Playgroups

Playgroups provide daily sessions - usually from two to four hours - of care and learning through play for children aged three and four years old, usually during school terms.

What is a playgroup?

They are run by trained early years professionals. Parents are closely involved and some are run by parent committees.

Playgroups are registered with the Early Years Team in your local Health and Social Care Trust and inspected annually.

Contact details for Early Years Teams

Those in the Pre-School Education Expansion Programme have some funded places for children in their final pre-school year

Most places will be available:

at least two and a half hours per day
five days per week
at least 38 weeks during the period September to June

In playgroups:

children can play and learn as well as have fun with friends
you can participate in your child's early years education
you can meet and get to know parents in your area
funded places for children in their pre-school year

However, playgroups are not suitable if you need full day-care.

Things to check with playgroups

that the building is safe and well-maintained
that the playgroup is registered with Early Years Team in your local Health and Social Care Trust
that there is a wide range of activities
that there are enough qualified staff
that the children seem happy, well-supervised and doing suitable activities