On Saturday, 4th May, 9:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m. in the Parish Centre we are having a Grand Fund Raising Coffee Morning with a raffle/tombola/cake stall and we would like as many people as possible to come and join us for a cup of tea/coffee and a chat, and to help raise funds to replenish our book corner -- up-date our toys and purchase further special needs and multicultural toys.

If you can help us in any way please call into Playgroup (Tues Fri-9:15 to 12:00 noon). We will be really grateful, but most of all please come and join us on the 4th May any time between 9:30 – 11:30.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CROSSGATES UNDER 5's PLAYGROUP
1972-2002

In May our Playgroup will celebrate its 30th Birthday. Formerly called Knightsway Playgroup, we changed to Crossgates Under 5's in September 1990.

It opened in the Parish Hall in Knightsway in May 1972 with 25 children and Celia Hanlon, Jean Wilson and Mary Myers were in charge.

After a fire in the Parish Hall the Playgroup moved to “temporary” accommodation in Crossgates Bowling Club, situated next to St.Theresa’s School, where we spent 11 very happy years under the leadership of Marie Croft, Lilian Nutter R.I.P., Sandra Edwards and Rosemary McGreevy.

In 1990 when the school moved to St.Kevin’s site Marie Croft asked Canon Tangney if we could rent 2 rooms in the school which was to become the Parish Centre. Canon agreed to this and we now rent rooms 1 and 2 in the Parish Centre.
Room 1 is for our sole use and Room 2, we rent until noon and it is then free for other bookings. Kay Worsnop took over the leadership from 1990 to 1999. Things have changed a great deal in 30 years and Playgroup comes under the umbrella of the Pre-School Learning Alliance and is now inspected by OFSTED which means lots more paperwork for our present leader Janet Stephenson.

Playgroup is registered for 30 children per session and we are open 4 session per week. At the present time we have 5 full-time staff and 3 part-time staff, along with 1 voluntary helper and, of course, we still have our Mums/Dads/Carers Rota.

The children are all encouraged to take part in the many and varied activities we provide both inside and out. Our outside area has been fenced in and weather permitting (which is not very often) we play outside.

On Saturday, 4th May, 9:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m. in the Parish Centre we are having a Grand Fund Raising Coffee Morning with a raffle/tombola/cake stall and we would like as many people as possible to come and join us for a cup of tea/coffee and a chat, and to help raise funds to replenish our book corner -- up-date our toys and purchase further special needs and multicultural toys.

If you can help us in any way please call into Playgroup (Tues Fri-9:15 to 12:00 noon). We will be really grateful, but most of all please come and join us on the 4th May any time between 9:30 – 11:30.

Thank you for taking the time to read this!
The Children and Staff
Crossgates Under 5's Playgroup