READY, STEADY, GO PARENT AND TODDLER GROUP

Fun, educational activities for parents/carers with pre-school age children

What Ready, Steady, Go Parent and Toddler Group says

Ready, Steady, Go Parent and Toddler Group is a new facility available for parents/carers with pre-school age children in Spondon and the surrounding areas. The group is open on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday morning and takes place at the Scout Hut in Spondon, Derby. The site is fenced, secure and fully accessible for all. There is some parking on site and other parking is available next to the entrance along Stoney Lane.
The aim of the group is to provide educational activities for pre-school children, aged one to four years. To ensure all activities and resources are age appropriate the sessions are split into two age categories:
1 to 2 ½ years of age
2 ½ to 4 years of age
(See timetable of activities for more information)
For a fee, each parent/carer and their child can attend the sessions with educational, age related activities (Forest School, art and crafts, rhyme time, story time, sensory play). There will also be one free session each week (Tuesday 9:10 - 10:30). This will enable all parents with pre-school children access to this provision.
All sessions will follow a theme that interests young children and enable them to engage and have fun. The sessions will be led by staff that are both qualified and experienced educational practitioners. Activities will also be carefully planned and will help to develop children’s social, emotional, communication, creative and thinking skills. Parents/carers will be fully responsible for their children throughout the session and will be encouraged to participate in all aspects of the session. It will also be time for adults to chat and develop new and existing friendships.
It is my hope that the coming together of parents/carers and their children will provide a safe and warm environment in which everyone can play, socialise, support, guide and learn from each other.

About

My name is Angela Allen. I have been a primary school teacher for 24 years working in both Derbyshire and Derby City primary schools. My teaching experience has been in Key Stage One and the last five years have been spent in Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
During my time teaching, I have achieved a Master’s in Education and a Forest School Level 3 qualification. More recently, I have completed my paediatric first aid certificate.
My life as a primary school teacher has been very eventful and enjoyable and I feel that I have gained many skills along the way. I am firstly a teacher, but my years of experience working in schools with children and their families have also made me a carer, a nurse (unqualified!), a listener, a friend and an advisor. Hopefully all of these skills have made me a supportive, approachable, kind and well-rounded human being.
Alongside this Parent and Toddler Group, I will remain working part-time at a Spondon Primary School, in EYFS. So as you can see, I am still hands on in the classroom and have ongoing links with local schools and the wider community.
I have started this new venture because I have seen first-hand the support some parents and children need when they first start school. I am also aware of how the needs of young children have changed in recent years with regards to: Special Educational Needs, behaviour, speech and language to name a few. Although not an expert in any of these fields, my experience has provided me with some knowledge and I have made professional connections. I feel that I can support families and signpost them, if needed, to the organisations, charities and professionals that can provide the advice and guidance parents might need to support their own and their child’s health, education and wellbeing.
With my educational experience, it is my hope that as group leader of this parent and toddler group I can help parents get their children school ready. The focus of the sessions will not be on counting to 10 and reading words. Quite the opposite, the aim is for parents/carers, staff and volunteers to work together as a team to help develop the children’s social, emotional, communication, and creative skills through fun, educational and play-based activities.

Contact

Angela Allen