Playwork Coordinator: Anne Marie Strong.

The Playwork Programme has been recognised by the Pathways to Excellence Quality Assurance Standard which is administered by PlayBoard.

Times: Tuesday & Thursday 10:00 am – 12:30 pm

Activities:

Story Time, Time to Brush dental care, creative playtime addressing toddler development, visiting speakers on parenting issues and off site trips to places of educational interest. The parents recently completed ‘Parenting Matters’ training that is delivered by Barnardos, Northern Ireland.

Contact person: Anne Marie Strong fsplayworker@btconnect.com

Playwork

2005 has been another fantastic year for Forthspring Playwork programmes. Within our Carer and Toddler programme we said a sad farewell to several of our long standing toddlers who have now grown up and moved on to nursery schools within the local area. We then welcomed new arrivals to the programme and, after a settling in period, the mothers have commenced a ‘Parenting Matters’ course facilitated by Barnardo’s. In this programme, parents have been providing one another support while gaining new knowledge and skills on issues such has behaviour management techniques, while their children have enjoyed exploring the playroom.

Over the last few months of 2005, staff worked to gather an extensive portfolio of the programme as evidence for the ‘Pathways to Excellence’, quality standard which is accredited by Playboard. The children have enjoyed looking at a variety of global issues. The delivery of these programmes has been wonderfully assisted by our international volunteers, from America and Germany. Kat from California shares her experiences,

‘The aim of these sessions is to share information on new cultures and to inform the children of where I come from. One session was after Hurricane Katrina and highlighted the culture of New Orleans with a traditional dish to try and Mardi Gras masks to make. I have also carried out a session on vegetarianism to explain to the children why I don’t eat meat.’

During the year we extended the healthy eating programme introduced in 2004 to a healthy lifestyle programme. The children enjoyed topics such as the benefits of exercise and participation in the ‘Time to Brush’ campaign, where within the programme they brush their teeth every day after a snack. This was facilitated by a local dentist Paul O’ Kane. We would like to thank Rachel Surgenor for her assistance throughout 2005 in providing informing sessions on ‘Fair Trade’ and the way that the practice of fair trade helps people in countries around the world. The children learnt a lot from assisting in a weeklong Fair Trade stall held at Forthspring.

As with every year the children have had the opportunity to participate in various trips together such as horse riding, ice skating and visits to Belfast Adventure playground.

Lots of children from the local area also took part in a three week summer scheme, with families enjoying days out together. The children also participated in sports tournaments with two other local schemes and enjoyed drama work shops with a teacher from the Helen O’ Grady School of Drama. A special thanks to Pam, a local volunteer, who provided fun filled sessions of arts and crafts during the summer scheme and throughout the year