Welcome awaits at Kiwi Playgroup
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A playgroup which prides itself on being one big family is looking to bring more youngsters into the fold next term.
The popular not-for-profit Kiwi pre-school group in West Mains has both funded and non-funded spaces available from August – and takes children from two years nine months to school age.
Generations of families have attended the playgroup, which opened in 1972.
As the group are able to apply for grants, the children are involved in an array of activities – both within the nursery and in the wider community.
Kiwi are ScotRail’s youngest station adopters and created murals and look after planters at East Kilbride train station.
They also have beehives at the nearby Hillocks Regeneration Programme.
Chairperson Rebecca Hay, who has been involved with Kiwi for the last eight years through her own kids, said: “It is very much a familyorientated playgroup.
“It is bright, welcoming and friendly with a maximum of 20 places and three members of staff so the ratio is ideal.
“There are enough children for the pupils to have enough interaction but it is small enough so they all get the attention they need.
“As we are non-profit we have far more freedom and the children have so many opportunities to experience new things.
“Early years is all about giving children the best opportunities possible before they start school and they are involved in so many different activities through both projects at the playgroup and trips in East Kilbride and further afield.” So where do the parents fit in? “Our parents are extremely supportive and we have a committee where they can volunteer as much as they want to and very much inform the direction of the group,” she said.
“We follow the curriculum for excellence and ensure the children experience both fun and educational trips and work in partnership with South Lanarkshire Council.”
Among the array of activities undertaken recently by the pupils was a trip to the Kelvingrove Museum in Glasgow to see the live observation beehive and join in a mini beastie workshop.
The project, which also saw them hatch chicks in the playgroup, was finished off with a healthy eating workshop to allow the children to learn about the benefits of enjoying recipes using eggs and honey.
To give families a taster of what is on offer at Kiwi, an open morning is being held at Kirktonholme Community Centre from 10am to 11.30 am on Thursday, May 24.
There is free entry to pre-school kids, with plenty of crafts and games to keep little ones entertained, and the Village Co-op are kindly donating the refreshments. 230418kiwi_04 230418kiwi_02 230418kiwi_01