Category: Wenvoe Playgroup

Wenvoe Playgroup CIO Update

WENVOE PLAYGROUP CIO UPDATE

It has been sometime since we last wrote in the What’s On, which was mainly due to the constant changes and paperwork throughout the pandemic. We hope that moving forward we will be able to operate a little more ‘normal’ moving into the Summer months. To see what we have been doing, please view our gallery on our website www.wenvoeplaygroup.co.uk

The paper work that Covid-19 brought with it was tremendous, especially trying to keep everyone updated due to social distancing. How we have missed chatting alongside the Parents and Carers this last year.

Of course with the heavy paper load, came the need for storage space. We would like to thank Simon of Office Visions Ltd in Pentwyn for the fabulous filing cabinet that was donated and delivered to our door. One moan to Chris Evans and he was on the phone to Office Visions. Thank you both so much for your support.

As many of you know, the Playgroup has operated for over 50 years as a Charity, relying upon the support of the community for its success. There are many people behind the scenes supporting the group which is going from strength to strength and we thank you all for your tremendous hard work and dedication. From sprucing up the garden, to managing the web-site, fundraising and supporting the Management Team to operate as a Registered Charity. We couldn’t do it without you.

We are now fully booked for the Summer, with over 40 children on our registers. We have high waiting lists for September 2021 which we will be dealing with as you read this and a waiting list has been started for children up to September 2022.

We take payments via the Welsh Government Tax Free Childcare scheme and of course we are signed up to The Welsh Government’s scheme for both The Vale of Glamorgan and Cardiff

’30 Hour FREE Childcare Offer’. If you would like more information on the 30 Hour Free childcare offer then please email us at wenvoeplaygroup@ btinternet.com

We offer:- Breakfast club for reception and year 1 children who attend Gwenfo School age 4 – 6 years: 8am until 8:50am: £5 per day

We mainly care for pre-school children under 5 offering; Breakfast from 8am daily for £5 a day and on into Playgroup or across to Gwenfo Nursery for 9am

From 9am until 11:45am £13.50

Until 12:45pm and/or onto Gwenfo Nursery for 1pm £18.00

We pick up daily from Gwenfo Nursery at 11:20am and care for the children until 12:45pm, known as lunch club for that extra few hours @ £8 per day

Wednesday and Thursday we pick up at 11:20am until 15:15pm – cost £18 per day.

For those parents who are eligible for the 30 Hour FREE childcare offer (the term after their Child’s 3rd birthday) then up to 4 days per week could be free paying a small fee for the fifth day.

If you would like more information then please email Sandra on the group email wenvoeplaygroup @btinternet.com who can send further information.

You may find it useful to visit our website www.wenvoeplaygroup.co.uk and view our Statement of Purpose and Admissions Policy. There are numerous policies and procedures for your information on our website.

We hope to plan a socially distanced open day in June or July, so watch this space and hopefully we will see you all soon.

 

 

Wenvoe Playgroup CIO

WENVOE PLAYGROUP CIO

Wenvoe Playgroup are a Registered Charity, who operate from the Village Hall as Daycare from Monday to Friday 8am until 1pm daily. We offer wrap around to Gwenfo Nursery 5 mornings per week and offer pick up from the Nursery 11:20am until 12:45pm 3 days per week, with Wednesday and Thursday until 3:15pm. We are full for afternoon places at this time.

We started the Autumn term on 7th September 2020, with our afternoons starting from 7th October. We would like to thank everyone for their continued support in ensuring we can operate safely.

Writing this in November, we have operated successfully for the past 10 weeks, offering care for the children from our community and the surrounding areas. We have 5 weeks to go until Christmas, so fingers crossed it all goes to plan.

Like many, we have had to adapt to many changes in our playgroup due to Covid-19, and we are doing all we can to support our community and surrounding areas with Childcare.

Our numbers are very high on the waiting list and we hope to expand slowly, to keep the group as safe as possible. We hope to review our waiting lists in January. However, please be mindful that we have very limited space. Many families on our waiting lists have been waiting some time for places and we thank you for your patience.

Should you wish to add your names to our waiting list for September 2021, then please get in touch, by emailing your interest to wenvoeplaygroup @btinternet.com. Places for September 2020 were allocated in February this year and we also started our waiting list for next year 2021 at the same time. With the 30 Hour Free Childcare Offer, we are finding many families are showing an interest early, starting children from the age of 2 years and 4 months to secure their care in time for the term after their Child’s 3rd birthday when the 30 Hour Childcare Offer is available. We also accept payment via the Government Tax Free Child Care along with Childcare company schemes.

