SNAP on a Monday - Parent and Pre-school Children Group

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SNAP on a Monday - Parent and Pre-school Children Group

The parent and pre-school children group is a very important part of SNAP's provision. It is an opportunity for parents who have concerns about the development of their pre-school child to meet others who understand and can offer help.

If you are planning to come to SNAP on a Monday you must call the SNAP office to book a place as numbers are limited. If you have booked for a session and you are then unable to attend you will need to let us know so your place can be offered to another family. If you are coming to SNAP on a Monday for the first time please let us know when you book your place so we can make sure someone is available to show you around and give you the information and support you need when you arrive.

Session Times: Monday afternoons from 12.30pm to 2.30pm during school term time. We suggest a donation of £3 per family, which will go towards costs of running the session. Volunteers arrive before this time to set up and equip the building. Staff and volunteers are all police checked, wear name badges and are available to talk to parents and play with the children. If you wish to browse the library or concentrate on talking to a parent adviser, a volunteer can be allocated to supervise your child whilst you do so.

Name Labels: On arrival everyone is required to sign in and if your child has any allergies or is on a special diet of any kind, please inform us at the welcome desk. Every child is given a sticky name label to wear during the session as this enables the advisers and volunteers to interact well with the children. Parents are also given a name badge when signing in. For children with allergies, the name label is marked with a red dot to indicate to the volunteers that the child should not consume anything without the knowledge of the parent.

Parent Advice/Library: If you need to speak to a parent adviser or need some help locating information in the library, please let one of the advisers know or ask at the welcome desk.

Children's Video and DVD Library: Videos and DVDs can be borrowed free of charge for your children by signing them out in the loan book. These are kept in the library so please encourage your children to go in and have a look. Some of our specialist toys can also be borrowed between Monday sessions. Please sign them out in the same way.

Siblings: You can come along with just siblings, if your child with special needs is at school.

Session Activities: The toys and activities vary each week but we have a Playing Together activity during the session and Singing Together at the end of the session. Playing Together usually involves parachute games and beanbags, hoops or tap sticks. Singing Together involves musical instruments and singing familiar songs. We encourage all parents/carers, children and volunteers to join in with these sessions. Activities are taking place both in the activity hall downstairs and also upstairs so please make sure you have a look at all that is going on.

Art and Crafts: There is a different art and craft activity each week and some of these may be messy. Please dress your child in old clothes or make use of the aprons that are provided.

Sensory Room: This room has specialised multi-sensory equipment to provide a stimulating or calming environment for the children. A volunteer will always be available to assist you and your child.

IT Suite: This room has specialist IT equipment and software and it will be open during the session. If your child would like some time in the IT Suite then please inform the welcome desk when signing in and your child's name will be put on the list. When it is their turn a volunteer will come and find you. Volunteers will be working with the children in the IT Suite and you are welcome to stay or you may enjoy having a few minutes break when you can sit upstairs and have a drink while waiting.

Refreshments: SNAP provides tea, coffee and biscuits during the session (hot drinks upstairs, cold drinks downstairs) and the children are offered a drink and biscuit at 2pm. Children are encouraged to eat and drink together on the mats. However, you can bring your own food if this is preferred.

Other important information

Photographs: Sometimes photographs are taken during the session for use in our newsletter, annual report and on the SNAP website. Very occasionally the local press take photographs for a news/publicity item. SNAP always asks permission before a photograph is used, but please let us know if you do not wish your child to be photographed.

Fire: There are fire exits clearly marked throughout the building. Please ensure that you are aware of these. In case of a fire, you should leave the building via one of these exits and assemble behind the building by the oak tree opposite the clock tower. It is very important that you sign in and out of the session so that an accurate record is maintained in case of emergency evacuation.

Childhood Illnesses: Sometimes there are children attending who are particularly vulnerable to diseases such as chicken pox or mumps. If your child contracts any disease in the week following a visit to SNAP on a Monday, please let SNAP know immediately so the relevant parents can be informed.

Parking: If you have problems parking at SNAP on a Monday, please inform the SNAP office


The SNAP Centre
Pastoral Way
Warley
Brentwood
Essex CM14 5WF

Tel: 01277 211300
Email: info@snapcharity.org
http://www.snapcharity.org

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SNAP is an Essex support group for parents of children and young people with any special need or disability. Families need to be registered with SNAP to attend services, training courses etc. please contact The SNAP Centre for further details