MOUNT Helen parents are devastated a key piece of their community will be lost forever when their preschool closes at the year’s end.
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A downturn in enrolments for about the past five years means Mount Helen Preschool is no longer financially viable to keep open.
Preschool parents and prospective parents say the low numbers and home-like, semi-rural feel of the Mount Helen kindergarten is what they love about the place.
Mt Helen mum and Save Mt Helen Preschool advocate Jo Hall said the small kinder offered parents an alternative to best suit children, who might otherwise get lost in a bigger facility and, without a school or many key services, the kinder was the “glue” holding Mount Helen mums together in a local support network.
The Courier understands Eureka Community Kinder Association, which operates Mount Helen Preschool, met with parents last year and, with the City of Ballarat, kept the kinder open for 2016 with just a four-year-old program and chance to rally numbers.
At that time the kinder had 15 enrolments and ECKA was informed there were 10 enrolments for 2017 when a final decision had to be made. The kinder needs 22 enrollments to be viable.
The Courier spoke with parents outside the preschool on Wednesday, who said they were deeply disappointed about the closure and confusion about preferences for next year.
City of Ballarat director Neville Ivey confirmed affected families would find places, like City-expanded kinder programs at Mount Clear or Buninyong.
Mount Helen parent Brae Murley’s four boys have attended the preschool. She liked it reminder her of when she went to kinder.
“It was a unique choice coming here, it’s not commercialised,” Ms Murley said. “Kids are allowed to go out and play, get dirty and do stuff kids are supposed to be doing.”
ECKA chief Jo Geurts said a drop in enrollments was reflected across all ECKA kinders as more parents opted for ‘wrap-around’ kinder/day care to fit in with work commitments.
“It’s really sad a community is losing such a beautiful facility. We’ve been proud to run a service with wonderful staff and we understand parents’ passion,” Ms Geurts said.
“The reality is, it’s no longer financially viable to keep it open.”
