Philosophy & values

Chequers Playgroup is a registered charity managed by a committee of parents run for children in Hempnall and the surrounding area.

It is Ofsted regulated and works in close connection with Norfolk County Council Early Years Team. See details of our last Ofsted report.

Age & numbers of children

The Playgroup is registered for a maximum of 26 children per session in the main village hall (maximum of 14 children aged from 2 years – 3 years in any one session). On a Wednesday we are registered for a maximum of 22 children as we run the session in a smaller room.

The Wednesday session is for those due to start school in the following September (called ‘Rising 5’s’). Our Playgroup offers education and care for children below school age and over the age of 2 years. We accept the funding scheme offered by the Government for children who are aged between 3 – 5 years.

Our aims

Our Aims are:

• To be the best Playgroup we can – a place that is safe, positive and happy where children can thrive
• To pay careful attention to each individual in order to provide the necessary resources for them to develop their skills
• To encourage each child’s potential to be independent, take responsibility and make their own decisions
• To provide examples of positive, successful and constructive adult behaviour
• To encourage learning through curiosity, questions, exploration and play
• To maintain, enhance and stimulate a child’s curiosity
• To enable parents to be a vital part of the Chequers community – to be partners in a shared task
• To create an environment where each child can feel they are valued and their abilities and potential treasured

What we offer

We work within the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum.  You can find out more about this here: http://nationalstrategies.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/earlyyears

Your child’s experience at Chequers

We want children to feel safe and happy in the absence of their parent/carers, to recognise other adults as a source of authority, help and friendship and to be able to share with their parent/carers afterwards the new learning experiences enjoyed in the Playgroup.

We believe that a child’s early experiences should be of high quality and suited to their own individual needs and interests. We encourage learning through play, which is our main philosophy, in a caring and happy environment in which children can make friends and feel secure with those around them.

With a wide range of resources the children are provided with plenty of opportunities to explore and experiment in their learning and, in turn, develop socially, emotionally, physically, intellectually and creatively.