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‘End of an Era’ as Beloved Cheltenham Playgroup Closes After 30 Years

Friday, June 6, 2025 playgroup cheltenham pata earlyyears closure community childcare funding preschool education

A cherished playgroup in Cheltenham, PATA @ Winchcombe, is set to close its doors at the end of the academic year in July 2025. After more than 30 years of nurturing young children in the Winchcombe community, the Board of Trustees has announced that continuing operations is no longer sustainable. The decision follows extensive efforts to explore alternative funding, restructuring, and partnerships. Despite these attempts, the trustees concluded that the financial and structural challenges facing the early years sector have made it impossible to maintain the service.