Open times
The Playgroup is open on Tuesday and  Wednesday from 9.30am until 3.00pm with a lunchtime club linking the morning and afternoon sessions. On Thursday & Friday Playgroup is open in the mornings from 9.30am to 12.00 noon. The Playgroup Term dates and holidays usually follow those of the local primary school.

From January until the start of the summer holidays, the Playgroup also opens on a Monday morning from 9.30am to 12.00 noon for those children who are due to start school in September. This is known as our Rising 5's Session and focuses on a more structured approach to learning as an important transition to school life.

Playgroup Fees
Playgroup Fees are £4.00 per child, per session  Many people are entitled to claim free places for their child, funded by the Government. Please see sections below for further details.  The cost of the lunchtime club is currently £1.50 per day. 

OFSTED
Helsby Playgroup is Registered with OFSTED for the Provision of Full Day Care for Children. Our Registration Number is 305100.

The Playgroup is also Registered with OFSTED for the provision of pre-school education and therefore children eligible for free pre-school nursery places from the Government can claim their free sessions at Helsby Playgroup.

If you wish to see the OFSTED Report for this or any other OFSTED inspected pre-school or school, please visit the OFSTED web site. The Playgroup's last full OFSTED Inspection took place in 2005. View the report in PDF. In November 2006 the Playgroup had a surprise OFSTED inspection from which we received a good report. View the report in PDF.

Funded Places
Currently any child that is over three years old may claim up to five free sessions per week (term time) for their child to attend a registered pre-school.
A child becomes eligible for funded places from the full term which follows their third birthday.

Other Assisted Places
In addition to the general funding mentioned above, there are other schemes which provide priority funding for people in certain circumstances for example special needs or low income. For further information please contact the Treasurer.

Pre-school Learning Alliance
Helsby Playgroup is a member of the Pre-school Learning Alliance (PLA) which is a National organisation dedicated to supporting the work of pre-schools.

Charitable Status
Helsby Playgroup is a non-commercial, non-profit making, community run organisation with the aim of providing quality pre-school care and education. This enables the Playgroup to operate as a charity and it is registered with the Charity Commission (Registered Charity Number 1023441). As such the Playgroup must operate in accordance with the Charity Commission rules. For more information you may wish to visit the Charity Commission web site. The Playgroup is managed by a group of elected committee members, who together with the Playgroup staff, look after the day to day running of the Playgroup. For contact information see our Contacts page.

Rules & Policy Documents
Helsby Playgroup operates within a comprehensive set of rules and guidlines, developed in conjunction with the PLA, the Local Authority and OFSTED. Currently these Rules are available in our Booklet, a copy of which is given to the parent or guardian of each new starter. For further copies please contact the Secretary. The Playgroup also abides by the PLA Constitution which is available at the Playgroup.