About Us
Founded in 1973 by a group of committed, enthusiastic parents, Torphins Playgroup Preschool provides a safe, unique early years learning environment in Aberdeenshire for children from the age of two until they attend primary school.
Torphins Playgroup Preschool is committed to child-led learning through play. We follow the Scottish National Curriculums, the Curriculum for Excellence, the Pre-birth to Three Curriculum, Realising The Ambition: Being Me, as well as the Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC) framework, and were awarded a score of ‘4 – Good’ at our most recent Care Inspectorate inspection
Parents are integral to Playgroup - running the charity as a committee, leading the playgroup in everything from hiring staff to policy making, and volunteering in the setting itself. The Committee fundraises from a wide variety of sources including grants, trusts and foundations as well as public events and online appeals. As well as this, parents are involved as volunteers, taking part in parent duties in the setting itself. This is a unique opportunity to really see how your children learn and take a role in their early years’ education.
No other childcare facility in our local area provides this combination of benefits. We are a genuine preschool that gives children the freedom to learn and experience the world through play in a caring, safe environment, guiding them while they develop through the early years curriculum, all with the close involvement of their care-givers and families.
Laura Crichton
Laura is the Lead Early Years Practitioner at Playgroup, having joined the team in October 2019. She currently holds her SVQ Level 3 and has recently started her Level 4. Laura’s favourite activity to do with the children at Playgroup is reading stories and lots of imaginative role play. She also loves playing in the garden, encouraging the children to explore and investigate.
Niomi Mackie
Niomi joined the team at Torphins Playgroup in September 2022 as an Early Years Practitioner. She currently holds her SVQ Level 3 qualification in childcare and social work, and has worked in the childcare sector since 2016. Niomi loves encouraging the children to use their imaginations and expand their learning through play. Reading stories and exploring the garden with the children are amongst her favourite activities.
Allana Tracy
Allana joined the team at Torphins Playgroup in 2020 and is one of our Practitioners. She recently completed her SVQ Level 3. Allana brings lots of energy to Playgroup and she loves encouraging the imaginations of the children in their play and following their lead. She most enjoys introducing the children to messy play opportunities and letting the children feel the different textures. She's often singing songs with the children and making music with different instruments.
Kay Sims
Kay is Manager of Torphins Playgroup and has been in post since February 2023. Kay holds a PGDE in Primary education as well as the Management Credits of the BA in Childhood Practise.
Kay's favourite activity at Playgroup is to be outdoors with the children, exploring the garden, woods or wider community. Bug and scavenger hunts and lots of time in the mud kitchen!
Bethan Starling
Bethan started working at Playgroup in April 2023 after volunteering on the committee for three years when her own children attended. She loves that a day at Playgroup is always different; we forage, create, read, bake and learn from each other. She hopes to begin her level 3 training in the near future!
Lunch And Snacks
Whole day sessions will include lunch. Children will be given a hot healthy lunch provided by Aberdeenshire Schools catering service (further information below). Children with funded places are entitled to the hot lunch option free as part of the scheme.
A healthy snack of fruit or vegetables is included in both the morning and afternoon sessions – there is no charge to families for this.
Fees & Funding
Sessions run from 09.00 until 12.00 and from 12.00 until 15.00. Children can stay for one or both sessions.
Our Latest News
2023 AGM Dates coming soon...
Wednesday, 31 May 2023
Torphins Playgroup Committee AGM - 30th June 2023
Our Vision
Our vision is to provide a safe and
stimulating indoor and outdoor
environment in which children can play
freely and learn.
We value the individual needs and
preferences of the children and their
families and respond dynamically and
responsively to ensure all have a positive,
nurturing and high quality early years
experience.
We aim to provide each child with the
confidence and early skills that will lay a
foundation for life-long learning. We hold
the children and their carers at the centre
of what we do.
Our Commitments
- To provide an environment that enables children to
learn though play both inside and outside. - To support children in planning for their own play
and learning. - To enable children to become Successful Learners,
Confident Individuals Responsible Citizens and
Effective Contributors by using ‘A Curriculum for
Excellence’ and ‘Realising the Ambition’. - To respect and promote the individual needs, views
and wishes of the parents/carers, children and staff. - To promote the wellbeing of children.
- To provide opportunities to stimulate interest and
imagination. - To encourage parents/carers and children to
participate in charitable activities which benefit the
group and the wider community. - To plan for continued self-improvement for the
benefit of the children and the group. - To encourage parents/carers and staff to work
together for the benefit of the group.