About Wirksworth Pre-school Playgroup
Local early years care grounded in community and trust
Wirksworth Pre-school Playgroup provides early years care and education for children from 24 months to school age. We offer a friendly, relaxed and supportive environment where children can play, explore, learn and build confidence.
Community at heart
Wirksworth care and support since 1965
The pre-school is deeply rooted in Wirksworth life. It continues to be supported by families, staff, trustees and the wider community.
Charity-run
We are locally managed and focused on children's wellbeing.
Welcoming atmosphere
Children benefit from a calm, colourful and friendly setting.
Local connections
We work closely with parents, schools and local partners.
Our approach
Play, confidence and gentle learning
Children learn through purposeful play, everyday routines and positive relationships. We support each child's individual pace and interests while preparing them for the next stage.
Child-centred learning
We use creative play, stories and conversation to help children make sense of the world.
Safe, nurturing staff
Our team focuses on safety, kindness and strong partnerships with families.
Why playgroup feels different
Small, personal and rooted in relationships
As a pre-school playgroup, we offer a community setting where children can grow in confidence at a gentle pace before school. Our ratios help staff spend real time with children, noticing what interests them, supporting friendships and giving them the reassurance of familiar adults.
Many of our staff stay with us for a long time, which gives children consistent figures in their pre-school life. The team continues to build early years knowledge through training and qualifications, so care is both warm and thoughtful. It is the staff who make the place special, and those everyday relationships are at the heart of what families experience here.
Time to connect
Children are known as individuals, with adults who have time to listen, talk, comfort and encourage.
Steady faces
Low staff turnover helps children feel rooted, secure and ready to take their next steps.
Growing expertise
Ongoing training and early years qualifications support confident, responsive care.
Our setting
Space to play, explore and settle
Our Cemetery Lane setting gives children a familiar base with indoor and outdoor areas for busy play, quiet moments, creativity, stories, movement and discovery. Families often want to picture the space their child will spend time in, so this section can grow with real photos of the rooms, garden and resources.
Inside, children have access to varied early years resources for imaginative play, mark making, construction, books, sensory activities, creative work and small-group time. Outside, children can move, investigate, notice the seasons and enjoy fresh air as part of the daily rhythm.
Our history
Built by local families, still supported by the community
Wirksworth Pre-school Playgroup began in the 1960s as a grassroots community effort and has grown into a trusted local setting while keeping community care at its heart.
1965
Wirksworth Playgroup begins as a local community project led by families in the town.
Early years
Sessions are held at local community spaces such as the Memorial Hall while the group establishes itself.
Growing demand
More sessions are added and the pre-school expands to meet the needs of local families.
Community fundraising
Local families help fund improvements that keep the setting welcoming and well-equipped.
Cemetery Lane
The pre-school becomes established in its own setting, giving generations of children a familiar place to play and learn.
Today
Wirksworth Pre-school Playgroup remains a welcoming local pre-school serving the community with a warm, family-focused approach.