I am saddened by Patsy's attack on Playgroups, as if 'teaching children to read and write' were the be all and end all of preschool education.
I agree that they are not the answer for working mums (though many are exanding their hours).
But they are a useful addition to the experience of a child with a stay-at-home carer. They are Ofsted inspected, the staff are trained.
Education at this age is about what the children learn from their own efforts, the choice of play materials is important as is the help in putting that learning into words, when that is appropriate. Many toys and games are specifically designed to teach numbers, fine motor co-ordination (vital for later writing skills) and many other things. Equipment that can be used independantly allows children to learn at their own pace the thing that they are ready for NOW, and to take responsibility for their own learning. The group activities, games and discussions gives them a chance to learn to conform. The voluntary ethic which set them up and the parenting experience which the helpers bring with them may be better than a minimum wage profit driven nursery employing school leavers - but that would be a wild generalisation comparing the best of one with the worst of the other. In fact there may be little difference between the best of both.
Neither can give children the one-to-one attention from someone who knows them as well as a well motivated, observant carer. But they can certainly add breadth to that care.