EACH month the Standard takes a peek at life in a school classroom, this time reporter Brendan McFadden visited The Duke of Gloucester Playgroup, which is located at 29 regiment’s Duke of Gloucester barracks near South Cerney.

Children at the playgroup love spending their days outdoors taking part in a host of fun activities which teach them about the natural world.

Being outside is considered very important at the playgroup and the children are given six hours a day as ‘free flow’ time, where they wander in and out of class as they like instead of being restricted to a specific space.

Green fingered youngsters plant fruit and vegetables, such as strawberries and radishes. And then they make sure their produce is watered with water collected through a water butt they made out of bottles, yoghurt pots and pipes .

Another popular outdoor activity is walks around the base, as well as squirrel and bird watching.

Playgroup manager Carole Mercier, said: “We just think it is important that the children learn about the environment and the fresh air it is very good for them.”

When they are in class the little ones love learning about numbers, dates, seasons and playing with Gloop and shaving foam.

One of the little ones favourite activities is ‘show and tell’, which allows them to tell each other what fun activities they have been doing at home.

And all of the activities the student's do are chosen by them.

Carole said: “Every child is unique, we are completely guided by the children, that is part of what makes us unique.

“If children do not like messy play but they do like something else we will encourage them to do that.”

Although it is located in the heart of a military base, the pre-school also caters for children who do not live there.

Children from places like Down Ampney, Kemble and Siddington all attend the playgroup.

Carole said having youngsters from outside the base is beneficial to the youngsters who live on the base so they can integrate with the community.

“It is nice for our children to get civilian children attending,” he said.

And although many of the youngsters live on the barracks, they do not find themselves leaving the playgroup after a short time, due to their parents being posted elsewhere.

Carole explained that movement of military families is getting less frequent as its sister base in Germany is closing down soon.

As well as caring for the children’s needs when they are attending the pre-school, records of the children’s achievements are kept and passed on to their next school to help the child’s educational progress.

Every day at the school ends with play in the group’s sensory room followed by story time.

Thanks to donations from the community, the sensory room, which especially caters for those with education needs such as visual impairments and autism, was created four years ago.

Carole explained that the playgroup was inspired to create the room so it could cater for one the pupils at the time who was visually impaired.

Not only do the children have a fantastic time at the playgroup, their parents also give the playgroup glowing reports.

Claire Davis, Mum of Ruairidh and Rhys: “They been to other playgroups but this is by far the best one they have been to.

“I cannot say anything bad about it. They have all been amazing."

Tony Stratford, mother of Amelia, said the playgroup was so special because teachers take the time to talk to parents about their children.

She said: “They care so much about every child. "