Our Story
Pippa’s Group first started in 1986. Pippa Campbell was invited by Lewes Social Services to set up a small specialist playgroup, in her own home, for children who it was thought might benefit from such a group. Several of those first children had special needs or developmental delays. Jean Toy came to help as she was a very experienced Community Family Worker and already knew most of the families through her work
Jean & Pippa worked together for nearly 10 years formulating our programme, seeing the children benefiting from the very small groups. It was an exciting time to see a new venture being established, targeting the families most in need of help. Unfortunately Jean had to retire due to ill health, in her place a small team of Community Family Workers worked with Pippa to provide the daily sessions. Most of the children stayed at the Group until they went to school, others moved on to mainstream nurseries when it was felt they could cope in a larger setting. There was always a long waiting list.
In 1997 Pippa moved house, and the Group relocated to Christchurch Hall, Prince Edwards Road, Lewes. The Church were most welcoming, arranging fencing for the garden and allowing us to put up a garden shed for outside play equipment.
In 1999 Pippa’s Group became a Charity helped enormously by Jack Smith, the then Manager of Lewes Social Services. He organised a contract for us with East Sussex County Council to provide funds for our salaries! However the contract only lasted 2 years and we started our ongoing fundraising.
In 2001, the Group’s activities were expanded to include a ‘Friday Parent Support Group’ for parents with young children.
In 2004 the Playgroup was registered with OFSTED as a playgroup for 8 children aged from 18 months old.
In 2006 the Group was further expanded, at the request of Health Visitors, to include 2 afternoon sessions for children of 3+ years of age as they felt that older children would also benefit from a small group.
The group celebrated 21 years of success in 2007. Many people who had connections with the group at the outset turned up to join the party. Jack Smith, the manager of Lewes Children and Families team, who had been instrumental in setting Pippa up, gave a speech expressing his delight at how the group had thrived. Norman Baker MP and Ruth O'Keeffe, East Sussex County Councillor also gave their congratulations. There were grandparents who had been parents in 1996 and there was even a former pupil who was now a parent of a child attending the group.
In 2008, because of the need to expand further, the Group moved to a purpose built building in the grounds of Pells CE Primary School, Lewes. We now have 5 staff members working with up to 20 children aged 3, five mornings a week, and the same staff working with 13 two year olds on two afternoons. In this way we are able to offer very high adult/child ratios and our aim is still to help each child make the best possible start before entering school. We now offer 15 hours free nursery education per child over three years old per week. The younger children not yet able to access government funding, pay a nominal fee of £4 each session. This ensures our service is available to all.
The Friday Group also meets in our nursery premises and is particularly aimed at parents from Landport and De Montfort estates. It is a great way to meet and make new friends, enjoy a cup of tea, network and share ideas on bringing up children!
This year marks the 25th Anniversary of setting up Pippa's Group! We are proud to have been promoting play and supporting families since 1986!
