Bolton Under 5's Play Group

Basinga Article (Jan 09)
Happy New Year to all! And it’s a new name for us; it was agreed at our AGM in November that we will now be called Bolton Under 5s Preschool and to accept children from 2 years 6 months. This is to reflect our new Pathfinder status which allows us to provide more flexible childcare: we will now be open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9am until 2.45pm, and on Mondays and Fridays from 9am to 1pm. We also accept most childcare vouchers.

If you are interested in your child attending our small, friendly preschool at the Beddington Centre, Riley Lane, Old Basing, please contact us by email: info@boltonunder5s.co.uk, or by phone: Brenda Watson, Playgroup Manager, 07881 920709 or Sarah Crowdy, Chair, 01256 322357.

We had a very busy December with a visit from a magician, baking Christmas biscuits and a trip to Great Binfields school to see their winter production which the children thoroughly enjoyed – especially the journey in the minibus! Thank you to everyone who made all these events possible.

The children proudly donned their costumes and sang in their nativity play delighting parents and grandparents. And at their party, the children were very excited when Father Christmas dropped by to deliver some presents. Our raffle was very successful with lots of great prizes on offer. Hope you bought some tickets, if not please remember us next year!

Early this year we plan to have our new awnings installed so that the children will have a shaded area to play in on the, hopefully, sunny days this year. We are also organising a nearly new sale for March. So, while you’re having a sort out of toys and books after Christmas, please consider donating them to us to help raise funds for our charity-run Preschool.

Please note that Spring term at Preschool will start on Tuesday 6 January 2009 – a day later than Old Basing schools.

Basinga Article (Dec 08)
The Autumn term has nearly come to an end and the children at Playgroup have enjoyed a variety of topics this term. During Pets week, two guinea pigs were brought in for the children to learn about and hold. One of the children was drawn round for All About Me week, the children were then asked to label the various parts of the body, which turned out to be rather tricky! At the Autumn Activity Morning the children had fun making (and eating) apple and cinnamon muffins, shopping at the Bolton U5s Farm Shop and singing Autumnal songs (thank you to Daisy's dad for his guitar playing). Our local police officers made a special visit in their patrol car. The children were delighted to be able to try on some of the equipment and pretend to drive the car and even spoke to the switchboard officer over the radio.

The build up to Christmas is well under way with the children learning songs and carols and practising for the nativity plays. The plays will be performed at Playgroup on 15 and 16 December. Tickets for our annual Christmas raffle have gone on sale, with some great prizes to be won: two pantomime tickets for The Anvil, lunch for two at Tylney Hall, free photo and session with Magic Eye Photography and many more. Tickets are on sale from Brenda at playgroup and the children will be given some to take home and sell.

From wood-turned pens to wooden toys, books to bracelets, cards to baby cardigans, and lollies to luxury bath crème, there was something for everyone. Thank you to Vicki for organising the highly successful Christmas Shopping Afternoon on 8 November - the event raised about £170 for our Playgroup funds (we are a registered charity). The cakes and cookies were delicious, too…

Please note that the Spring term at Playgroup will start on Tuesday 6 January 2009 – a day later than Old Basing schools.

If you are interested in your child attending our small, friendly playgroup at the Beddington Centre, Riley Lane, Old Basing, please contact us by email: info@boltonunder5s.co.uk, or by phone: Brenda Watson, Playgroup Manager, 07881 920709 or Sarah Crowdy, Chair, 01256 322357.

Season’s greeting to all from the staff and committee of the Bolton Under 5s Playgroup.

Basinga Article (Nov 08)
It’s hard to believe that we are already more than half way through this autumn term. We hope everyone enjoyed their half term holiday and are looking forward the Autumn Activity morning on 15 November. Preparations will soon be underway for Christmas so keep a look out for fun-filled activities to celebrate the festive season.

We have launched our new website at www.boltonunder5s.co.uk. We would like to thank Andi Caine for designing it and Sue Grassi for building it for us. On the website you will be able to find a prospectus for our Playgroup as well as more about who we are, opening times and links to our most recent Ofsted report and the Pre-School Learning Alliance.

We are always looking for willing volunteers to be on the committee or to carry out other jobs so please let us know if you’re interested in getting more involved. Also, if there are any Mums, Dads or Grandparents who would like to come into playgroup to help in any capacity or just to read stories to the children, please contact Brenda to arrange a visit.

