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Services
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| What
are Developmental Needs
Happily, while
most parents can take the health of their child for granted, a small
percentage of children are born with or acquire a disability such as cerebral
palsy autism or Down's Syndrome. Children may have need of
early additional support on a short/long term basis because of
speech/language difficulties, social/behavioural problems, sensory
impairment or some degree of physical learning disability. These
children are referred to Sunshine by the Health and Education sector
after consultation for extra help and support.
Sunshine
is committed to providing and maintaining a quality service for the
children within the group in a stimulating and safe environment, which
conforms to the relevant health and safety legislation and meets the
standards set out by the Care Commission.
Each child's
needs will be recognised and respected, individuality encouraged and
efforts praised in a realistic and meaningful manner to promote a positive
self-image.
Due to our unique
access to professional visiting therapists, we will utilise their expertise
and follow the advice and guidelines they set in the use of
specialised equipment, exercises to encourage movement, speech and
language development etc.
Parent views
regarding the care of their child will be encouraged, recognised and
respected. Children will respect adults and other children in the group and they are encouraged to share and
help each other.
As a registered
playgroup we are inspected by the Care Commission who currently are
based at Phoenix House, 1 Wards Road, Elgin. Our
assigned officer is Margaret Murray and any queries on the service
provided by ourselves or regulations we are governed by can be check
with her should you so wish.
The group is
insured through CALA who also provide support on any relevant
legislation that may be implemented.
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How
Does the Sunshine Developmental Playgroup Help?
Sunshine aims to
help those children develop physical. social, language and cognitive
skills through a variety of play activities.
We aim to help
each child develop at their own pace, achieve their own potential and
support their procession onto local playgroup/nursery as appropriate
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Special
One to One Care
Sunshine is
staffed by a Playgroup Manager and 3 playworkers approved by the local
authority.
The group can
cater for up to 10 children per playgroup session and, where needed,
one-to-one attention can be given.
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What
Official Help Does Sunshine Receive?
Sunshine's work
is complimented by official agencies: Social Services,
Health and Education.
There is regular
input from physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language
Therapy, as well as direct support from professionals.
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What
Can Sunshine Offer to Families
Sunshine provides
the scientifically proven benefits of early intervention in the child's
development.
It also offers
valuable respite to the child's parent/carer. This greatly
improves the quality of life in families under enormous stress.
Sunshine also
provides the opportunity to meet and get support from others living in
similar difficult family situations.
As
there is no other developmental facility for pre-school children to
attend in Keith, Sunshine offers a lifeline to many families who have
nowhere else to turn.
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Admission
Admission to the
group is by referral through a local GP, Health Visitor or Social Work
Department. Each
session has a charge of £3.50 per child to be paid by the parent /
guardian weekly.
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Fees
Fee for children
attending the group are £3.50 per session, to be met by the
parent/guardian of the child.
Fees are paid
weekly, unless otherwise agreed, for the number of sessions attending.
When a child is
off playgroup, fees are still due for the sessions normally attended,
unless the child is hospitalised.
Any changes in
charges will be notified in writing one month prior to implication.
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Transport
Children referred
to playgroup from outwith Keith, if necessary can have access to
transport to the group. We have a variety
of car seats in different sizes and a member of staff will accompany the
child to and from the group. 
At present the
transport costs are met by the playgroup,
and as transport costs eat into
the funds of the group,
requests for
transport provision should only be made when absolutely necessary.
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Equipment
A variety of toys
and specialist equipment is provided enabling the children to develop
and learn through play eg. art work, floor games, outings, books, bikes
etc.
There are several
pieces of large equipment which are taken out for use within the
playgroup room. 
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Snacks
We will provide a
light snack each day. This will be varied and consist of foods
such as fruit, crackers, toast, cheese, yogurt, soup, sandwich etc.
We will also
provide foods relating to celebrations and other cultures
festivals such as haggis (Burn's Night), Divali, Chinese/Indian
foods etc.
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Holidays
As a guide, the
playgroup operates the same term dates as the schools in the
area.
Occasionally,
staff training and sanitising of equipment takes place and the group may
have an extended break. This will be notified through the
Newsletter.
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