A Gentle Welcome to Early Learning
Playgroup is the very first step in your child’s learning journey. For children aged 1.5–2 years, it offers a warm, secure environment where little ones begin exploring the world beyond home. At this stage, children learn through their senses — touching, tasting, moving, and observing — so every activity, whether stacking blocks, finger-painting, or humming along to rhymes, becomes a joyful discovery. It’s a place where comfort, play, and gentle routine help children feel safe, loved, and ready to grow.

Learning through EYFS and Beyond
At Upward, Playgroup follows the EYFS framework, with special focus on the Prime Areas — communication and language, physical development, and personal, social, and emotional development. Inspired by Reggio and Waldorf philosophies, we nurture curiosity through natural materials, open-ended play, rhythm, music, and gentle routines. Children are encouraged to explore at their own pace while teachers observe, guide, and extend their discoveries with care.

Building Confidence in Little Steps
In Playgroup, daily experiences are simple yet meaningful: singing familiar songs, listening to short rhymes, exploring outdoor spaces, enjoying free play with sensory materials, and taking part in basic routines like tidying toys or washing hands with help. These little moments support early independence, help children feel part of a group, and build the foundations for social and emotional growth.

Enriching Experiences Beyond Play
Alongside everyday play, children enjoy enriching experiences that spark joy and development. Gentle music and movement sessions build rhythm and coordination, while gymnastics and sensory play help children connect with the world around them. With activities designed to be playful and age-appropriate, every child experiences the wonder of learning in an environment that feels like a second home.

Playgroup Key Focus Areas
Communication and Language (CL)
Encouraging listening through songs, rhymes, and simple stories with lots of repetition
Supporting early communication through gestures, sounds, single words, and short phrases
Building vocabulary with real objects, picture cards, and naming familiar people, animals, and things

 Physical Development (PD)
Developing gross motor skills through crawling, walking, climbing small steps, pushing, and pulling toys
Strengthening fine motor skills with finger painting, stacking cups, turning pages, and using chunky crayons
Promoting healthy routines — handwashing with help, drinking water, and trying healthy snacks

Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED)
Building a sense of security and trust with caregivers and peers
Supporting separation from parents gently and helping children adjust to routine
Encouraging early sharing, parallel play, and showing care for others (e.g., patting, giving toys)
Helping children recognise and express basic feelings (happy, sad, upset) with words or gestures

Specific Areas (introduced very gently through play and sensory exploration):
Literacy – Looking at picture books, enjoying rhymes, scribbling and making random marks
Mathematics – Exploring big and small, filling and emptying, early counting through songs and finger play
Understanding the World – Sensory play with sand, water, leaves; noticing animals and nature in the environment
Expressive Arts and Design – Singing action songs, clapping to rhythms, experimenting with paint, clay, or pretend play with dolls and toy animals