Childcare
Pre-school playgroups
Playgroups give children the opportunity to play and learn together in the care of playgroup workers and parent helpers. Children who attend playgroups must be over two and a half years old and charges may vary considerably.
There are many kinds of playgroups, all must be registered with and inspected regularly by Ofsted. The person in charge will be a fully trained playgroup leader, with many playgroups relying heavily on parental involvement and support. Some playgroups are based in community centres or church halls and some operate in domestic premises. The majority are open between two and three hours per session, during school term time.
Many groups belong to the Pre-school Learning Alliance (PSLA) which is an educational charity and the largest provider of pre-school provision in the country.
Playgroups in South Tyneside
See the ChildcareLink website for a list of playgroups in South Tyneside.
