CHERITON BISHOP PLAYGROUP - Let the train take the strain!
Cheriton Bishop Playgroup is constantly on the go this term as the children explore this term's theme of Transport. For their annual visit to Exeter Library and Museum the children will be taking the train from Yeoford Station to Exeter Central. This outing always generates huge excitement and the train ride is the icing on the cake, and naturally we create a great impression on the Tarka Line as we swarm onto the train and practically double the passenger numbers. The children also took part in a traffic survey, which involved a very happy half hour watching and counting the cars and lorries from the bridge over the A30. The delight given by drivers honking and waving in response was infectious! The transport theme is also incorporated in the daily activities at playgroup and a number of cunningly fashioned vehicles, including rockets, have been proudly borne home.
Earlier in the term our other theme of People Who Help Us has given ample opportunity for the children to gain some insight into the community around them. Playgroup leader Christine Grist and assistant Alison Strong took the children to visit the Cheriton Bishop Surgery, where Dr Clunie revealed a hitherto unsuspected proficiency with an improvised water pistol and thereby guaranteed himself a devoted future client base. The children have created a series of handprints, which you can see decorating the surgery - they are always very proud to see their work on display. On another occasion the children visited the village Post Office where they each bought a stamp from Mrs Retter and posted letters to themselves and were shown the workings of the sorting office. And on one glorious day at playgroup, great joy was caused by the loan by Dave Ley, police officer father of playgroup twins Libby and Levi, of a box of real police hats from all over the world
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A few changes have been made at playgroup recently: for the first time we can offer a full day for the children. As well as Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings at the Village Hall they can now attend playgroup for the whole day at the school from 9.00am to 3.20pm and this is proving a great success.
We have also been spending our hard-earned money - thanks to various fund-raising efforts throughout the year, playgroup are now the proud owners of a new computer with which the children (and parents!) can hone their IT skills. On a fundraising note, we would like to help you with your shopping while you help us to raise money: if you shop online through this website - www.buy.at/cbplaygroup - you will not be charged any more than usual but we will receive a small commission. Please give it a try, there are over 80 retailers available including John Lewis, Amazon and M & S.
As the summer term draws to a close we will be bidding a fond farewell to the children who will be starting school in September, a big step which has been made so much easier for them by our close links with our school. So goodbye and good luck to Alfred Amiss, William Barclay, Bryce Jackson, Anna O'Farrell, Zac Taylor, Harry Tremlett and Bethany Waylett. But before the sad farewells we have our summer outing to look forward to in July - each year this is a highlight of the summer term and greatly enjoyed by children and parents alike. Last summer we went to the zoo and naturally spent a disproportionate amount of time on the little train as well as admiring the elephants. This year it may well be a trip to Bicton Park where as well as magnificent gardens and fantastic play areas there is also - a little train.
The summer holidays are here at last, and all of playgroup is in need of a well-earned rest after such a busy term. We have put together a little round up of what we got up to in July.
Continuing our theme of people who help us, we had a visit from PC Carnell who very kindly showed the children all of his police paraphernalia. Although he patiently explained all of the different ways in which a police officer could help us all the children could talk about was catching robbers! The highlight was when he showed the children his police car, letting them sit inside, flashing all the lights, even the deafening siren was blasted (apologies to anyone in the vicinity who suffered a shock as a result). A big thankyou to PC Carnell, from all of playgroup, for coming to see us.
As mentioned last month it was time for many of our children to finish playgroup in readiness for beginning school in the autumn. Below is a picture of the leavers ceremony where the children received their certificates and special handprints (leavers are in the back row), many of us cried despite our best efforts not to!
Our last picture is taken at Bicton Park where we went for our end of term trip. You can see our playgroup leader Christine ensuring that no one took an unplanned dip in Bicton's magnificent pond. All of the children (and grown ups) had a wonderful day. The children were a blur as they explored every inch of the park, tried all of the adventure playgrounds and picnicked in the glorious sunshine. All in all, it was a perfect end of term.
For anyone who does not know us - the pre-school is located in the Village Hall from Monday to Wednesday 9.30am to 12pm. On Thursday's we are based at Cheriton Bishop School Hall 9am to 3.20pm. We take children from 21/2 and are open during term time only. We have child places available, phone our playleader Christine Grist for details on: 01647 281205 or 07977 777318. Alternatively email using the enquiry link on our website.
