Threat of pre-school closure ‘devastating’

Parents in County Down described the potential closure of the preschool of their “absolutely devastating” children.

The Department of Education (DE) has confirmed that “road financing” for the first years is currently 3 million less than necessary.

The preschool Little Stars in Killyleagh did not receive the funds by 2025-26 and told the parents that he now faces the closure.

The preschool, that 38 children in two daily sessions, has also notified its four employees who face redundancy.

Little Stars leader, Karen McCormick, is one of those who can lose her job.

She told BBC News or that the situation left him “numb.”

The preschool had previously received around £ 30,000 a year Pathway fund funds.

“At the time we are sitting in Limbo,” said Doherty.

“I am very passionate about my work as well as my staff, and we have seen the difference that this group has made to so many children.

“We have a fight in our hands to keep ourselves in. I am disconsolate, I am numb.”

She said that “she sat and cried” when the preschool financing would not be in place by 2025-26.

The four -year twins of Antoinette Quigley, Millar and Maci attended the preschool Little Stars.

She said her son Millar had been diagnosed, as a small child, with a world development delay, but had received help in the preschool.

“If I had bone for them, I would still have bone at home, and go to P1 in September,” Quigley said.

“The progression he has made has an incredible bone.

“He is talking, he is trained in the bathroom, he can sit and eat at a table with his other classmates that he could never do.

“Listen to teachers, listen to the instructions, it has an incredible leg, improvement.”

She said the potential closure would affect the local community in Killyleagh.

“Killyleagh as a community joins along with things like this,” he said.

“And with the number of children who have some type of needs or aid required with the school, what will happen?”

“When early intervention is needed, they will have any place.”

Nicola Evans is from Killough in County Down, but takes his daughter Nora to Little Stars.

Nora was due to second year as of September.

His son also attended before going to primary school.

She told BBC News or that it was “absolutely devastated” by the possible closure of the preschool.

“These guys were experts in their field, in my eye,” he said.

“When it comes to September, the other financed places have all the legs delivered.

“Then, so that Nora is anywhere is intelligent. There are no other space.”

Two or the Daughters of Gemma Nelson have attended Little Stars and another daughter, Nancy, would begin in September.

“As we are standing, she potentially does not take place and has no place to go,” Nelson said.

“This will have a great impact on it.”

Mrs. Nelson is from Killyleagh and said that preschool was “enormously important” for the city.

“Normally they have a waiting list to get into small stars, their reputation is very high,” he said.

“The broader implications here are massive. The community will also feel an impact.

“I just don’t know what I’m going to do.”

It is unlikely that Little Stars will be the only preschool affected by the demand for road financing.

In a statement, a spokesman said: “The highest level of demand in the Pathway Fund exceeds what can be financed from departments 2025-26 of opening of the allocation of resources.”

“The minister has sought executive approval to improve the Pathway fund budget for the financing of the early learning and child care strategy (ELCS) that remains centrally, in line with packets 2024-25,” they continued.

But they said that the budget of the opening road was approximately £ 3.8 million compared to a requirement of approximately 6.6 million.

The department’s route fund is administered by the organization of the first years.

In a statement, they said that “they would work in close collaboration with the Department of Education with respect to its route fund to highlight a greater need in the sector and in recent years the department has assured a adnital investment for projects.”

“To date, this year, the Pathway Fund awards make the leg make the highest score applications until the available funds were extended,” they added.