Play School (1964-88)

Play School is a British children's television series produced by the BBC which ran from 1964 to 1988 created by Joy Whitby and aimed at preschool children. It was the first programme aired on the launch of BBC2. Each programme followed a broad theme and consisted of songs, stories and activities with presenters in the studio, along with a short film introduced through either the square, round or arched window in the set. Most of the programmes were studio-based, but there were a number of outside broadcasts at a variety of locations, such as zoos, seasides, central London, churches, schools and farms. Each episode would also include a short story read from a book, introduced by checking the time on a clock. Each episode would also include a short story read from a book, introduced by checking the time on a clock.

From 1971 to 1984, Play School also had a sister programme called Play Away.

Despite a revamp in 1983, and a move from BBC2 to BBC1, Play School maintained the same basic formula throughout its 24-year history. The windows were now called "shapes".

Changes to the BBC's children's output led to the programme's cancellation in 1988, when it was replaced by Playbus, which soon became Playdays.