Don’t forget to come along to our Christmas Shopping Afternoon, a one-stop shop for all your Christmas shopping needs, in the Beddington Centre on Saturday 8 November at 1.30 - 4.30pm. Entry is 50p per adult, free for children. Books, gifts, jewellery, children’s games, cards and more will be there to buy.

Each stall will be donating a prize for the Bolton Under 5s Christmas Raffle. Tickets can be purchased from playgroup staff and on the day. See you there!

If you are interested in your child attending our small, friendly playgroup at the Beddington Centre, Old Basing, please contact Brenda Watson, Playgroup Manager, on 07881 920709.

Basinga Article (Oct 08)
A big welcome to all the new children who have started at playgroup this term and also to their parents. We hope that all the children attending this term are settling in and enjoying their mornings in Playgroup. We’d also like to welcome our new member of staff, Pennie Porter, as Deputy Manager for the Playgroup.

This term we have an Autumn-themed activity morning planned for the children (Saturday 15 November) and a Christmas Shopping Afternoon (Saturday 8 November). Please see the full article to see what’s on offer at the Christmas Shopping Afternoon. The Playgroup AGM will be on Tuesday 11 November. If you'd like to join the committee or find out more about Playgroup, please come along. Future fundraising plans for 2009 include a promises/gift auction, a get together evening for parents and a nearly new sale.

We would like to thank Linda Kelly and Alison Giles for all their hard work at Playgroup as they move on to pastures new. We wish Alison all the best for the future and to Linda in her new role as manager of a playgroup in Kempshott.

If there are any Mums, Dads or Grandparents who would like to come into playgroup to help in any capacity or just to read stories to the children, please contact Brenda to arrange a visit.

We still have some vacancies every day for this Autumn term for children from 2 years 9 months. If you are interested in your child attending our small, friendly playgroup at the Beddington Centre, Old Basing, please contact Brenda Watson, Playgroup Manager, on 07881 920709 (playgroup hours only, please: Mon-Fri 9am-1pm).

Basinga Article (Sept 08)
A big welcome to all the new children who have started at playgroup this term and also to their parents. We'd also like to welcome our new member of staff, Pennie Porter, as Deputy Manager for the Playgroup.

For 2008, we have an Autumn-themed activity morning planned for the children (Saturday 15 November) as well as an evening for parents to get together whilst having fun and raising funds for the Playgroup. The Playgroup AGM will be in November. Future fundraising plans include a promises/gift auction and a nearly new sale.

We would like to thank Linda Kelly and Alison Giles for all their hard work at Playgroup as they move on to pastures new. We wish Alison all the best for the future and to Linda in her new role as manager of a playgroup in Kempshott.

If there are any Mums, Dads or Grandparents who would like to come into playgroup to help in any capacity or just to read stories to the children, please contact Brenda to arrange a visit.

WWe still have some vacancies every day from September for children from 2 years 9 months. If you are interested in your child attending our small, friendly playgroup at the Beddington Centre, Old Basing, please contact Brenda Watson, Playgroup Manager, on 07881 920709 (playgroup hours only: Mon-Fri 9am-1pm).

Basinga Article (Aug 08)
We hope you're all enjoying the summer holidays and that the weather this year a little drier! We were fortunate with the clouds this year for our sports day on the 2 July and the last race finished as the rain started. The children thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the races - running, jumping in sacks, balancing eggs on spoons and gathering toys to put in a box - with everyone getting a sticker for finishing. /p>
Everyone had great fun at the leavers' party at the Fun House on 18th July. Thanks go to Paula for making the leavers' cake. The children particularly enjoyed the adventure of the Fun House mini bus journey and they felt very grown up and independent to be going such a trip without their parents. We would like to wish all our leavers all the best for the future and to thank their Mums and Dads for all they've contributed to playgroup.

Thank you to Joanne & Trevor Short for donating a kitchen cupboard to the playgroup to store our paints, glue and other craft bits. We will be able to store a wider range of craft items now allowing the children to be even more creative.

IIf you are interested in your child attending our small, friendly playgroup at the Beddington Centre, Old Basing, please contact Brenda Watson on 07881 920709 (playgroup hours only: Mon-Fri 9am-1pm). We still have some vacancies every day from September for children from 2 years 9 months.


