making soda bread and chick sandwiches - yum!
... A lovely mess has also been made washing muddy pigs and cutting up spaghetti with scissors. Art projects this week have included making scarecrows, handprint turkeys and vegetables.
The lovely Autumn weather has been taken full advantage of by our afternoon children, with trips to the park, feeding the ducks and swans on the canal and a trip to the library. Everyone has been able to use our outside area and we feel lucky to still have the sun to run around in.
Phonics work continues for the Squirrel Group. They are doing a great job, well done all of you.
REMINDER:
Next Friday the photographer will be at playgroup from 9.30am. If your child doesn't attend on Fridays you are welcome to bring them in to have their photo taken. Siblings are also welcome.
That's all for this week, have a relaxing weekend.
Lisa & The Team
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Hello Playgroup Family,
We are having a busy time exploring our theme of the farm. The children are enthusiastically completing projects for the display boards which are already looking very colourful.
The younger children in Hedgehog Group have been taking part in sensory activities including making tracks in chick peas and printing with paint.
... The older children in Squirrel Group have started their phonics work, used cutting skills shearing sheep and milked a cow.
Have a lovely weekend.
Lisa & The Team
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Happy New Term Playgroup Family!!
We hope you all had a lovely summer with lots of adventures and happy memories made.
It was lovely to see so many smiling faces when we reopened on Wednesday and we are excited to be welcoming new friends to playgroup over the next few weeks.
... As always we have plenty going on between now and Christmas. We have hit the ground running this week, sharing news, painting and making pizzas.
Our theme for this half term is the farm. Other exciting things to look out for include our Makaton sign of the week and new Sensory resources that have arrived.
Have a relaxing weekend, see you next week.
Lisa & The Team
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Please share ! 🐞Our opening hours are changing! 🐞
Due to having so many new starters over the past year we have decided to open our doors for longer on more days.
... We will now be open Monday to Friday 9am to 3pm (term time only).
If any current parents wish to change any of their children’s days please let us know as soon as possible please.
And to any prospective new parents we are more than happy for you to pay us a visit and see what we are all about! 🐞
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🐞Well thanks to kind donations and the help of our staff and committee we have transformed our outdoor space! Doesn’t it look fun, the children are going to be so surprised when them return in September! 🐞

New opening times coming September 2018!New opening times coming September 2018!

Graduation Day is always filled with such mixed emotions and this year is no exception. We have said goodbye and good luck to 9 little faces this year - most of them today and a couple earlier in the term.
We wish you lots of luck at your new schools and know you will each be successful as you share your own unique talents with your new friends and teachers.
You each leave a little piece of your hearts here at Longford and you carry a little piece of our hearts with you too. ...Longford is a special family and you will always be part of that.
Enjoy every second of your new exciting adventure.
With love and best wishes
Lisa & The Team
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Hello Playgroup Family,
We are certainly having a busy term and with two weeks of term left to go there's still a lot to fit in.
The hot weather has meant that we've had to be creative to give the children new and exciting activities. We changed our walk to the park in favour of a trip to Tora's house to meet her cat Cosmo and Guinea pig Fluttershy.
... We were lucky enough to have a visitor to playgroup. Eva Allen told the children a story about Peter Rabbit.
Our sponsored penalty shootout went really well. To ensure the children were safe in the sun, it was held first thing in the morning when we have some shade for the spectators in the outside area.
Our butterflies have all emerged and been released this week at the canal conservation area. We had five butterflies altogether and the children found a frog while they were there.
The children in Hedgehog group have been playing with ice today and the children in Squirrel group wrapped yarn around cardboard tulips.
REMINDER - Wednesday is sports day. Meet at playgroup at 1pm and we will walk to the park together. Lisa has already checked out an area that is shaded by trees so that the children will be sheltered from the sun.
The hot weather shows no sign of leaving before the end of term. Please help us keep your children safe in the sun by providing a hat and sun cream. We make use of the outside area only before 11am and only if we feel the sun is not too strong.
Have a relaxing weekend. See you next week Lisa and the Team
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Sun Safety
Please make sure your child has a hat and named sun cream at playgroup. Our outside area gets a lot of sun and even first thing in the morning, the children need protecting.
The darkest skin only has a natural SPF of 15. Damage done by the sun may not always be immediately obvious but can have a long-lasting effect.
... We are taking the children outside for short periods of time only, however if a child does not have a hat and sun cream we reserve the right to keep them inside.
Your child's safety is our priority.
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Just a reminder to all parents and carers we have our AGM tomorrow night at 7.30. Everyone is welcome to attend and you will have a chance to join the committee that helps to run playgroup. We are a charity and are always looking for ways to raise money so come along and see what we are all about !

Dear Playgroup Family,
Can you believe we have reached Half Term already?!
The children have had a busy time since Easter, exploring the theme of growing. Our next theme follows on as we look at Summer. So as we talk of holidays, the seaside and changes to our environment around us, let's hope the weather joins in 😎
... I am happy to say everything has gone smoothly while Lisa has been away on holiday. I hope you are all satisfied that even in her absence the rest of the team have maintained the high standards of care that you expect for your children.
As you know Ofsted were here on Wednesday. The report will take around three weeks and after it has been finalised we will be able to tell you our final grade. A special thank you to Committee member & parent Dani Thomas for her invaluable help this week.
We are closed next week for Half Term which is followed by a PD a Day. We will reopen on Tuesday 5th June at 9.15am.
Have a relaxing week.
Tora & The Team
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Important Information
Ofsted have contacted us to let us know they will be inspecting playgroup tomorrow. As part of the process the inspector may ask parents/carers for their views. If your child isn't at playgroup tomorrow and you have any comments you'd like us to pass on for you, please let us know.
Thank you

The royal wedding - Longford style!!

Exciting Announcement:
The grand total raised by Tora's Chocolate Challenge last term is...
£128!!!
... This is amazing and we can't thank you enough for your support. Tora is busy researching resources to ensure that every penny is spent wisely and that the money goes as far as possible.
You will be unsurprised to hear that Tora ate lots of chocolate over Easter!!!
We are looking forward to having new resources for the children to explore very soon 😃
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Newport Friends...please help!

FUNDRAISING THAT WON'T COST YOU ANYTHING!!!
We've just found out that we have a fundraising collection bin at Waitrose this month. If you are in there doing your shopping please put some green tokens in our bin and tell anyone else you know too.
We have spotted something very exciting to go in our outdoor area and we can only afford it if we raise enough money. It's something the children will love and get lots of use from now and for many years to come.
... As always, your support is very much appreciated.
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My daughter went to Longford from the age of 2 yrs until she went to school. As an only child she thrived on the opportunity to play with other children her age, make friendships and learn how to negotiate. The attention she received from the staff benefitted her greatly and gave her a passion for education.



Now I am lucky enough to work at Longford and I love my job. Every day is different and seeing how the children progress is extremely rewarding. It truly is a privilege working with the children and their families.

My daughter went to Longford from the age of 2 yrs until she went to school. As an only child she thrived on the opportunity to play with other children her age, make friendships and learn how to negotiate. The attention she received from the staff benefitted her greatly and gave her a passion for education.



Now I am lucky enough to work at Longford and I love my job. Every day is different and seeing how the children progress is extremely rewarding. It truly is a privilege working with the children and their families.