Four Oaks Playgroup

in association with Four Oaks Primary School

History of Four Oaks Pre-School Playgroup – by Playgroup Manager Heather Moss

Playgroup began approximately 30 years ago by a group of friends who wanted their children to meet and play with other children and adults in a happy and friendly environment.

Parents were involved in running each session on a voluntary basis. Lots of equipment was given to them and the school provided a room.

 How things have changed!

 Over the years we have gone from running four 2 ½ hour sessions with very little planning and no formal assessments of the children. We employed four members of staff – who only worked two days a week each- only the supervisor had a formal qualification, and we had three duty helpers each session.

 All that happened in the old building.  It was decided a new building was needed not only for us but to provide extra teaching rooms and somewhere for the before and after school care. Funds were raised over a long time by many different means. Eventually there was enough money in the pot and a date was set for the building work to begin.

What a sad but exciting day it was when we emptied the building of its toys and equipment and set up in the small corner in Junior school hall which was to be our home for a term.

 Easter 2005 was the beginning of our Playgroup in this fantastic building but we didn’t have an outside area which we felt was good enough for us to provide good quality play and learning. After lots of fundraising in Playgroup and with some help from school we raised enough money to have a garden makeover which was to give lots of pleasure to us all.