Advice on starting a local parent and toddler group

[purpleheart12]

Hi,
I've been asked if I would run a local parent and toddler group and Id love some advice please. I already have a DBS check and first aid training and I know where to get insurance. My church hall will charge me £10 for a hour so I will need to charge for the group I will offer drink and cake for the adults and a healthy snack for the children. I will need to find out where I can get toys/ equipment from. As these aren't structured classes but just a group there will be different areas of course like a reading area, sand pit, arts and crafts, toy area etc I will have music for the children to listen to so I'm not sure how much to charge! I have no intention of running it as a business but would be nice to make a little from it (pocket change really) could I fundraise for it etc? I'm not sure who to contact really! Just an idea at the moment. I'm hoping to be able to run day out trips/ have a Halloween party/Christmas party for the kids and parents and occasionally get some local businesses to come in and do some events etc but we'll see. I've literally no idea how to do this! I'm hoping to have a baby group too so any ideas would be wonderful please! What would you want from your local group? Has anyone else done this before?

Have a look to see if Early Years Alliance operate in your area, (or if they give advice Nationally?).
This is EXACTLY what they do in my area.

If not, ask them who else might offer similar support in your area. Of contact your Local Authority and ask.

We go to a very well-run playgroup which sounds like what you’re proposing. It runs twice a week for 90 minutes in a community hall. £3 per family (regardless of how many kids) and that includes a hot drink for the adults and a drink and biscuit for the children.

It is run by volunteers and you will need some adults to help you set up and clear away. Most of the toys look to be donations. I’d get on your local free Facebook group and see what people are giving away - some of it can be very good quality. I think ours is set up as a charity so that may be something to consider as then you might be eligible for grants (with the caveat that I have no idea how these things work).

Ours is popular because it’s a big hall and has a wide range of toys - small slides and trampolines, ride-ons, toy kitchen, dressing up clothes, animals, cars - you name it, this playgroup has it.

Ours sometimes has singing at the end while other adults tidy and I’d really recommend something like that to draw everyone together. It feels more structured. Ditto snack time - everyone sits on the mat.

There is a dedicated baby area at ours but nothing to separate it from toddlers. Which is great if you’re there with both a baby and toddler but not good for anyone who is worried about baby getting trampled!