Nursery cash crisis claims first victim
Long-established playgroup shuts down
A pre-school group said to be one of Scotland’s oldest has closed its doors for the last time.
The decision to shut down Pitlochry pre-school playgroup, which met at the Tryst Hall in Church Road, was confirmed on Monday.
Fiona Seaton managed the group, which was established for more than 50 years.
She told parents: “I think with the heaviest of hearts I have to put my hands up in defeat of the playgroup being rescued.
“Therefore as from Monday, January 9, at our EGM I will announce the impending closure of the playgroup with immediate effect.
“Those who have been working extremely hard over the last few years will testify to the amount of fundraising which is now required to operate the playgroup.
“The support from our local businesses and local community has been amazing but there is only so much money and goodwill to go around.
“This is the playgroup’s 51st year and I was very lucky and blessed to have been part of it since arriving as a volunteer student in November 1999.”
Ms Seaton paid tribute to the many staff and parents who had helped to run the service in the 18 years she had been with it.
And she said that the organisation would be selling off items at a sale on January 21.
She told the PA yesterday that she was “just very disappointed of the outcome for the children present and future”.
Ms Seaton approached the Perthshire Advertiser last month after our special report on the future of childcare provision highlighted problems around Perth and Kinross.
The report laid out the catalogue of issues faced by parent-run and private childcare playgroups and nurseries, especially too few children attending, despite services being free in many cases.
The Scottish Government is seeking to increase funded hours of nursery care to toddlers.
Methven Under Fives, another of the groups the PA highlighted in December, is hosting an open morning on Wednesday, January 18, from 10.30am-11.30am. The group meets at a playroom in Methven Primary School.