Playgroup Network is a national educational charity which is committed to supporting its members with advice, news, training and insurance as well as access to other professional bodies in the growing field of early years care and education. The aim of the association is to enhance the development and education of children under statutory school age by encouraging parents and carers to understand and provide for the needs of their children through community groups.

National Playgroup Network is an umbrella organisation for the autonomous local associations whose number are constantly growing throughout the country. The mutual benefit of this flexible structure allows groups and their associations to fund-raise independently or jointly and to lobby Local Authorities for grant aid and acceptance on consultative bodies. Nationally Playgroup Network is integrated into many recognised bodies who are concerned with advancing the interests of the early years sector.

Parents who are encouraged into community groups often gain confidence and develop into enthusiastic and knowledgeable volunteers who are the life-blood of the organisation. Advice and support towards best practice is always available from highly skilled and experienced people within the membership.

Progressive Local Authorities appreciate the value of the specialist training and wealth of experience that can be found in playgroups today, and the dedication, team-work and professionalism involved in guiding young children to explore and understand the world in which we live.

Playgroup Network believes that the important work is done at local level and thus it is a deliberate policy that there are no paid staff within the national organisation and throughout, volunteers are encouraged. Nationally, membership fees are set to cover the expenses of the volunteers and kept as low as possible. The local associations set their own subscription according to their needs for training, publicity, committee expenses and other essentials.

Back to top