Independent, community-focused and proudly different, Brownhill Playgroup has been part of the community since 1966. We have operated as an independent, non-profit community social enterprise, providing quality childcare in a welcoming and inclusive environment for young children and their families.

We are based in the hall at North Blackburn United Reform Church (formerly known as Trinity United Reformed Church). Although we are fortunate to use this community space, we are not affiliated with any religion. Our playgroup is open and welcoming to everyone, and we are proud of the diverse families and children who make up our community.

A setting that starts with a blank canvas

One of the things that makes Brownhill Playgroup unique is that we are a pack-away early years setting.

Being pack-away is certainly hard work. At the beginning and end of every session, our team carefully creates and then packs away the environment our children have used. But we believe that being different is something to celebrate. Why would we want to be the same as every other nursery or children's centre?

For us, packing away is much more than simply putting things away. Every day begins with a blank canvas.
That blank canvas gives us the opportunity to think carefully about the children who are coming through our doors that day — their interests, fascinations, individual needs and the ways in which they learn and explore. Rather than relying on an environment that looks the same day after day, we can be thoughtful and intentional about how we create our space.

Our environment can change with the children.

Resources are chosen because of what children can do with them, rather than simply how they look on a shelf. We focus on creating purposeful opportunities for play, exploration, creativity, independence and discovery.

Bringing our community into the setting

Being based in a shared community space also gives us a wonderful opportunity to connect our setting with the community around us. We can bring local experiences, familiar places, people and the children's own identities into our temporary environments, helping children feel that their experiences and their community have a place within our playgroup.

We also believe that every child should be able to see something of themselves reflected in their environment. Our daily setups give us the flexibility to celebrate children's individual interests, backgrounds, personalities and experiences in meaningful ways.

So while our setting may be temporary each day, the sense of belonging we create is anything but temporary.

Proud to be different

Being pack-away means we have to work harder. It takes commitment, creativity, teamwork and reflection. But we believe that this is part of what makes Brownhill Playgroup special.

We don't need a permanent room filled with permanent displays to create a meaningful early years environment. We create our environment for the children, with purpose and with intention — every single day.

After more than five decades in the community, we remain proud to be independent, not-for-profit and different. We are committed to providing a place where children can play, explore, develop and be themselves — and whereevery day really can begin with a blank canvas.