Sessions
Opening Hours
At Woodchester Playgroup we take children from 2 years & 9 months to school age. We are open during term time only and mirror the term dates and inset days of Woodchester Endowed School. Term dates are available below, here are our daily opening hours:
Monday: 9.00am to 3.00pm
Tuesday: 9.00am to 3.00pm
Wednesday: 9.00am to 3.00pm
Thursday: 9.00am to 3.00pm
Friday: 9.00am to 3.00pm
If you are interested in finding out more about our setting and would like to arrange a visit please contact us for more information, click here to see our contact details.
Fees
Woodchester Playgroup charges an hourly rate of £5.00. Children can opt to stay mornings only (9.00am-12pm) or enjoy a full day, finishing at 3.00pm. There is always flexibility with new starters.
If you wish to change your child's booked sessions please speak to the Playgroup Leader. The more notice given the more chance you have of the session being available.
Fees are payable on a half termly basis (about 6 weeks) and each school year consists of 6 half terms. Parents are notified of the required fees towards the end of the half term and are payable in advance before the start of the next term. The invoices must be settled before the due date please. Please note fees are payable whether your child attends or not, through illness or holiday.
Meals & Snacks
Children are offered a snack mid morning and afternoon. Snacks will promote healthy eating such as fruit breadsticks, carrot sticks and crackers. We offer a drink of milk at this time, and water will be available throughout the day. Children staying past midday will need to bring in a packed lunch.
Drop Off & Pick Up Arrangements
Drop off: Please come through the FRONT PLAYGROUND, through the side gate (by the scooter park) along the side of the school field and wait socially distanced in the back playground. Staff will come out to the playground and ring the bells; the children will line up and we will all enter playgroup building together. We politely ask that once your child has lined up safely and as specified in government guidance, please do not gather and hang around, please ensure you leave the playground promptly so we can lock the gate as quickly as possible.
Pick up: Please come through the FRONT PLAYGROUND and wait socially distanced near the scooter park/end of the playground. We we will bring the children to the side gate. Please ensure you leave the playground promptly (unless collecting a school child) as the school children will be coming out just after 3. It is extremely important that you are prompt with drop off and collection as these times are co-ordinated with the school’s arrangements.
Please telephone us before 8.50am if your child is going to be absent from their session. You MUST be on time rather than early or late It is extremely important that you are prompt with drop off and collection as these times are co-ordinated with the school’s arrangements. Only ONE adult to accompany each child for drop off and collection. We politely ask that ALL parents adhere to social distancing measures while dropping off and collecting their child. We also respectfully ask that in order for this process to happen safely and effectively it is a case of drop off and go without full on conversations. If on the rare occasion you are late, you will need to park up, telephone playgroup and a member of staff will meet your child at the allocated entrance ONLY if it is safe for us to do so. YOU MAY ONLY ENTER THE SCHOOL SITE/PLAYGROUND AT DROP OFF (9.00) Please do not enter at any other times unless arrangements have been made.
Accreditation
We are in receipt of the Early Years Free Entitlement funding for three and four year olds. Children become eligible for Early Years Free Entitlement the term after their third birthday and this provides them with 15 or 30 free hours a week childcare (amount depends on parents circumstances). Should your child attend more than their eligible hours a week you will be invoiced for the shortfall.
We are also registered to accept Busy Bees, Computershare and other types of employer supported childcare vouchers - please speak to the Playgroup Leader for more details.
Daily Routine
9.00am: Children choose their own learning and free play. 10.15am: “Tidy up time”
10.30am: “Talk about time”
10.45am: Snack time
11.00am: Outside Play
11.40am: Circle time, story, rhymes and songs.
12.00pm: End of morning session and Lunchtime.
12.45pm: Children choose their own learning and free play.
2.30pm: Afternoon drink and snack. Storytime.
3.00pm: Home time.
Ofsted & PATA Gloucestershire
We are registered with and inspected by Ofsted, and again received a rating of 'Good' following our last inspection in March 2023.
We are also registered with PATA who provide us with training and guidance in educational matters.
Getting to Woodchester Playgroup
Unofficial one-way system: To ensure the safety of all, school have an unofficial one-way system for the school/playgroup drop off/pick up. Please approach Church Road from the top by The Royal Oak and follow the road around past the church. Alternatively, park further away and walk part of the way.
No stopping or parking on the zigzags.