Parents' Information
30 Hours Free

We are offering the 30 hours free childcare!
Latest News
Annual Stakeholders Meeting on ZOOM- 15th November
- Thursday 28 October, 2021
Autumn 2021 Newsletter
- Thursday 28 October, 2021
Summer 2021 Newsletter
- Thursday 28 October, 2021
The Session
St John's Nursery Playgroup organises its sessions so that the children can choose from - and work at - a range of activities and in so doing, build up their ability to select and work through a task to its completion. The children are also helped and encouraged to take part in adult-led small and large group activities which introduce them to new experiences and help them to gain new skills, as well as helping them to learn to work with others.During the summer term, our theme is focused on growth and life cycles. In recent years we have raised chicks from eggs in our own incubator. The chicks spend time with us for a few weeks and the children have the opportunity of holding and stroking them before the chicks go to new homes with parents or local residents. We have caterpillar eggs that children witness going through the extraordinary transformation from caterpillars to butterflies, the butterflies are then let out into the big wide world of Potters Bar. Finally we watch the life cycle of frogs that start as frog spawn, turn into tadpoles and finally grow legs, lose their tails and become frogs! It's a fascinating and excellent time for the children to experience some life cycles in our natural worlds.

Snack Time & Lunch Club

Lunch Club follows the morning session starting at 12 noon; the afternoon session children join in at 12.05pm. Lunch club is an important social time when the children and adults eat and chat together. We ask you to follow healthy eating advice and pack a nutritious lunch and to keep the 'treats' for home time.
Clothing

Learning Independence
The playgroup staff encourage children to gain the skills which help them to be independent and to look after themselves. Clothes which are easy for them to manage will help them to achieve their independence particularly during the process of toilet training where they need trousers or tights that are easy to take down and up. If you are in the process of toilet training with your child, we would appreciate pull ups instead of nappies as this helps at toilet time making it more comfortable for the child and facilitates the staff.OUR DAILY ROUTINE
Morning Session 9.00-12.00
Free-flow play:
Rolling snack is offered each morning, children wash their hands and then collect a plate and cup. They are offered either milk or water and a healthy snack option. A member of staff sits with the children and encourages them to learn self help skills such as to pour their own drink, spread butter, cut up fruit and then clear their cup and plate away at the end.
Toilet time: Children are encouraged to use the toilet.
Circle time: Children help the adults to tidy away the toys; they then sit on the carpet, have time to talk about events of the day, then we all get ready for music and story time.
Music/movement session:

Story time: Children are read a story either in a large group or split into two small groups.
Home time: Letters and craft work are placed into the children's pigeon holes, (these are located in the cloakroom, individually named) departing children wait on the carpet until called individually as parent/carer arrives to collect.
Afternoon Session 12.05 - 15.05
Afternoon children arrive, wash hands ready for lunch and sit at group tables with a staff member. Children are expected to sit whilst eating and wait until several of the children have finished before they leave the table and play.Free-flow play: Similar format as morning session, with rolling snack, story and music/movement session.
Registered Charity Number: 1130633