BERE Valley Playgroup in Bere Alston has been selected as one of only ten pre-schools in England to take part in a pilot scheme run by the national Pre School Learning Alliance.
The pilot scheme is one of direct management, whereby the PLA replaces the voluntary committee of parents that traditionally runs pre-schools.
This frees the parents to concentrate their efforts on fundraising rather than paperwork, accounts, staff training and government regulations.
As of April 1 the day-to-day running of the playgroup was taken over by play leader Jacqui Weatherston and administrator Sue Painter.
They will be managed in turn by Maggie Calvert, who is a development worker for the PLA.
A celebratory party was held for the children and parents of the playgroup to mark this milestone in the its near 30 years history.
Charlotte Hammond, a committee member for three years, said the change had been welcomed by the present committee.
?Every year it becomes more difficult to find a group of parents to take over the running of what has become quite a large business.
?Also, those parents doing the work find it more of a challenge to meet the needs of the staff group and expectations of our funders and OFSTED,? she said.
The retiring committee thanked all the staff at the playgroup who had worked hard over the last few years. Extra sessions and a lunch club have been introduced and an after-school and holiday club benefitting children from the playgroup and Bere Alston Primary School were recently set up.