About Us
The Playgroup Setting & Activities | Committee | Policies & Procedures | OFSTED Outstanding | Staff
The Playgroup Setting
Our modern, purpose-built Playgroup provides excellent indoor and outdoor play facilities for children aged from two and a half years to school age. We are located in a beautiful rural setting, within the grounds of Thriplow Primary School.
What Happens at Ladybird Playgroup?
Each week, we focus on a new topic, chosen to reflect the interests of the children. We have recently enjoyed Welly Week, Elmer the Elephant Week and Numbers and Shapes Week.
The usual weekly activities are interspersed with a range of special events such as local outings, family days for parents etc and visits from interesting people such as the fire service, Dentist, Nurse or a vet, for example.
Playgroup Activities
French Club for pre-school children
We have offered French Club in the past and are investigating the possibility for the future for children in the pre-school year. The sessions are very interactive, with children learning French songs and having great fun whilst learning. Please note, there is a small charge for this activity.
The Wild-Space
The children love the new outdoor space behind Ladybirds, lots of areas to investigate with logs to step on, hills to climb, our mud kitchen and our new shed to house our equipment.
Activities for pre-school year children
To help children in the pre-school year prepare for the transition to school, we introduce PE lessons with Johnny and Max from JH School of Sport and a weekly library book for each child. We do 'stepping up' activities, which include watching school plays in the school hall and having story time in the 'Ants' reception classroom.
Parent Committee
Ladybird Playgroup is run by the management, a voluntary parent Committee and a great team of qualified staff. The Committee is involved in planning and running fundraising events such as the Christmas Party; reviewing/agreeing the Playgroup's policies and procedures and much more besides.
If you would like to join the Committee, please do contact us as we would love to hear from you.
Committee members
Sarah Wells
Meghan Bonner
Kate Noble
Tracey Dervish
Ann Robertson
Caroline Short
Anja Kothari
Sharon McGinty
Michelle Fairweather
Chair Person
Treasurer
Secretary
Committee Member - Policies
Committee Member - Fundraising
Committee Member
Committee Member
Playgroup Leader
Deputy Playgroup Leader
Policies & Procedures
Administering Medicines Policy (March 2020)
Admissions Policy (April 2019)
BabySitting Policy (Jan 2020)
Behaviour & Discipline Policy (Jan 2020)
Breakfast Club Policy (Jan 2020)
Capability Procedure (Nov 2018)
Child Development Policy (May 2019)
Children's Records Policy (Jan 2020)
Complaints Procedure (April 2019)
Confidentiality Policy (March 2020)
Data Protection Policy (Jan 2020)
Equality & Diversity Policy (Sept 2019)
Equipment & Resources Policy (March 2020)
Fee Policy (Jan 2020)
Fire Safety and Emergency Evacuation Policy (March 2019)
Food & Drink Policy (May 2020)
Health & Safety Policy (Jan 2020)
Information Sharing Policy (Jan 2020)
Intimate Care Policy (Jan 2020)
Lost/Missing Child Procedure (July 2020)
Lost Child Procedure - Outings (Sept 2018)
Mobile Phone, Camera & Internet Policy (Jan 2020)
No Smoking Policy (Sept 2019)
Non-Collection of Children Policy (May 2019)
Parental Involvement Policy (May 2019)
Provider Records (March 2020)
Outdoor Policy (March 2020)
Recruitment & Selection Policy (March 2020)
Reserves Policy (Sept 2019)
Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy (Sept 2019)
Settling In & Key Worker Policy (May 2019)
Sickness (Managing Sick Children) (May 2020)
Special Educational Needs & Disability Policy (July 2019)
Staffing & Employment Policy (May 2020)
Student Placement Policy (May 2020)
Supervision of Children on Outings & Visits Policy (May 2019)
Transfer of Records Policy (March 2019)
Whistleblowing Policy (May 2019)
Working in Partnership with other Agencies Policy (March 2020)
Privacy Notices
Parents Privacy Notice (March 2019)
Staff Privacy Notice (March 2019)
Trustees Privacy Notices (March 2019)
Ladybird Playgroup Website Privacy Notice (Jan 2020)
OFSTED rated Good Playgroup and Pre-School - January 2020
We are extremely pleased and proud to say that Ladybird Playgroup was awarded a rating of Good in our January 2020 OFSTED inspection! Download the new report here.
"Staff promote children's learning with their highly effective teaching. They continually help children to develop and explore their own ideas. Staff listen carefully to what children say."
"The extremely well-led team works very effectively together, in order to deliver a high-quality provision for all children."
"Children are eager to get involved. Story time is extremely popular. Staff are expressive and skillfully engage children, who then participate with enthusiasm. Children use the books and props in their own play, recreating the story for themselves."
"Children thrive in the setting."
"Children are very prepared for starting school."
"Children benefit significantly from the opportunities for outdoor learning."
"The Committee has had a very positive impact on the organisation of the group. This has helped everyone to work towards achieving excellence."
"Partnerships with parents are excellent. They contribute to children's learning at home, use the library and frequently share WOW moments."
Meet Our Staff
Sharon McGinty - Lead Practitioner
Sharon has enjoyed working at Ladybird Playgroup for over 20 years. Prior to this she was a Civil Servant.
Qualifications include Level 3 Childcare; Paediatric First Aid; Child Protection; ENCO/SENCO; Food Hygiene, Child Protection and Designated Behaviour Member of Staff.
Michelle Fairweather - Deputy Lead Practitioner
Michelle has previously worked at Sawston Nursery
Qualifications include Level 3 Childcare; Paediatric First Aid; Child Protection; Food Hygiene. Designated Child Protection Member of Staff, ENCO/SENCO 2nd. Michelle is working towards her level 5 in Childcare Qualification
Alice McGinty - Early Years Practitioner
Alice has worked at Ladybirds Playgroup for several years now. Qualifications include Level 2 Childcare, Child Protection Food Hygeine and Paediatric First Aid. Alice also is our Health and Safety Officer. Alice is working towards her Level 3 Childcare Qualification
Georgie Sims - Early Years Practitioner
Georgie has returned to the Early years now that her own children are at school. She is qualified to Level 2, with Emergency Paediatric First Aid, Child Protection, Food Hygeine. Georgie is working towards her Level 3 in Childcare Qualification.
Sarah Williams - Early Years Practitioner
Sarah joined the team in early 2020, having previouly worked in childcare. She is qualified in Paediatric First Aid.
Angela Mulholland - Playgroup Administrator
Angela has previously been been Administrator of the Thriplow Daffodil Weekend Committee after being a Paramedic for over 10 years. Angela also works as a "one to one" with children who have medical needs and has, Emergency Paediatric First Aid, Child Protection and Food Hygeine.
All Ladybirds Staff have also completed their Safeguarding, Prevent, FGM Training and are kept up to date in all areas through regular Staff meetings, 1 to 1’s, Annual apprasals, peer on peer observations and several publications.