OUR HISTORY

We began our work in Reading in 1983 and became a registered charity in 1988. Originally based at Battle Hospital, we then moved to a room within Reading’s specialist children’s centre on the Royal Berkshire Hospital site. Responding to demand, we moved to larger premises in Reading, before opening two further centres in Wokingham  (in 1996) and Newbury (in 1997).

In 2011 we were awarded The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award given to local voluntary groups in the UK in recognition of outstanding work in their communities. This prestigious UK National Honour recognises outstanding voluntary contributions and sets the national benchmark for excellence in volunteering

In 2012 all 3 Dingley’s Promise centres were rated as “Outstanding” by Ofsted with an inspector reporting: “All children thrive in this vibrant and child-centred atmosphere. Children eagerly enter the centre, ready to engage in play”.

Our centres continue to sit in the heart of their communities, delivering excellence in Early Years provision and supporting families to access the help they need to ensure their child reaches their full potential. Our families recognise the very special impact Dingley’s Promise has on their child’s development and transition to educational settings in which they thrive.

Today we are proud to share our expertise through our national training programme. We continue to share our experience and advice with mainstream settings. We  continue to develop our outreach support for families, removing isolation and providing support through challenging times via our experienced Family Support Workers.