St John’s Nursery Playgroup forms part of the Early Years Foundation Stage. We admit children from 2 years to 5 years (or when the child starts state nursery or school). At St John’s we are very aware that the years before a child goes to school can never be recaptured; this is the time when so much is discovered and absorbed. Children of this age rapidly progress from being very dependent on their main carer (normally the parents) to being able to cope with parting from their primary carer, to becoming more independent in their self-help skills. St John’s believes children of this age learn best through play, with the guidance of supporting, caring and professional staff. Children develop their co-ordination, stretch their imagination, explore the world around them and learn to interact with others. We aim to provide a secure, happy and stimulating environment in which the needs of each individual child can be met, as far as possible. As a member of St John’s Nursery Playgroup, your child: is in a safe and stimulating environment; is helped to feel a valued member of the playgroup; is given generous care and attention, because of our high ratio of adults to children; has the chance to join with other children and adults to develop their social skills and to live, play, work and learn together as a group; is provided with opportunities to learn through play, building on previous experiences, knowledge and interests; is helped to take forward their learning and development by being helped to build on what she/he already knows and can do and to help them value learning; has an allocated key worker who makes sure your child makes satisfying progress; is in a playgroup which sees you as a partner in helping your child to learn and develop; and is in a playgroup in which parents help to shape the service it offers. Our playgroup works with the following minimum ratios:        For 2 – 3 year old children the adult ratio is 4:1        For 3 – 5 year old children the adult ratio is 8:1 We aim to: provide high quality care and education, through play experiences, for children primarily below statutory school age; work in partnership with parents to help children to learn and develop; add to the life and well-being of the local community; and offer children and their parents a service which promotes equality and values diversity. For fuller details about the services we offer, please look at our [ Parents' Information ] section.