Basinga Article (Jan 09)	Happy New Year to all! And it’s a new name for us; it was agreed at our AGM in November that we will now be called Bolton Under 5s Preschool and to accept children from 2 years 6 months. This is to reflect our new Pathfinder status which allows us to provide more flexible childcare: we will now be open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9am until 2.45pm, and on Mondays and Fridays from 9am to 1pm. We also accept most childcare vouchers. If you are interested in your child attending our small, friendly preschool at the Beddington Centre, Riley Lane, Old Basing, please contact us by email: info@boltonunder5s.co.uk, or by phone: Brenda Watson, Playgroup Manager, 07881 920709 or Sarah Crowdy, Chair, 01256 322357. We had a very busy December with a visit from a magician, baking Christmas biscuits and a trip to Great Binfields school to see their winter production which the children thoroughly enjoyed – especially the journey in the minibus! Thank you to everyone who made all these events possible. The children proudly donned their costumes and sang in their nativity play delighting parents and grandparents. And at their party, the children were very excited when Father Christmas dropped by to deliver some presents. Our raffle was very successful with lots of great prizes on offer. Hope you bought some tickets, if not please remember us next year! Early this year we plan to have our new awnings installed so that the children will have a shaded area to play in on the, hopefully, sunny days this year. We are also organising a nearly new sale for March. So, while you’re having a sort out of toys and books after Christmas, please consider donating them to us to help raise funds for our charity-run Preschool. Please note that Spring term at Preschool will start on Tuesday 6 January 2009 – a day later than Old Basing schools.
Basinga Article (Dec 08)	The Autumn term has nearly come to an end and the children at Playgroup have enjoyed a variety of topics this term. During Pets week, two guinea pigs were brought in for the children to learn about and hold. One of the children was drawn round for All About Me week, the children were then asked to label the various parts of the body, which turned out to be rather tricky! At the Autumn Activity Morning the children had fun making (and eating) apple and cinnamon muffins, shopping at the Bolton U5s Farm Shop and singing Autumnal songs (thank you to Daisy's dad for his guitar playing). Our local police officers made a special visit in their patrol car. The children were delighted to be able to try on some of the equipment and pretend to drive the car and even spoke to the switchboard officer over the radio. The build up to Christmas is well under way with the children learning songs and carols and practising for the nativity plays. The plays will be performed at Playgroup on 15 and 16 December. Tickets for our annual Christmas raffle have gone on sale, with some great prizes to be won: two pantomime tickets for The Anvil, lunch for two at Tylney Hall, free photo and session with Magic Eye Photography and many more. Tickets are on sale from Brenda at playgroup and the children will be given some to take home and sell. From wood-turned pens to wooden toys, books to bracelets, cards to baby cardigans, and lollies to luxury bath crème, there was something for everyone. Thank you to Vicki for organising the highly successful Christmas Shopping Afternoon on 8 November - the event raised about £170 for our Playgroup funds (we are a registered charity). The cakes and cookies were delicious, too… Please note that the Spring term at Playgroup will start on Tuesday 6 January 2009 – a day later than Old Basing schools. If you are interested in your child attending our small, friendly playgroup at the Beddington Centre, Riley Lane, Old Basing, please contact us by email: info@boltonunder5s.co.uk, or by phone: Brenda Watson, Playgroup Manager, 07881 920709 or Sarah Crowdy, Chair, 01256 322357. Season’s greeting to all from the staff and committee of the Bolton Under 5s Playgroup.
Basinga Article (Nov 08)	It’s hard to believe that we are already more than half way through this autumn term. We hope everyone enjoyed their half term holiday and are looking forward the Autumn Activity morning on 15 November. Preparations will soon be underway for Christmas so keep a look out for fun-filled activities to celebrate the festive season. We have launched our new website at www.boltonunder5s.co.uk. We would like to thank Andi Caine for designing it and Sue Grassi for building it for us. On the website you will be able to find a prospectus for our Playgroup as well as more about who we are, opening times and links to our most recent Ofsted report and the Pre-School Learning Alliance. We are always looking for willing volunteers to be on the committee or to carry out other jobs so please let us know if you’re interested in getting more involved. Also, if there are any Mums, Dads or Grandparents who would like to come into playgroup to help in any capacity or just to read stories to the children, please contact Brenda to arrange a visit. Don’t forget to come along to our Christmas Shopping Afternoon, a one-stop shop for all your Christmas shopping needs, in the Beddington Centre on Saturday 8 November at 1.30 - 4.30pm. Entry is 50p per adult, free for children. Books, gifts, jewellery, children’s games, cards and more will be there to buy. Each stall will be donating a prize for the Bolton Under 5s Christmas Raffle. Tickets can be purchased from playgroup staff and on the day. See you there! If you are interested in your child attending our small, friendly playgroup at the Beddington Centre, Old Basing, please contact Brenda Watson, Playgroup Manager, on 07881 920709.
