Playgroup to close its doors as financial pressures become too much
A YARM playgroup has made the ‘difficult decision’ to close its doors after five decades of providing ‘exceptional’ childcare.
Woodlands Playgroup, a charityregistered playgroup for children during term time, has announced that it will be closing for good in a decision that has been “given much thought” over the last year.
A statement said it has encountered “significant financial pressures” in recent years, and that the group is sadly no longer financially viable. The pre-school cares for children from two years old, as well as the 30/15 government-funded hours for two, three, and four-year-olds, at its site on the grounds of Yarm Primary School, off Spitalfields.
An Ofsted inspection in 2019 rated Woodlands Playgroup as ‘good’, with particular praise for the personal development, behaviour and welfare, which was given an ‘outstanding’ rating.
The report praised the ‘wellqualified and experienced’ management team and described staff as ‘ambitious, dedicated, and highly committed’ to the ongoing improvement of the group.
One woman, whose two children both attended Woodlands, said she has “only had good experiences” with the site and said it was a shame that other children would miss out on attending there in the future.
She described the staff as “wellexperienced and passionate”, noting how they provide exceptional quality childcare.
A date for the closure has not yet been confirmed.
A statement from the Trustees of Woodlands Playgroup said: “It’s very sad that, after nearly 50 years of providing exceptional childcare to the children of Yarm and surrounding areas, the Trustees of Woodlands have taken the really difficult decision to close.
“It’s not been taken lightly and one which the committee has been given much thought to over the last 12 months, including considering alternative options to try and continue. However, we have encountered significant financial pressures over recent years and whilst our purpose has never been to create profit in the truest business sense, we have to be financially viable to be able to use the funds to re-invest back into Playgroup.”
The playgroup says the ‘lack of appropriate increase in funding’ for funded childcare places has had an impact. All three to four-year-olds in England can get 570 free hours of childcare per year, which is typically taken as 15 hours a week for 38 weeks of the year and stops when the child reaches compulsory school age or starts reception. Some three to four-year-olds are also eligible for 30 hours of free childcare a week.
They added: “It’s a really sad time for us but we must say a huge and heartfelt thanks for the support over the years which has seen, on multiple occasions, generations of families using Playgroup.
“Plus of course, the amazing and wonderful staff that have worked at Playgroup over the many years; whose passion and expertise has given so many children such an amazing start to their education.”