20-04-2025
Co Down pre-school at risk of closure due to funding cuts
The future of a pre-school in Co Down is at risk due to a funding shortfall with staff saying they are "deflated." Little Stars Pre-School, a cross-community playgroup located at St Mary's Primary School in Killyleagh, has had its funding axed this year.
Stormont budget cuts have reduced cash to The Pathway Fund, which Little Stars and many other pre-schools rely on for key funding. Last Friday, staff were informed that the funding had not been granted, with the community grouping together to fight to keep the doors open.
Thanks to a fundraising drive, playgroup leader Karen McCormick said they will be able to stay open until at least the end of June. They hope political support can help the school get the finance it needs to guarantee the doors open for the new term in September.
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Speaking to Belfast Live, Karen said the playgroup was informed in March it was getting finance but would have to wait for the Stormont funds to come through. However, an email last week detailed that finance was allocated on a points system, with Little Stars missing out.
The Department of Education said although Little Stars met all eligibility requirements to receive an award through The Pathway Fund, "funding was exhausted before reaching their score on the ranked list."
Karen explained: "In March we received an email to say we were eligible for The Pathway Funding and when the budget comes through, they would let us know how much we were getting and when. Last Friday, we got the email to say there wasn't enough money in the budget.
"We would usually get £30,000 then this year the total actually increased to £40,000. You weren't guaranteed to get that full amount, but what they're saying is because it went up higher this year, the money wasn't in the budget to pay out the smaller groups.
"The parents pay a small fee for their children, but we keep our fees as low as possible to help our families. We depend on the other funding coming in because in this day and age, families don't have money to spare, but they know how important it is for their child to get a good early years education."
Karen said the news is "heartbreaking and deflating", but said the team aren't giving up. Little Stars currently has 38 children across their pre pre-school and pre-school sessions, with 25 enrolled to start in the new term.
However, if funding isn't secured by then, there will be no places for them. "You look at the smiles on the kids faces, and you just want to make sure you're there for them," Karen added.
"I look at them and think of the heartbreak that some of them kids may not have somewhere to go in September when they start pre-school. You're in this kind of limbo.
"I'm very passionate about my job, and the job isn't just about our children, we're very family orientated. To stand there on Monday and have to explain to our parents about the funding, you could just see the look of devastation in their faces. They couldn't believe this could happen to us.
"It's heartbreaking, but I'm not a person who gives up easily. We're fundraising like mad, we're hoping that will take us through to the end of June and we're hoping between now and then we'll get good news. But if we don't get good news very soon, our future is very bleak."
Two years ago, Little Stars fought off the threat of closure, with the community now devastated to be facing a similar situation. Karen said the wait to hear if they will receive funding has been painstaking.
The playgroup leader added: "Every year, our numbers continue to rise, so we are doing something right. I just don't know what else we can do. I feel like bringing all my kids to Stormont and asking the politicians to look after them, I'm sure they wouldn't be long with the funding then!"
Pathway funding is administered on behalf the Department of Education by Early Years – the Organisation for Young Children (EYO) who undertake the application, scoring and award process.
The Education Minister has sought Executive approval to enhance the Pathway Fund budget, with the currently available budget having been allocated already.
A Department of Education spokesperson said: 'The increased level of demand for the Pathway Fund exceeds what can be funded from the Department's 2025-26 opening resource allocation.
'The Minister has sought Executive approval to enhance the Pathway Fund budget from the Early Learning and Childcare Strategy (ELCS) funding being held centrally, in line with 2024-25 arrangements.
'The currently available Pathway Fund budget has been allocated to eligible settings in ranked order by score against the Pathway criteria, as assessed by EYO. While Little Stars Pre School has met all eligibility requirements to receive an award, funding was exhausted before reaching their score on the ranked list.
'The Department will confirm any further Pathway awards when the Executive position regarding additional ELCS funding for Pathway is known.'
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