Basinga Article (Oct 08)	A big welcome to all the new children who have started at playgroup this term and also to their parents. We hope that all the children attending this term are settling in and enjoying their mornings in Playgroup. We’d also like to welcome our new member of staff, Pennie Porter, as Deputy Manager for the Playgroup. This term we have an Autumn-themed activity morning planned for the children (Saturday 15 November) and a Christmas Shopping Afternoon (Saturday 8 November). Please see the full article to see what’s on offer at the Christmas Shopping Afternoon. The Playgroup AGM will be on Tuesday 11 November. If you'd like to join the committee or find out more about Playgroup, please come along. Future fundraising plans for 2009 include a promises/gift auction, a get together evening for parents and a nearly new sale. We would like to thank Linda Kelly and Alison Giles for all their hard work at Playgroup as they move on to pastures new. We wish Alison all the best for the future and to Linda in her new role as manager of a playgroup in Kempshott. If there are any Mums, Dads or Grandparents who would like to come into playgroup to help in any capacity or just to read stories to the children, please contact Brenda to arrange a visit. We still have some vacancies every day for this Autumn term for children from 2 years 9 months. If you are interested in your child attending our small, friendly playgroup at the Beddington Centre, Old Basing, please contact Brenda Watson, Playgroup Manager, on 07881 920709 (playgroup hours only, please: Mon-Fri 9am-1pm).
Basinga Article (Sept 08)	A big welcome to all the new children who have started at playgroup this term and also to their parents. We'd also like to welcome our new member of staff, Pennie Porter, as Deputy Manager for the Playgroup. For 2008, we have an Autumn-themed activity morning planned for the children (Saturday 15 November) as well as an evening for parents to get together whilst having fun and raising funds for the Playgroup. The Playgroup AGM will be in November. Future fundraising plans include a promises/gift auction and a nearly new sale. We would like to thank Linda Kelly and Alison Giles for all their hard work at Playgroup as they move on to pastures new. We wish Alison all the best for the future and to Linda in her new role as manager of a playgroup in Kempshott. If there are any Mums, Dads or Grandparents who would like to come into playgroup to help in any capacity or just to read stories to the children, please contact Brenda to arrange a visit. WWe still have some vacancies every day from September for children from 2 years 9 months. If you are interested in your child attending our small, friendly playgroup at the Beddington Centre, Old Basing, please contact Brenda Watson, Playgroup Manager, on 07881 920709 (playgroup hours only: Mon-Fri 9am-1pm).
Basinga Article (Aug 08)	We hope you're all enjoying the summer holidays and that the weather this year a little drier! We were fortunate with the clouds this year for our sports day on the 2 July and the last race finished as the rain started. The children thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the races - running, jumping in sacks, balancing eggs on spoons and gathering toys to put in a box - with everyone getting a sticker for finishing. /p> Everyone had great fun at the leavers' party at the Fun House on 18th July. Thanks go to Paula for making the leavers' cake. The children particularly enjoyed the adventure of the Fun House mini bus journey and they felt very grown up and independent to be going such a trip without their parents. We would like to wish all our leavers all the best for the future and to thank their Mums and Dads for all they've contributed to playgroup. Thank you to Joanne & Trevor Short for donating a kitchen cupboard to the playgroup to store our paints, glue and other craft bits. We will be able to store a wider range of craft items now allowing the children to be even more creative. IIf you are interested in your child attending our small, friendly playgroup at the Beddington Centre, Old Basing, please contact Brenda Watson on 07881 920709 (playgroup hours only: Mon-Fri 9am-1pm). We still have some vacancies every day from September for children from 2 years 9 months.