Aims and Objectives St. Michael's Playgroup is designed to introduce children aged between 2 and 3 years to playgroup activities. It provides an opportunity for children to mix and play together and become confident in the care of other adults outside the family. We try to introduce them to everyday skills through play activities, helping them to work and share with other children and to take those first steps towards independence from Mum. Parents are very welcome to stay with their children until they are sure they have settled, when you will be free to leave them if you wish. To help a child settle more easily they will be allocated a one-to-one helper, where needed, once the parent/guardian has decided it is time to leave We aim to offer your child a variety of activities including some of the more messy skills that are difficult to include at home. Our activities include painting, cooking, water and sand play, printing, gluing, cutting, coordination skills, floor play, large apparatus, music singing, dance, inventive play, ring games and much more. We encourage the children to bring a healthy option of fruit or chopped veg in a small named container for their mid-morning snack. Water and rasins are always available as an alternative. St. Michael's Playgroup believes that no child should be excluded from the Playgroup's activities on the grounds of gender, class, family status, means, disability, ethnic origin, culture or religion. All children are encouraged to take part in a full range of activities, but have the right not to take part if they wish, and this wish will be respected.