For further information, please visit our website www.wenvoeplaygroup.co.uk or contact us at wenvoeplaygroup@btinternet.com

We hope to send further information regarding the 30 Hour Free Childcare and how it works in the New Year.

All that remains, is for us to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, from the Staff and Management Committee at the Playgroup.

 

 

Wenvoe Playgroup CIO

WENVOE PLAYGROUP CIO

Just a quick reminder that we continue to move for-ward with our plans to start our Autumn term on Monday 7th September.

Breakfast club will be introduced as we move for-ward along with our daycare and transitions to and from Gwenfo Nursery.

There will be no wrap around care with Gwenfo School for the first week back. We will be starting transitions to the Nursery week commencing 14th September.

We have large numbers joining us in September, with contracts in hand, so please be patient with us as we address the waiting lists.

We will keep everyone informed of the latest information and changes via our website: www.wenvoeplaygroup.co.uk and share our plans via the What’s On Magazine each month.

We have many children and families on our waiting lists into 2021, and we suggest that if you are planning to join Wenvoe Playgroup, that you email Sandra and put your Child’s name on the waiting list.

There is a link directly to our email on our above website.

Thanks to all the Playgroup families for your patience. We hope to see you very soon.

Sandra & Staff

 

 

Wenvoe Playgroup Re-Opening

Wenvoe Playgroup Re-Opening

On the 20th March 2020 we were given the news to take an extended Easter Holiday due to COVID-19. Little did we know then, that we wouldn’t return until 29th June 2020.

Throughout March and the months that followed to June, we lived in uncertain times like everyone, not knowing when and how we could return safely to the group. However, we did, and I would like to thank our wonderful Management Committee who have helped us to return safely.

Wenvoe Playgroup CIO is a registered charity, belonging to the residents of Wenvoe and run by the Parents of children who attend the setting. We also have many people in our village who support the Playgroup year after year, helping with our Website and fundraising. We are grateful for all the support that everyone together provides, to make it the success it is today.

Writing this, we are now near the end of summer term. We have successfully operated the last three weeks, working with 16 children in two groups of 8 at the Village Hall. Children returned and adapted well to the new routines, being happy to return to the familiar setting with their Aunties, relaying all their experiences and stories from the past 3 months.

Moving forward into September, we will be re-opening on Monday 7th September. Some of our services may take a little while to put in place, however, we will do our best to return to ‘normal’ as soon as possible. We will re-open our waiting lists into September as we move forward.

The 30 Hour Free Childcare Offer closed to new applicants at the end of March, however, they hope to be open once more by the end of August. If you visited the Playgroup in February and completed a contract, then you are able to contact the Vale Family Information centre Tel: 01446 704704 / E-mail: fis@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk who will happily take your details and contact you once the offer is open for those applying for September 2020

 

What is the 30 Hour Free Childcare Offer and how does it work?

The 30 Hour Free Childcare offer is all about the Child and where they live, not where the Childcare Provider is located. It is available to children the term after their 3rd Birthday.

If your Child is 3:

  • 1 Sept – 31 Dec they will be eligible in January
  • 1 January – 31 March they will be eligible in April (after the Easter Hols)
  • 1 April – 31August – they will be eligible in September

 

If the Child is living with 2 parents, both parents work 16 hours or more per week at National Minimum Wage (NMW)

If the Child is living with 1 parent, that you work 16 hours or more per week at NMW.

If you earn more than £100,000.00 per parent then the Child is not eligible

Wenvoe Playgroup can offer free care for up to 17.5 hours of the 30 hours during term time. On holiday weeks, 30 Hours may be claimed through another provider. 12.5 of the 30 Hours is used by LEA Nursery, however, you can just use up to 17.5hrs. Some of our children this year have attended 4 days free of charge at Playgroup or 5 days with a small top up fee. The choice is yours.

Should you wish for further information, then please view our website www.wenvoeplaygroup.co.uk where you will find information and a link to our email wenvoeplaygroup@btinternet.com to ask questions throughout August.

For those parents who have been in contact with the group, you will be kept up-to-date via email as we move forward into September.

Have a lovely summer everyone and we will keep you updated with any changes

 

 

Thanks ‘The Works’ Of Wenvoe

We would like to thank ‘The Works’ of Wenvoe for their kind donation to our Christmas Raffle. The Works have supported many raffles at the Play-group and we would like to show our appreciation for their continued support by sharing our thanks in the What’s On.

Many local businesses support Wenvoe Playgroup CIO and we would like to thank everyone for their donations and support. It is thanks to local business-es, the Community and our Families, that Wenvoe Playgroup CIO remains today. We would like to thank everyone who has believed in us and we are now operating stronger than ever with the support of our community, so thank you.

The 30 Hour Free Childcare has also made a differ-ence to the operation of Playgroup. We now have over forty families enrolled with us and many on our waiting lists for September 2020.

To find out more about the 30 Hour Free Childcare Offer for September, please contact your local Family Information Centre to see if you are eligible for the offer. Both parents or single parent family must be working A MINIMUM of 16 hours per week on minimum wage. The offer is for families with Children, the term after their 3rd Birthday until they attend reception class. 12.5 hours of the 30 hours are used in LEA Nurseries. Here at Playgroup we run term time only alongside Gwenfo Nursery.

Here at Wenvoe Playgroup we support 17.5 hours of Free Care, which we can be flexible in our ar-rangements. Most children with us at this time at-tend 5 mornings per week 9 – 1pm and transit across to Gwenfo Nursery for 1pm until 3:30pm. A packed lunch is provided from home and parents pay a top up fee per week of £11.25 as they attend 20 hours per week.

Of course, you may attend a four day week from 9am until 1pm for FREE using 16 hours. Some pre-fer to use 15 hours , 8am UNTIL 1pm and pay a top up fee for breakfast club of 50p per day (£1.50 per week).

We also have children using 17.5 hours with us, as their local school does not have an LEA Nursery provision and they are just outside the Gwenfo Catchment Area. Some also choose not to move onto their catchment nursery as they have settled with us, hence limited spaces during the Spring and Summer months. Our advice to you is; if you are thinking of joining us in the academic year 2020 to 2021 for wrap around care, then contact us and share your wishes. Although Nursery admissions for September 2020 will not be notified until the end of May, we can keep you in mind for a place from September should you be successful.

We also provide a Breakfast Club for children who attend Gwenfo Reception for £5 per day. Breakfast club opens at 8am here at the Village Hall and chil-dren are taken safely to reception at Gwenfo for 8:50am start.

Nursery Children who attend morning Nursery at Gwenfo, also attend breakfast and we take them across at 8:50am or they stay until 1pm and are tak-en across for the afternoon session. The latter is the most popular. You can see from the above how flex-ible we are to meet your needs. Just please don’t ask us to do overnight or weekends ha ha.

If you are interested in how we can help you, then please contact us either by email-ing wenvoeplaygroup@btinternet.com or phone 02920507494.

For further information, please visit our web-site; www.wenvoeplaygroup.co.uk.

 

 

2019 Round Up

 

Happy New Year to all.

Sorry we haven’t had time to write recently, we have been very busy with the change over of our company to Wenvoe Playgroup CIO. (We will still be known as Wenvoe Playgroup though.)

During the Autumn Term we have been very busy raising funds for others. The Children, their families and staff raised £70 for Breast Cancer during the month of October, by wearing something pink to Playgroup. This also supported the Children’s learning; by beginning to understand that everyone can wear pink.

In November we held a sponsored fancy dress, in which we raised a staggering £322 for CRACKERJACKS Childrens trust, who help support Children with disabilities. Being a Charity ourselves, we know just how important it is to raise funds and support goals.

We had a very successful start to our new term in September. Our Breakfast Club has not only supported Playgroup Children from 8am each day, it has provided support to families; offering their Children breakfast, then onto Morning Nursery and Reception at Gwenfo School. We offer support to take the Children across to School for their busy days at 08:50am. Should you require further information on ‘Breakfast Club’, then please email us.

Our morning sessions are now fully booked until September 2020 with waiting lists for any spaces that may become available for Children currently enrolled.

We have approximately 15 families on our waiting list for September 2020 and we would suggest that should you be thinking of joining Wenvoe Playgroup from September then get in touch via the email as soon as possible. We will hold an open afternoon in May. Your email will be placed on a waiting list (once replied to of course) to receive an invite to attend in May with a view to secure sessions from September 2020.

Nursery admissions for September 2020 are open this month and are usually notified around the end of May for September intake. Keep a watchful eye on the Vale of Glamorgan website.

We can make a note for your preferred sessions at Playgroup (if requiring support) with Gwenfo Nursery whilst you are awaiting notification from the Vale of Glamorgan.

Don’t forget we are enrolled to support the 30 Hour Free Childcare Offer with The Vale and Cardiff Councils, so Children from all areas are able to sign up to the Playgroup for 17.5 hours FREE per week, should families fit the criteria. More about the 30 hour care will be sent to What’s On soon, or if you want to know more now, then email us and we can send you some documentation for information.

We expect a very busy year.

 

 

Looking Forward

As I write this we are half way through our Summer Holidays and looking forward to a very busy year at Playgroup from September.

The Playgroup is now full for morning sessions with limited space on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons only. We have started a waiting list for morning spaces for 2020 and people are already registering interest for September 2020, especially those who are hoping to attend with wrap around care at Gwenfo Nursery.

As mentioned in July What’s On, we are offering breakfast club for those who are due to start at Gwenfo Reception from September. We still have a few spaces remaining should you wish to attend Breakfast and onto Reception @ £5 per morning from 8am. Breakfast is flexible with days, you don’t have to do all five, however, you will need to do the same breakfasts each week during term time.

We can also offer limited space for breakfast and onto Gwenfo Nursery from 8am @ £5 per session or if you are eligible for Government Free Child Care, 50p per session. Again, you don’t have to do everyday, you can just do a couple of days as long as they are the same each term week.

For further information please telephone us on 02920597494 or email us at wenvoeplaygroup @btinternet.com and speak to Sandra.

Please view our website and read our Admissions Statement of Purpose and Operational Plan which highlight our practice and costs. www.wenvoeplaygroup.co.uk

We look forward to seeing everyone return on Wednesday 4th September

 

 

Wonderful 50th Celebration

 

Well what a wonderful 50th celebration it was for Wenvoe Playgroup. Thank you to all those who supported the event in various ways. It was lovely to see staff and families, past and present, in attendance and although it was raining it didn’t dampen our spirits. The children thoroughly enjoyed the bouncy castles and tattoos available, with a warm, friendly atmosphere about them. It was lovely to bring everyone together.

We would like to mention a few people who supported our event both local and from surrounding communities.Thanks go to:

  • Dinas Vets – For providing the Banner to advertise the event
  • Jacky and Ken Rattenbury – For their cash Donation of £200 which paid for the Soft Play and Bouncy Castle. Also, for the cake donations to sell at the event.
  • Brickability- Donation of Vale Golf Vouchers for the raffle
  • Beech Tree – Donation of a Meal voucher for the raffle
  • S.R. Davis Meat & Poultry – For the donation of meat for the BBQ
  • Yates Fruit & Veg – Strawberry donations for the yummy chocolate dipped strawberries
  • Wenvoe Wheelers – For their Cash Donation of £150 as a birthday gift, supporting the event
  • Wenvoe Village Hall Management Committee – For the free hire to hold and celebrate the event.

 

Although the event was about celebrating 50 Years of Wenvoe Playgroup and not necessarily making money, the raffle raised £210 which Barclays Bank has offered to match doubling the money, so thank you Barclays.

Thank you to: Jody, Amy, Lisa, Michelle, Emily, Ceris and their families, for all their hard work in making the day such a success. You did us proud.

It is good to know that many support Wenvoe Playgroup, our Community Charity.

As we are a not for profit group, fees cover the basics and any profit is used for equipment for the children. Our Management Committee give all their time voluntarily and over the years they have worked tirelessly to support the group with their fundraising ideas and events. This ensures that Playgroup continues for the Community and surrounding communities, so a big ‘Thankyou’ to all those who have kept the Playgroup going for 50 years and well done.

By the time you are reading this, we will be closed and enjoying our summer holidays.

We re-open on Wednesday 4th September for all returning children and those who start Nursery at Gwenfo School. Breakfast club also starts for not only Nursery and Playgroup children, we are also taking Reception children. Please make sure you

are booked into breakfast club prior to attending. Breakfast club starts at 8am daily.

There are no afternoon sessions or all day care sessions between 4th and 6th September. Our full service will start from Monday 9th September. Our new families and younger members are welcome to visit from Wednesday 4th to Friday 6th September as settling in days ready to start from Monday 9th September.

For further information please visit our website www.wenvoeplaygroup.co.uk or email us at wenvoeplaygroup@btinternet.com (all contacts are on the website).

Enjoy the holidays and see you all in September.

 

 

All About The Wenvoe Playgroup

Wenvoe Playgroup started back in 1969 here at the Village Hall in Wenvoe.

In 1974/5 Playgroup moved for a short time to the Cricket Pavilion (no longer standing) whilst the hall was re-built by local residents. The New Village Hall as it stands today was designed and built with Playgroup very much in mind.

Again in 1996 when the roof slid on the Village Hall (due to the lack of bracing to hold the roof trusses) the hall was immediately closed and deemed unsafe. Whilst the Management Committee of the hall were fundraising for coffers and seeking grants to fix the roof, the Playgroup moved to the Church Hall.

Over the years the Village Hall has been known for many celebrations and various classes; however its one main purpose for the last 50 years has been ‘The Home of Playgroup’

We are thrilled that over the years, many residents who care about the community we live in, have come together to support and keep the Playgroup open successfully for a remarkable 50 years, WOW!

Many Parents past and present have contributed to Playgroup’s success with their fundraising efforts and serving on the Management Committee whom we would like to say a HUGE THANK YOU to. However, as Parents come and go over the years, there is a set of Parents who came and stayed behind the scenes. A BIG THANK YOU must go to Lisa and Darren who have been friends of Playgroup for many years, supporting silently in the background. Lisa supporting annual raffles, fayres and fundraising events, and Darren who volunteers to manage our website, putting up with late night emails to change documents at short notice. We (especially me) are grateful to you for all your help throughout the years and we hope that Playgroup will be around for another 50 years (however, I don’t think I will be).

My History:- The Village Hall has been a big part of my life, with 25 years to date spent on The Management Committee of the hall. In 2008 the Playgroup was under threat of closure, and without the rent for the hall, my thought was that we would lose the hall. Fearing losing our Village Hall to become a block of flats or houses, I came to run the Playgroup with a future vision of wrap around care. Although the School was unable to obtain a Nursery (as the Vale said they had no money) as soon as the new housing development was underway, a friend mentioned the S106 payments and I supported the previous Head Teacher of Gwenfo School to request that a Nursery be built. Obviously, Playgroup numbers fell dramatically, back to similar numbers that we had back in 2008. After 5 years of love of, and the generous support from everyone at Playgroup (and friends and residents), we are now thriving once more. My plan took 11 years to come to fruition and I would like to thank all those who believed in me. I have completed everything I set out to do as a Registered Leader and now it’s the feeling of what’s next.

Big thanks to the staff, friends, parents and everyone around me who supported my vision and helped achieve it. I couldn’t have done it without your love and support. When people ask me if I enjoy my job, my answer is always,’ it’s not a job, it’s a way of life.’

From this year 2019, Wenvoe Playgroup is changing its structure and will be known as Wenvoe Playgroup CIO. Again, moving with the times to make the Playgroup stronger and hopefully continue for many years to come.

I am now no longer the Registered Person; I am now proud to be part of a fantastic team to a vision I once had. Onwards and Upwards.

Love and thanks to everyone who has supported me in my venture

Sandra xxxxxxxxxxxx

 

The Playgroup is fully booked for the morning sessions from September this year until July 2020. However, we do have a few afternoon spaces left and pick up for lunch from Gwenfo Nursery School.

I would recommend if you are thinking of joining us from September 2020 to email us and put your Child’s name on the waiting list as we expect to go from strength to strength.

Also, if you wish to add to our waiting list, if someone changes their mind in the coming school year, again email us and we can keep you up-to-date.

At this time, we are looking to support Gwenfo School with Breakfast Club for reception age children. Breakfast club is for children aged 2 years and 4 months to age 4 years and 11 months at this time. However, hopefully from September it will be available for those up to 5 years inclusive. Breakfast club for reception will cost £5 per morning available Monday to Friday 8 am with transition onto Gwenfo Reception for 8:50am. Spaces will be limited.

Contact us on 02920597494 or email wenvoeplaygroup@btinternet.com for further information. Our website is www.wenvoeplaygroup. co.uk. For further information, please read our Statement of Purpose.

 

 

Playgroup Changing Its Structure

 

From September this year, Wenvoe Playgroup will be changing its structure to Wenvoe Playgroup CIO, securing the group for many years to come. We have a high intake for 2019 to 2020 so if you are thinking of joining and haven’t already done so, please contact us for availability

Here at the Playgroup, we work alongside Gwenfo Nursery providing wrap around care, with many children attending mornings with us and on to afternoon nursery. We do have some spaces available for pick up from Gwenfo Nursery at this time from 11:20am to 12:45pm Monday to Friday £8 per day and afternoon spaces available 11:20pm until 3:15pm on Wednesday and Thursday at £18 per day.

Both Cardiff and The Vale of Glamorgan now offer the 30 Hour Free Childcare which allows you 17.5 hours free at Playgroup, if you meet the Welsh Government,s criteria.

Visit www.wenvoeplaygroup.co.uk. Telephone: 02920 59749; email wenvoeplaygroup@btinternet.com

 

 

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