Background Play-A-Way was established as a playgroup in 1998 as a direct result of parents needs for good quality, affordable childcare in the Newtownards area. The playgroup moved from being steered by a committee to forming a board of directors, and was established as a community business in 1999. The project was built on a three-year business plan with the assistance of Ledu, Peace 1, Community Fund, Ards Local Strategy Partnership and the New Opportunity Fund. The business plan has been so successful that the company continues to use it as a template for present and future financial planning. After three years the company was fully self- sustaining and is going from strength to strength.

Business Activity Play-A-Way provides pre-school education through play for thirty-five children aged three and four years old. The pre-school group is part of the governments Pres-School Expansion Plan and there are eighteen funded nursery places for children in their pre-school year. The pre-school group operates from 9am to 12.50pm Monday to Friday. Play-A-Way now operates two after school clubs catering for forty-eight children per day from three local primary schools.
The club operates from 2pm to 6pm, Monday to Friday. A variety of activities are offered and an outside play area, and fully equipped IT suite has been set up to assist parents and their children to develop their IT skills. The centre operates over all school holiday periods opening from 8.30am until 6pm.
Play A Way's Aims and Objectives Play A Way aims to:   To develop a community business, providing affordable, high quality childcare   To provide the opportunity for local parents to return to education and/or employment   To provide training opportunities for childcare students   To provide good quality play opportunities for pre-school and primary school children.   To provide employment for childcare staff from the local area
Successes so far:
		The company now employs one full-time manager and thirteen part-time staff
		Play-A-Way provides places for 26 pre-school children and 48 primary school children per day
		After three years the company was self sustaining, and all profits are used to develop Play-A-Way Childcare Centre
		At present, the company is providing training opportunities for five childcare students from North Down and Ards Institute and local schools. In the past five years Play-A-Way has supplied training opportunities for over thirty students
		A fully equipped IT suite has been installed and an outside play area has been developed
		Play-A-Way Childcare centre has on-going NIPPA accreditation and has excellent inspection reports from the Department of Education.

The Play-A-Way project has been supported by:   Ledu   Ards Local Strategy Partnership Ltd.   The Community Fund   New Opportunity Fund   Playboard

To find out more about the work at Play-A-Way Childcare centre contact: Mrs. Lydia McAlees, Manager Play-A-Way Childcare Centre Ltd Zion Hall Zion Place Newtownards BT23 7ER Tel: 028 9182 2414 Email: playaway@nildram.co.uk