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playgroup

26 replies

compo · 19/04/2005 19:45

Can anyone tell me how play group works? My ds is currently one and goes to nursery one day a week. I know that there are play groups for when he is a bit older. Are these for 2 or 3 year olds? How much are they and are they ever free? TIA

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cod · 19/04/2005 19:47

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zebraX · 19/04/2005 19:48

Most start around 2.5-3yo. They are free the first (school calendar) term after your child turns 3. 2.5-3 hour sessions, morning or afternoon session to coincide with school hours. Before 3yo the charge is around 2.5-5 quid/session -- depending where you live. Sometimes they will run 2 sessions together with a small break for lunch, they may charge you for that time, but it can mean effectively, 6 hours of cheap/nearly free childcare. No more than 5 sessions/week, though. hth.

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cod · 19/04/2005 19:48

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zebraX · 19/04/2005 19:49

Oh, and depending on where you live, playgroup may means the same as "Mother + Toddler group" or it may mean the same as "nursery"/"preschool". I was describing what we called "playgroup" in Leicestershire, but gets called "preschool" here in Norfolk!

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compo · 19/04/2005 19:49

thnaks Cod. It's just I was at mother and toddlers today and a lady there told me the same place also held 'playgroup' Monday to Friday mornings only. She said the kids had to be potty trained. So I wonder how much would that cost and would you get help with it iyswim. Is preschool more when they are 3? (so confused!)

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coldtea · 19/04/2005 19:49

Assuming you mean playschool. It can differ from area to area. Where i live your child can go from 2 & 10months(must be dry!) & you would usually start them off with 2 mornings looking to increase. The times are roughly 9.30am-12pm. You pay for this until the term after their 3rd birthday & then you are entitled to all 5 mornings free.

Hth

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compo · 19/04/2005 19:50

aha I like the sound of 'it will get clearer as he gets lder' does that mean things drop through your letter box telling you wheat the heck you're supposed to be doing?

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coldtea · 19/04/2005 19:51

If only! I had to keep my eyes peeled in the local paper for when to put ds's name down!

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compo · 19/04/2005 19:51

oh god now there is play group/ play school/ pre school?!

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compo · 19/04/2005 19:52

also she was telling me her dd (who is 2.5) has got her name down already for a school. does that kind of thing drop thru the letterbox? when are you mean to investigate schools fgs!!!

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zebraX · 19/04/2005 19:53

What we called playgroup in Leicestershire, what I was describing, you leave the child (in theory) & come back later. Oh, and it's called "playschool" in other parts of the country, too!

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coldtea · 19/04/2005 19:53

It does sound confusing i agree. My ds went to playschool then to school nursery 1 year before he was due to start school.

I have to agree with cod it does become clearer as they get to 'that' age. I was petrified i was going to miss something!

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zebraX · 19/04/2005 19:54

schools -- the rule has been you didn't have to register until the January before they were due to start, but I don't know if that might change. Your Health Visitor could help explain all this to you, btw.

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compo · 19/04/2005 19:58

really? That would be excellent but I bet she hasn't got a clue

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jollymum · 19/04/2005 19:58

Pre-school around here is what I used to call playgroup. You leave them there, from 2yrs six months, provided they are toilet trained, for 2-5 sessions a wekk, depending on your luck! You should automatically get a letter from your Council about Nursery places. These are usually attached to a school, well, they are around here. Your child can attend from the September after they are three years old. It's hard sometimes if your child is born late Sept/Oct because they miss out and have to wait until they're nearly four to go, hence being nearly five when they start school.
HTH!

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compo · 19/04/2005 19:59

ok another quick question (I promise), with schools do you automatically go to the nearest one unless you apply to another school?

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compo · 19/04/2005 20:00

jollymum thanks - loving the sound of automatic letter from council

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cod · 19/04/2005 20:34

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zebraX · 19/04/2005 20:53

NO, you don't automatically go to the nearest school. Someone at the county council has a catchment area map, and the catchment map may be a funny shape. They use the map and a long list of other criteria to decide if you can get a place. All you do is fill in the form saying which school you'd like as 1st choice, 2nd choice, etc.

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zebraX · 19/04/2005 20:54

A lot of preschools/nurseries/playschools have to take non-toilet trained children now, too, if the child is over 3yo, they can't turn them away even if the child is still in nappies.

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compo · 19/04/2005 20:55

thanks you're a star you know what its like when you go to one of these groups and people are rabbiting on about one thing and another and you're like 'whoa what was that' sort of thing?!!

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compo · 19/04/2005 20:56

that was to zebra and cod

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throckenholt · 20/04/2005 07:45

I also live in Norfolk - in our neck of the woods they are called playgroups (as opposed to toddler groups which are for younger ones and parents).

My DS1 goes to 2

starts at age 2.5 - you leave child there for 2.5 hours (up to 5 sessions per week). Parent goes along for the first session of 2 to get them used to it. They have sessions 4 mornings and 2 afternoons I think. They were not concerned about children in nappies - DS1 was when he started but always lasted without needing changing.
starts any time after 2 (if they have space), but have to be accompanied by parent until at least 2.5. Again 2.5 hour sessions - only have 3 morning sessions per week. Also said would like parent to accompany until potty trained because they have no real facilities for nappy changing.

Both cost about £5 per session until the age of 3 and then you get something like 55 free sessions per term.

Both also link in with the local primary school by having sessions there for older kids in the term before starting school. Playgroup 2 also does a session at the school for the whole playgroup once per term.

Best thing to do it arrange to go along to any in your area and see if you like it and find out how they work.

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throckenholt · 20/04/2005 07:46

also forgot to say both are in the local village halls.

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zebraX · 21/04/2005 22:08

I had a conversation with our preschool head, today, which explained the language thing, so for anoraks like me...

The government is really pushing early years education. Although it's play-based learning, the emphasis is supposed to be on learning, so "they" don't like the term "playgroup", which sounds like mostly play. They want "preschool", instead... but regardless of name, they're pretty much the same things, from about age 2.5yo, get to leave the child, paid for sessions first term after 3rd birthday, etc.