St Athan special needs playgroup hit by funding cuts

The price either goes up, or the support is “worse”, that is the decision according to parents of special needs children at Swallow Playgroup in St Athan.

"Education hours" funding at the nursery has been cut, meaning to keep a child at Swallow for a whole day, parents are going to have to fork out of their own pocket.

If they cannot do that, the child will have to go to a state-run nursery, however there’s problems with that, with concerns for the quality of support the child would get and the trauma caused moving the child between schools on a daily basis.

Stacy Spargo, assistant manager at Swallow, explained: “What parents were originally doing was dropping children off at 9am getting the education hours support until midday, paying for an hour of lunch, and then childcare support would kick in from 1pm until 4pm.

“Because our education funding has been cut, children are having to go to a state nursery in the morning then coming here.

“Getting them to trust you is hard enough, then, when you get that bond, now, you are having to tell them they are moving to another location.”

The team at Swallow Playgroup are furious about the cuts (Image: Newsquest)

At a recent meeting at Swallow, hosted by MP Alun Cairns, parents Lauren and Lucy Young explained their child's situation.

“Sonny is autistic and went to a different nursery setting where he did not settle. We then heard about Swallow and he has settled in straight away.”

Amy Mexson, a mother and full time nurse said the cuts leave her struggling.

“I cannot have him moving,” said Mrs Mexson. “I would need monitors to pick him up in between and I cannot afford that.”

Parents are having to take their children out of Swallow's half the day and put them in a different setting due to the funding cuts (Image: Newsquest)

Councillor Rhiannon Birch of Vale Council said due the council’s perilous financial situation hard decisions have had to be made.

“Sadly, this is an example of that and one of the savings agreed when the budget was approved,” she said.

“Budget decisions were made following extensive public consultation.

“The council faced an unprecedented financial challenge to balance the budget for 2024/25 after a ‘real terms’ cut in funding caused in part by soaring energy prices, inflation and interest rates.”

Swallow's Playgroup provides expert care for special needs children (Image: Newsquest)

Vale MP Alun Cairns urged the council to rethink their decision.

“I was shocked upon hearing about the council’s decision to cut funding,” said Mr Cairns.

“The Vale Council must review this decision. Swallow is a key facility in the Western Vale and they have my support.”