Pre School - Playgroups

• Home
• Education and Learning
• Early Years and Childcare
• Childcare Information
• Pre School - Playgroups

• Pre schools and playgroups provide sessions where children can play, socialise and take part in fun educational activities.
• They will be registered with OFSTED and inspected every year for providing childcare if they run for longer than 2 hours. Most children start at two and a half years old, but some pre-schools and playgroups are registered to accept younger children and care for them up to 5 years of age.
• As part of their childcare registration all groups must demonstrate that they meet educational and developmental needs but only some have an additional inspection to provide Early Education
• Those Pre school - Playgroups that are registered by Ofsted to provide Early Education and are part of Kingston's "Directory of Providers" can offer, part-time Funded Early Education places for children from the term following their 3rd birthday.
• Most pre-school and playgroups offer sessions that last 2 ½ to 3 hours but some offer longer sessions of "wraparound" childcare which can extend a playgroup session to 3 ½ or 4 hours offering parents the opportunity to work or study.
• They usually offer sessions morning or afternoons Monday to Friday term time only.
• Children can attend from one to five sessions a week
• Playgroups are run by a team of staff and activities are planned to help children enjoy learning.
• You can ask for a copy of the admissions policy. This will tell you the arrangements for giving places to children in the pre-school or playgroup.

What sort of pre school - playgroups are there in Kingston?

As with all childcare providers look around for one that suits your child and you.

• Pre schools and playgroups are open to applications from all parents and generally will put your child's name on their waiting list when your child is from 12 to 18 months old.
• Pre schools and playgroups can be registered to take children from 2 years, 2 years 6 months or 3 years up to the age of 5 years.

Registered with Ofsted?

• If they run for 2 hours or more a day they must be registered with Ofsted to provide childcare
• This means checks are carried out to make sure the staff are suitable to look after children, at least half of the staff in a pre school – playgroup must be trained.
• A check on the playgroup - pre-school premises is carried out to make sure the building and any outside play area is safe and suitable for children.
• After the pre school - playgroup is registered, every year an inspection is carried out to make sure they continue to provide a safe and suitable service.
• Ofsted will specify on the groups certificate of registration the number and the ages of children that they can care for. They will also set a number of staff to work with the children, there may be up to 26 children, aged two and a half to five, in a room. There must be one adult for every eight children. If parent volunteers regularly help, there will be more adults to give attention to the children.
• You should ask to see the groups registration certificate and the latest annual inspection report.
• If they are also registered by OFSTED to provide Early Education they will have combined Childcare and Early Education Inspection.

Ofsted also has responsibility to investigate any complaint against a registered nursery and then to enforce any actions or decisions that are taken in light of that complaint.

How much does a Pre school – Playgroup cost?

• It is best to speak directly to the group for costs and to remember some groups have much longer session but in Kingston the costs can range from £4 to £10 daily.
• If your Pre school - Playgroup is also registered by Ofsted to provide Early Education and is part of Kingston's "Directory of Providers" they can offer Funded Early Education places for children from the term following their 3rd birthday.You may be able to get financial help to meet your childcare costs through the Working Tax Credit and New Deal for Lone Parents or through a scheme run through your employer such as Childcare Vouchers

When should you start looking for Pre school -Playgroup?

• You will need to put your child on the pre school, playgroups waiting list. Most groups will accept children onto their waiting list between the ages of 12 to 18 months but they cannot attend until they are the age the group is registered to care for.
• The youngest children, when they first start may only be offered two or three sessions a week

Questions to ask when choosing a Pre school - Playgroup

You know your child best, so look for a pre school, playgroup you feel will suit your child's needs.

You will have things that are very important to you so prepare your own questions in advance. Do ask about anything that worries or concerns you. Good childcare staff expect you to ask questions and will be happy to answer them.

Apart from the practical questions of opening times, length of sessions, the number of sessions your child could be offered, other things you may like to ask are:-

• Has the group achieved any quality awards?
• How many staff are qualified and to what level?
• Can I look around the building to see the rooms and outside play space? If there is no outside play space - how will you make sure my child gets the chance to play outside?
• What food and drink do you give?
• What sort of activities will my child do during their sessions?
• How do you encourage good behaviour?
• Will my child be able to have a free Funded Early Education place at your group when they are 3 or 4 years old ?
• How will you make sure I know how my child is getting on?
• What involvement do you encourage from parents? A volunteer parent rota?, Committee membership? Fundraising? Etc
• If there are other things you want to know, do not be afraid to ask, good childcare staff expect you to ask questions and will be happy to answer them.
  

Further Information

Further information on the registration and inspection of childcare can be obtained from OFSTED's helpline 0845 601 4771 and OFSTED's website www.ofsted.gov.uk

 

We recommend that Ofsted inspection reports are viewed before choosing a childcare provider.  These can be downloaded from the Ofsted website or contact the FIS to make arrangements to read the latest report.  All childcare providers should have copies of their latest inspection report available to view at the premises.

Things to look for when choosing a Pre school - Playgroup

You know your child best, so look for a Pre school - Playgroup you feel will suit your child's needs.

• Are the children calm, safe and happy?
• Do children play and talk together?
• Are the staff listening to children and answering them carefully?
• Are the staff friendly and proud of their work?Are the staff joining in with what the children are doing?
• Are there lots of fun activities planned to help children learn and play?
• Are there plenty of clean toys and equipment for children to use?
• Is the premises clean, well-kept and safe for children with a fun outside play area (or will children go to parks and other places regularly)?
• Are parents encouraged to say what they want for their children?

How do I find a Pre school - Playgroup?

For a full list of Pre school - Playgroups in the Royal Borough of Kingston contact:-

Kingston Families Information Service (FIS)
132 Kingston Road
New Malden
KT3 3ND

Telephone:  020 8547 6582
Fax:  020 8547 6667

Email:  fis@rbk.kingston.gov.uk

Visit:  Open between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday