Community Playgroup '˜outstanding'

For the playgroup, which is based in Trinity church hall, has recently received an outstanding report from the Education and Training Inspectorate.

The inspection scored the playgroup on three categories - achievements and standards; provision for learning and leadership and management.

And the proud Ballymoney team were scored as “outstanding” in each of the categories.

The ETI report commented that the children in Ballymoney Community Playgroup are “very well behaved and show respect for each other, the staff and their environment. The children work well individually, in pairs and in groups and engage in purposeful and concentrated play often producing representational work of a high standard.”

Under the category of Provision for Learning, the report stated: “There is a friendly, caring atmosphere in the playgroup and the working relationships at all levels are excellent. The indoor and outdoor learning environments are thoughtfully presented and the staff promote learning very effectively across all areas of the pre-school curriculum.

“The quality of the interactions between the staff and the children are consistently of a very high quality; this is characterised by the staff building continually on the children’s responses to develop their thinking and observational skills.”

The Leadership and Management of the Playgroup was also commented: “All of the staff are committed to providing quality pre-school provision and are supported by the management group in developing the work of the playgroup.

“Very effective links have been established with the parents and most of the local primary and feeder schools for the benefit of the children.

“Ballymoney and District Community Playgroup demonstrates the capacity to identify and bring about improvement in the interest of all the learners.”

Playgroup leader Michelle Spence said: “We are thrilled. In just one year we have received our accreditation and won an award as best playgroup and now to receive this report is just the icing on the cake. The support we receive from the parents and our committee is the backbone of the playgroup.”

The staff are pictured: Back - Michelle Spence (playgroup leader), Caroline Hunter (playgroup assistant), Barbara Hill (dep leader). Front - Linda Glass (playgroup assistant), Eileen Elliott (dep leader). INBM17-16 S