Karen – Fda - Playgroup Manager
Karen has worked for the Playgroup since 1990 and has been the manager since 1997. Karen is a Senior Early Years Practitioner and has completed a Foundation Degree in Early Years studies. As well as managing the playgroup Karen is a Leading Foundation Stage Practitioner visiting and supporting the development of other preschools in the North East of Hampshire.
This is Karen’s Story:
I am the Manager and 1 of the Directors of Barbados Playgroup Ltd. I am married with two grown up children, and a young grandson and have lived in Bordon for around 32 years.
I first became involved in this playgroup around 1989, I attended the initial meeting to set up the playgroup in a room within Barbados House (now known as the Phoenix Centre). In those days playgroups were set up with a Parents committee and I was elected to be the groups Treasurer. When my son turned 3 years old later the same year I sent him to this playgroup. Around late 1990 the playgroup had a new supervisor and I was encouraged into the group as a mother helper, as my son got close to leaving to go to school so did staff members so I applied for a job as a playgroup helper, I eventually became Deputy Supervisor and in September 1997 I became the groups Supervisor and in 2006 we had to close the playgroup as a charity and re-open as a Company Limited by Guarantee or close our doors for good, I then became a Director and Manager of the group.
Around 1996/97 saw the group move into the premises we are in now which brought a lot of changes both for the staff and children, and in February 1998 we had our very first Ofsted Inspection, and scraped through by the skin of our teeth, and the rest as they say is history.
I have seen and been part of many changes involving Early Years Care, from no planning, no key carers, no real organisation or structure, to Desirable Learning Outcomes, Foundation Stage Curriculum, Birth to Three Matters and now The Early Years Foundation Stage Framework. I have seen everyone paying fees of £1.50 a morning to handing in vouchers for 2 and half hours free child care to the 3 year old funding we have today. I have seen the introduction of Ofsted Inspections, quality accreditation inspections, inspections by our Early Years Advisory Teacher. From no training given to all practitioners needing a recognised early years qualification, lots and lots of plans, plans for everything, setting up a key carer system, learning how to become a key carer, observing children and assessing their learning and learning how to develop a child’s learning journey portfolio, learning how to manage staff and completely changing our playgroup environment for the new framework introduced in September 2008, as you can see there have been many changes these are just a few I have mentioned, some for the good, some not so good, often the changes occur on a change of government, so the job is never boring!!
My job is demanding, sometimes frustrating, endless paperwork, inspections, developments, but always rewarding, knowing I have developed a member of staff or helped a parent or offered advice to another setting, makes my job worthwhile but the main part of my job that I enjoy most is opening the door every morning and welcoming the smiling, happy faces of your children, knowing it is now time to put the boring side of my job to one side and give 100% of my attention to ensuring your children have lots of fun and enjoyment while learning and developing at the same time.
My staff will probably agree with me the children keep us sane!!!!!
