Learning Story booklets will be issued to each child in the Playgroup. They are records of your child’s development in each of the six learning areas as recommended by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority.

The learning areas are as follows:

• Communication, Language and Literacy
• Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development
• Creative Development
• Knowledge and Understanding of the World
• Physical Development

The records take the form of observations noted during sessions, which are placed in the most appropriate area of learning (often more than one area is covered) and the specific development is recorded along with the next step to expand or enhance the learning. The next step column is vital, especially when themes / activities are being planned so that the staff can most effectively aid your child’s development.

We welcome parents/carers taking an active role in the Learning Stories and adding their own comments and observations so that we are able to work together to provide activities and stimulation to suit each individual child. It must be emphasized that we are not going to be testing your child in any way and that these records are, of course, confidential.

Alongside the Learning Story each child will have a Scrapbook, which will contain many different examples of your child’s experiences at Playgroup including finished activities, early writing, drawing and any number-work and photos.

The Learning Story and Scrapbook should be seen together to show your child’s development. When your child leaves Playgroup these documents (plus a specially prepared Transition Form) will be handed to you: all of these should help your child’s next school assess what stage your child has reached.

If you have any queries or would like to see your child’s Learning Story/Scrapbook at any time, please do not hesitate to ask.