Playgroup children took part in this year’s Christingle service at Grindleford St. Helens church on Christmas Eve.  The service was led by our very own supervisor, Becca, who used her knowledge of the local children well.  They were involved throughout the service as were playgroup volunteers and parents. Obviously the main attraction being the Christingle itself – not many left the building with the sweets still present! Yum yum!

For the second time, Grindleford and Eyam Playgroup joined forces with the playgroup in Hathersage for the Advent Spiral. It is an opportunity for a moment of pause before the onslaught, that is Christmas. Hosted by the National Trust at the Moorlands Visitor Centre, it is truly a magical time. The children are invited to light a candle from the centre of the room, and place it on the spiral. Carols are sung and families from the community come together for a chance to be. A really special event which will be repeated next Christmas.

Some beautiful Christmassy clay creations made by the children at last week’s mud kitchen, inspired by one of our wonderful Friday volunteers Geraldine Brown.

Grindleford and Eyam Playgroup just hosted children’s activities alongside The National Trust at the Shatton Apple Day – lovely time had by all despite the rain! What a joyful event to support – live music, beautiful locally produced food and crafts and the sight of crowds of people pressing their own apple juice. Young and not so young had a go at clay boggarts and apple printing bunting – fantastic!

Last Saturday we held our first annual apple day. Thank you to all who helped pick, wash, chop and crush the apples into delicious apple juice. Home made soup, bread and cakes and a gaggle of assorted animals all added to the pleasantness of the day. Thanks to everyone who helped make the day so special. We were able to serve the juice at our Mud Kitchen Toddler Group this Friday and delicious it was! We will most certainly hold a similar event next year, so book the first weekend in October as a must for all the family!

Our new Mud Kitchen Fridays have been a huge hit with the children producing some gloriously muddy potions, splattered cakes and lots of other carefully crafted creations! We have started welcoming in the grown-ups too to the Mud Kitchen Toddler Group, which is part of our Friday pre-school sessions – and it is magic to see the older pre-schoolers interacting happily with our younger visitors.

So Friday is now … Mud Kitchen Toddler Group

Fridays 10-11.30am Grindleford Pavilion – For parents and children 0-4 years £2/child

Outdoor mud kitchen, indoor play area, children’s crafts and snack included. Places limited to 10 adults on the day

For more information call Becca on 07842 095402

Ewan and Georgina get creative with vegetable animals!

This Saturday pre-schoolers and their families from Grindleford and Eyam Playgroup celebrated the arrival of Spring with a gardening-themed open day and a trip to the pre-school’s fantastic local allotment. Beans, courgettes and aubergines become slugs, mice and owls – and some other more fantastic animals – through the soaring imaginations and concentrated carvings of the children. A group of adults and children, fuelled with lots of homemade cake, teamed up to build the pre-school’s first scarecrow, which was led in joyful procession to the allotments for its inaugruation.

Becca Stephenson, pre-school supervisor, said “The children are fascinated by the allotment and the process of growing their own food. It is such a rich learning resource for our curriculum, from their concentration levels and physical stamina.”

Grindleford and Eyam Playgroup is a rural Peak village pre-school with a playful, unhurried approach to learning. The curriculum, which includes a weekly Forest School, embraces the rich outdoor learning environment offered by Grindleford’s beautiful surroundings.Contact grindlefordandeyamplaygroup@gmail.com or phone 07842 095402.