Welcome to our playgroup

A World Beyond Home

Here at St Thomas' Playgroup we ensure all children feel valued and respected, receiving the high quality, challenging learning opportunities which build on the children's interests and capabilitities.

St Thomas’s offers a unique combination of parental input and high quality active learning experiences, and aims to provide local children aged two to five years with a safe, stimulating environment in which they can explore the world beyond home.
It provides a friendly meeting place where children can become more independent, through a variety of well planned activities on a day to day basis.

St Thomas’s is influenced by the child-led ideas of Reggio Emilia, to ensure that children lead their own learning, which we feel should relate to their interests and be relevant to their lives. Parental involvement with the group ensures the communication necessary for the best strategies to be chosen for each child. Our outdoor space and garden have endless opportunities for learning, based on all six areas of Early Years development, encouraging exploration, the development of physical skills and an understanding of the natural world.
 Here at St Thomas' we strive to understand the meaning and value of play and the role play has in contributing to effective teaching and learning. We provide evidence of learning through play through our daily obsevations and assessments focusing on the six areas of learning.
According to the Department for Education and Skills, children attending nursery schools achieve better educational outcomes. Those whose parents play an active part in their learning also attain higher, both intellectually and socially.