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Playgroup

A Playgroup is a facility which provides early years education and care for children, generally between the ages of 3 and 5 for a period of up to four hours per day. Most Playgroups are locally based and locally managed. A good quality Playgroup will provide a safe, well-planned environment, which encourages children to learn through a broad play based curriculum.

All Playgroups must be registered with their local Health and Social Services Trust. Staff are required to have both health and police checks, which are carried out by Social Services and the premises are registered in line with the requirements of the Children (NI) Order 1995. Each setting will have an annual inspection by Trust personnel to check that they are maintaining the registration requirements.

There must be one adult for every eight children with a minimum of two staff members in each Playgroup. Leaders should be qualified to NVQ Level III in Early Years Care and Education or hold an equivalent qualification. Assistants should be qualified to NVQ Level II or equivalent. At least 50% of playgroup staff must be qualified.

Many Playgroups are able to offer funded places through the Government's Pre-school Education Expansion Programme. In groups where funded places are not available, a charge will be made based on the number of sessions the child attends.

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