Frequently Asked Questions
Who Runs the Group?
Wellow Under Fives playgroup is a registered charity run by a committee made up from parents of children attending the group, all of which are volunteers.
The committee consists of the following:
- Chairperson - Karen Douch
- Vice Chairperson - Rowena Moore
- Treasurer - Kate and Mark Hunt
- Secretary - Alison Bennett
- Bookings Clerk - Julie Gilson
- Wages Clerk - Suzanne Lay
- Parent Help Organiser - Jo Gillett
- Newsletter and Fundraising Secretary - Rowena Moore
- Wellow Village Hall Representative - Fiona Hoggarth
- Jelly Tots Representative - Fiona Hoggarth
Committee meetings are held on the first Monday of each month, the Annual General Meeting (AGM) is held in October. All parents are expected to attend. It is illegal for playgroup to operate without a committee.
The group is registered with Ofsted to receive children aged between 2 years 6 months and 5 years and the maximum number per session is 24.
The playgroup employs 5 permanent part-time members of trained staff. Fees are payable per term in advance at the start of each new term. Refunds are not given, but days can be made up depending on availability. This must be pre-arranged with the supervisor.
Can I get Funding for Pre-school?
Every three and four year old in England is entitled to a minimum of 12.5 hours of free early learning per week, in nurseries, playgroups, preschools or at their childminders for 38 weeks of the year.
This will rise to 15 hours a week from 2010, delivered flexibly over a minimum of three days.
The table below shows when your child will become eligible for their free early learning place.
| If your child is born between: | They are eligible for a free place from: |
| 1 April and 31 August | 1 September following their third birthday until statutory school age |
| 1 September and 31 December | 1 January following their third birthday until statutory school age |
| 1 January and 31 March | 1 April following their third birthday until statutory school age |
Is there a toddler/baby Group?
Yes. The Wellow Jelly Tots operate on Monday mornings. See the Jelly Tots page for more information.
Do you have parent helpers?
At each session we must have one parent in attendance to help with the children, you will be given a list of your rota duties as soon as possible. If you are unable to do the date/s that are given to you it is possible to swap them with another parent.
What should I bear in mind when my child starts Pre-school?
Children are discouraged from running indoors, this is to avoid accidents due to limited floor space because of the many activities on offer. Look out for our rainbow rules on display.
We dissuade children from wearing the dressing up clothes on the climbing frame, this again is to avoid accidents, as the clothes tend to be ill-fitting (it's easy to catch a foot in a hem).
We encourage children to help with the tidying away of the toys, but discourage them from helping with the removal and stacking of furniture.
We ask the children for their help should they spill or drop something, mopping up spilled water or brushing up dropped sand can be fun.
We discourage children from bringing a favourite toy from home - this can cause problems in three ways. Firstly - if your child goes home without their toy, this can cause great upset for your child and you. Secondly - if a toy is cleaned away with playgroup equipment, it can prove impossible to locate straight away, it will come to light again but who knows when? Thirdly - if another child takes a liking to your child's favourite toy.
We offer a drink of either water or milk plus a snack mid-morning break time.