The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
A pre-school in Spalding has been forced to close due in part to demands made by the government’s new 30-hours’ free childcare scheme.
The 345 Playgroup in the United Reformed Church at Pinchbeck Road, Spalding will close on December 15.
Due to this closure, five members of staff will lose their jobs and 17 children will have to find pre-school or nursery places elsewhere.
Manager Georgina Twelves and her business partner Brendan Moran took over the business five years ago to save it from closure.
In that time, 345 achieved good ratings from Ofsted across all areas.
But now the term-time only nursery is closing.
“The 30-hours scheme has had a very large impact,” said Georgina, whose business is based on shift work.
“We can’t offer 30 hours. We’re one a preschool doing sessional hours rather than a nursery that offers full-time childcare,” she added.
Georgina said that currently her main concern is the staff and the children who attend the preschool.
Of the staff, Georgina said: “One of my ladies has been offered a job, so she’s going to be employed, two are looking for alternative care and one will be taking retirement.”
Georgina said of her time at 345 Playgroup: “I’d like to thank all our current and previous parents for their support over the years.”
The 30-hours free childcare scheme was introduced in September for working families in England with three- and four-year-old children. Critics said it would be a strain on term-time nurseries and preschools.
