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Preschool playgroup vacancies

We have preschool playgroup vacancies for children aged from 2 years 6 months – starting in September 2018. Please call Nikki in our playgroup on 01733 340605 for more information or to book a visit.

Please note that we have recently introduced all day sessions in line with the 30 hours free childcare funding. Please ask for more details.

If you know of a Peterborough parent who may be interested in sending their child to New Ark then please tell them about us – we rely on word of mouth recommendations.

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New Ark offers young children a unique preschool experience

5 reasons to bring your child to New Ark playgroup

Staff – We provide a caring environment that nurtures the individual needs of young children.
Space – Fantastic play area to build physical skills for life..
City Farm – Every child is given the opportunity to feed and care for our animals.
Eco-Centre – Den building, pond dipping, bug hunts and use of natural materials to help young children learn and develop skills.
Recognition – Parents love the imaginative work of our staff.

More information about our playgroup is at www.newarkplay.co.uk/preschool

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New doors thanks to Biffa award

Have you noticed the brand new UPVC doors in our main building? If not then here are some of our playgroup children showing how pleased they are now that the main playroom has been made warmer and safer by the new doors…

Children with Playroom Fire Exit Doors - After jpeg

The new doors have been installed thanks to a £7,440 grant from Biffa Award – a multi-million pound fund that helps to build communities and transform lives through awarding grants to community and environmental projects across the UK, as part of the Landfill Communities Fund (LCF).

As you may remember, last year we gained funding to improve our heating system, but the integrity of our external doors had also become compromised. Problems include poor insulation, reduced security and swelling in the rain – it made them difficult to open.

Charlotte Griggs, Operations Manager, New Ark Play Association Limited, said:

“The main New Ark building is 35 years old and over the past two years I have worked with organisations and local businesses to renovate the premises. The new doors will dramatically enhance the appearance, reduce heating costs, make the building more energy efficient and improve safety and security.”

Lisa Sachse, Parent/Committee Member, New Ark Play Association Limited, said:

“The new fire exit and external doors will create a safe environment for children to use, as the old doors are not practical and children struggle to open them. As the old doors have holes in them, it causes heat to escape out of the play room, but after the doors have been fitted this will no longer be a concern, creating a warm environment.”

Gillian French, Biffa Award Programme Manager, said:

“This work is an excellent example of how the Landfill Communities Fund can help improve facilities for the benefit of the local community. For more than 16 years community buildings across the UK have benefited from the scheme and the organisations that award grants through the fund look forward to supporting more in the future.”

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Dave Wilson is running for New Ark

**Update** David gained £105 for us in sponsorship donations, which will go towards buying a new carpet for our quiet corner. Hope you’ve recovered now David!

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David Wilson is running the Great Eastern Run on 12 October to raise money for New Ark. That’s 13.1 miles around the streets of Peterborough, plus weeks of getting up in the dark for training runs.

David is fundraising so that we can buy a new carpet for our quiet corner, to help make it a cosy and inviting place to read books and talk. Children at New Ark have access to the most amazing outdoor adventure playground, city farm and woodland garden. Help spruce up their indoor room and give David a virtual cheer by making a donation at this link today. Remember to Gift Aid it!
www.localgiving.com/fundraising/davewilsonnewark

Dave Wilson

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News for playground & toddler group

Donations of bread and fruit

We are always seeking donations of sliced bread/toppings/fruit. During the holiday sessions some children arrive at 8.30/9am for additional childcare without eating breakfast before they get here – we are very happy to make them toast and offer fruit before our general sessions start. During afterschool sessions this food comes in useful to offer children a light tea after a long day at school. During playgroup sessions, fruit is offered at snacktime. Please do buy bread and fruit for us when you see it on offer and hand it to a member of staff when collecting your child.

Register now for Autumn afterschool sessions

afterschool poster

If you want your child to come to our autumn afterschool sessions please do register them asap. This is especially important if you wish them to join the walkover from Newark Hill school during week commencing 8 September, as we need to ensure that we are adequately staffed for the walkover. We cannot accept bookings/payments 1-5 September as our office is closed during Repairs & Maintenance week. You must book your child onto walkover for week commencing 8 September, before Friday 29th August.

There is no need to fill out another registration form if you are already registered for our holiday sessions – just see a staff member in the office. If you do need a registration form, please download one from www.newarkplay.co.uk/afterschool, along with copies of the walkover form for September if required.

Parent and Toddler sessions

Parent and Toddler group is not running on Wednesday 20th August due to staff holidays. Parents with under 5s are very welcome to come to the farm and main playground as a one-off visitor – for details see www.newarkplay.co.uk/whats-on/visits/visit. Please ring us before setting off to check that the city farm is open (part time hours due to staff holidays).

Parent and toddler group is back for one last summer holiday session on Wednesday 27 August 2-4pm. It is closed on 3 September during our Repairs and Maintenance week. On Wednesday 10th September we return to our normal termtime schedule of 1-3pm (with the city farm open from 2pm). For more information on our friendly Parent and Toddler group please see www.newarkplay.co.uk/whats-on/toddler-group

 

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Dates for holiday and term times 2013-14

Dates for holiday playground sessions

Thursday 25 July to Friday 30 August
Monday 28 October to Friday 1 November
Monday 23 December afternoon only – Christmas party
Monday 17 to Friday 21 February (half term)
Monday 7 April to Thursday 17 April
Monday 26 May to Friday 30 May
Sessions are Monday-Friday 10am-12pm and 2pm-5pm.
Additional childcare is available between 8.30-10am, 12-2pm and 5-6pm

Dates for afterschool playground sessions

Autumn Term 2013
Monday 9 September to Friday 25 October
Monday 4 November to Friday 20 December

Spring Term 2014
Tuesday 7 January to Friday 14 February
Monday 24 February to Friday 4 April

Summer Term 2014
Monday 28 April to Friday 23 May
Monday 2 June to Friday 18 July

Dates for playgroup sessions

Autumn Term 2013
Monday 9 September to Friday 25 October
Monday 4 November to Friday 20 December

Spring Term 2014
Tuesday 7 January to Friday 14 February
Monday 24 February to Friday 4 April

Summer Term 2014
Monday 28 April to Friday 23 May
Monday 2 June to Friday 18 July

Closed for Repairs and Maintenance week

Monday 2 to Friday 6 September
Tuesday 22 to Friday 25 April
Please let us know if you can help out during either of these week to clean, sort, mend, repair and more

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Children below school age

If you want to visit with a child aged 0-4…

Parent and toddler group

We welcome all under 4s and are based in the Eco Centre which has a snug indoor area in case of rain, plus access to the city farm. We charge £1 per adult and 50p per child to include refreshments.

During school term our parent and toddler group runs on Wednesdays 1-3pm, with the city farm open from 2pm

During the 2013 school summer holidays we will run every Wednesday between 2-4pm (so that older siblings can play in the adventure playground).

Adventure Playground general opening

Children below school age are welcome to visit the adventure playground and city farm during our general opening hours (Monday-Friday 3.45-6pm during term time, 10am-12pm and 2pm-5pm during holidays). Parents must supervise under 5s at all times and we do not charge for them but encourage you to make a donation. Please call us before setting off to avoid potential disappointment, as visitor numbers are restricted.

Preschool playgroups

Following our recent Outstanding rating by Ofsted, our preschool playgroups have a waiting list. Please contact us for details.