Concerns about the future of a Lisnaskea playgroup have been raised after the Education Authority (EA) informed a playgroup in the town that they will have no funding for places in 2023/24.

There are fears that pulling the funding for Little Castle Playgroup by the EA will essentially shut the doors of the playgroup come September.

The playgroup has had less than six first-preference applications for the 2023/4 intake, and this does not meet the Department of Education requirement.

A letter from the EA seen by The Impartial Reporter regarding Little Castle Playgroup stated: “Statistics regarding funded pre-school provision for your area indicate that sufficient funded pre-school provision is available to address current demand, therefore, an allocation of funded places for Little Castle Playgroup is not required for the 2023-24 academic year.

“However, Little Castle Playgroup will be included in the pre-school admissions process for the 2024-25 academic year.

“The EA will be contacting parents who had nominated your setting as a preference for the 2023-2024 school year to provide them with advice.”

Speaking to The Impartial Reporter, Irene Dolan, the Chairperson of the playgroup, said: “Little Castle staff were informed of the EA decision to withdraw funding by email, five minutes after parents who had applied were informed.”

Hitting out that the EA are in essence forcing the closure of the playgroup by removing the funded places, Irene said: “The email states that Little Castle will have funding reinstated for the school year 2023/2024 – but how do they expect the play group to still be in existence by then?

“We feel it is an underhanded, passive-aggressive method by the EA of forcing closure.”

There is a lower number of applicants this year, but the playgroup had expected a boom in the next few years, Irene explained.

“There was a lower birth rate three years ago affecting this year’s intake; however, this is the only year that will be affected.

“Birth rate numbers are significantly increased for the next subsequent years, reflecting the need for our playgroup to be maintained.”

Little Castle Play Group has evolved from Lisnaskea Playschool, which was established in 1976, gaining its current name when it moved to Castle Park Leisure Centre in Lisnaskea.

There is a strong sense of community in the playgroup, Irene says.

“Currently, there is a child attending Little Castle whose father attended the original playgroup in 1978.”

Speaking about the importance of a playgroup setting for children, Irene said: “Research indicates that children who have attended a preschool setting transition better to primary school, as they have developed friendships, socialised, become used to a morning routine and accept adult interaction more easily than those who don’t attend a preschool setting.

“Little Castle not only offers a playgroup setting, but with a maximum of 16 places, it provides an ideal provision for children who may be more anxious, and will thrive from a smaller peer group.”

In addition, Little Castle is the only inter-denominational playgroup in the area.

Irene and other staff members have expressed concerns about the knock-on impact of the lack of funding for the playgroup on education in Lisnaskea.

She said: “Every primary school has a feeder playgroup and Little Castle is a feeder for the Moat Primary School in Lisnaskea.

“If funding for Little Castle is withdrawn, parents will be forced to seek preschool provision in neighbouring towns.

“Once their child develops friendships, parents will be reluctant to move their child to a primary school where their child will know no one.

“Therefore, without Little Castle, there is the realisation that the Moat Primary School could see a decline in their numbers as a result.”

There is a hope that the EA may backtrack on their decision and provide funding for the 2023/24 academic year for Little Castle.

However, the playgroup is still taking applications for direct places for the 2023/24 academic year for children aged three and over.

For further information, parents and guardians are invited to contact the playgroup directly by emailing littlecastle79@outlook.com, calling 0759 2699 340, or via Facebook.

The EA were contacted by The Impartial Reporter for comment, but had not responded by the time of going to press.