What happened to ‘playschool’?

[Granolaandcoconut]

When I was small (I was born in late 80s) my mum used to drop me off at playschool, which was in a church hall, run by other mums, I think there was a retired teacher there too, but they were all working on a voluntary basis. I doubt any were DBS checked!
I was dropped off in the morning and picked up about lunchtime.
I guess it was a cross between playgroup and nursery, because our mums and dads didn’t stay with us.
As far as I’m aware, there isn’t such a thing anymore?
Does anyone else remember these and wonder why they’re not around any longer.

I went to a private playschool in Ireland in the late 70’s for 2 years before starting primary - so I was age 2 and 3. Not every area would have had one though. They evolved into preschools I think - mix of private and community based.

My ds went to something similar in a village hall (called preschool). The leaders were early years qualified though and dbs checked of course (and paid). I much preferred the set up as it didn't feel like it was being run like a business to make money but was all about the kids.

@DinosaurDiana

Mine went to playschool, it was about messy play, getting outside in the fresh air and learning to share. Then education got involved and it became more of a formal nursery. Shame.

This was so the government could say they had provided free Early Years education for all 3 year olds. Some (I'm sure not all, just the ones I've seen) responded by giving children unnecessary and useless 'work sheets' etc so they could say they were 'teaching' them. Playgroups used to be overseen by Social Services until they became Ofsted registered, the same with Childminders.

School Nurseries run by qualified Early Years specialised teachers are usually less formal than the private nurseries which used to be playgroups ('Playschool' was a children's TV programme which is how the term came to be used).

In my bit of London there’s a couple called playgroups but you pay to go (aside from the funded hours) and parents don’t stay. 9-1 term time only generally. They are charities and tend to break even. DS enjoyed it but it was either SAHM or children with nannies- so nanny would drop older children at school, and be with just the under 2 whilst toddler was at playgroup.

DD went to one age 3 til school. 9-12 and then they could bring lunch and pick up at 1 if you wanted. They’re all official, OFSTED and free hours taken but run by lovely grans who seem to have unlimited patience

Also run in a church hall here! It’s very popular. Plenty of working parents here but many have nannies / minders who collect at lunch.

The one I went to in the 80s still exists, still in a church hall. When I was there there was a parent rota but there was at least one qualified teacher who did reading and maths with the preschool class (3-4 year olds I’m guessing). Now all the staff are paid and qualified in early years.

It might depend on what else is available in your area. Where I live now, most primary schools have attached nurseries which offer 9-3 during term time from age 3, so I guess that covers a lot of the same gap. In the area where the play school is, I don’t think any of the schools have a nursery.

We have a couple around here, they call they 'stay and play' - parents usually stay though, or one mum might be looking out for a couple of other kids too. In our local community hall, and the church does one too but we've always avoided that one as it comes with a dose of RE on the side.

Here in Northern Ireland you can choose to send your child to playschool from 2 years 10 months. You have to pay though. The following year they can go to state nursery (free).

Same this as council-funded nursery here. Drop off, pick up 3 hours later. My kids went, it's still a thing.

We had a playgroup which was the same really. It was 2 mornings a week, and parents were on a rota to help clear up at the end of the morning.

Ours closed because of OFSTED requirements being too arduous.

Agree that in the 80s there were more informal childcare/drop-your-kids-to-play-for-a-few-hours places than there is now. I remember playing happily in community centres, church halls etc. Lots of things run informally by a group of parents. I loved the the play bus at events - parents just paid small amout and off they went. Less requirements at the time for risk assessment, CRB checks, qualified staff etc. Nobody sued if something went wrong. Times have changed and many of these places are too much of a liability now. Sad but true.

Mine goes to playgroup in the village hall for over 2's - drop off at 9 and pick up 12.15 - its fab!

I went to Play School in the very late 60s, Is it not perhaps just a name change ie was Play School now Pre School I wonder

I worked in a Pre School until recently. Term time 9-3.
My friend works in a Pre School too. Very similar hours.

I think all the names we have for childcare is confusing, especially Nursery as in Day Care 8-6 open all year apart from a few days at Easter and Xmas
and School Nursery 8.50-3.15 which is term time only.

My kids went to one at the community centre. They took them from 2.4 until they started mainstream nursery at 3, so only about 6 months they went for. I think it was just to get them used to separation and socialising before nursery. There was two playworkers there plus two parents would be there every session. It was only 3 hours twice a week. It was great.

We have a church near us which has a pre school...Its open for three hours in the morning...I had a look round when DC was a toddler..it's literally just a church hall with some toys.

It's a similar concept.

With playschool though, could you just drop off if you wanted to or did you have to formally register your child with it like you do now

I am almost 40. I went to playgroup in the 80s, in a church hall. I went till I started school. Regulation and legislation took over from the Auntie Sue-style playgroups.

mine all went to playschool but it wasnt volutary it was run by a charity and the staff were paid.
it was 9:30-12:30 each morning in the village hall. was partially funded by the government thing and then we paid a top up fee of a couple of quid a day.

I, ll have to ask my mum I know, my mum fell out with the women who ran the play school my sister went to, so I went to a different one, all I can remember about it was playing with a cap gun (imagine that now!) and being sung happy birthday too on my fourth birthday I'm nearly 48 now 😂

Now that people can get government funding for childcare, and also the childcare vouchers/salary sacrifice, they're only able to use those at provision which has jumped through all the regulatory hoops, which, realistically, is not going to happen with volunteers.
The old playgroups often used to expect all parents to be on the helper rota, too, but that's not practical now.

I opened this thread expecting an update on how Floella Benjamin is getting on.

I opened this thread expecting an update on how Floella Benjamin is getting on.

💖 How I loved Floella, Little Ted, Big Ted and Humpty!

I went to one of these in the early 80s (it would have been 1981/82 I guess?) It was in the village hall a couple of afternoons a week. I remember there were little ride on cars and tricycles I think. And toys to play with. But the thing I remember most vividly is that at the end you had a glass of milk and a little biscuit.

Our local pre school runs 9-12 term time only.

@Cam2020

I opened this thread expecting an update on how Floella Benjamin is getting on.

💖 How I loved Floella, Little Ted, Big Ted and Humpty!

And Jemima and Hamble 🤣

Our school has one and takes kids year before nursery they have to be 2 years 10 months. Not sure how much they charge.