We, the undersigned, call on the Education Authority and Department of Education to urgently confirm and allocate the promised free PSEP playgroup spaces to Burnfoot Community Playgroup.
Burnfoot was told that if eight children not already in the system registered for September 2025, free places would be awarded. Burnfoot now has:
- 6 children who fully qualify and are not placed elsewhere.
- 2 children whose parents had originally applied elsewhere but had long since chosen Burnfoot as their preferred setting.
This clearly meets the Education Authority’s requirement of eight children.
Burnfoot is a rural area of high deprivation. Families here face significant social and economic challenges, and access to early years provision is vital in helping to break cycles of disadvantage. Parents should not be penalised for making precautionary choices for their children at a time when rumours about Burnfoot Playgroup’s closure were circulating. Those rumours have already caused unnecessary worry in our community.
Our children deserve the best possible start in life, with access to high-quality early years education in their own community. Removing these free places would:
- Deny local children the same opportunities as others.
- Undermine parental choice and confidence.
- Threaten the sustainability of an essential rural service.
We therefore demand that the Education Authority and Department of Education immediately confirm and allocate the free PSEP spaces to Burnfoot Community Playgroup.
Updates
Reached 100 supporters
August 29, 2025
39 Comments
This is ridiculous that when funding has been given!! to say now No! This wee playgroup deserves more help from the government, it is a brilliant wee place
Our community is already disadvantaged enough without provision for our children to early years education
Funded places required for our local area. I am not only thinking of my child who is currently pre school age without a funded place but also my baby son who will be in the exact same position in three years time unless our local community is supported and offered equal opportunities
My previous children attended this (fantastic) playgroup, I had to choose elsewhere for my little one this year with the cost of living.
The playgroup is a valuable community resource, if these places are taken away the community will suffer.
This is sad that this wee play group could get spaces as a mummy who son went here a few years ago times are hard and people can’t wait both children care and playschool so these free spaces would be good to get
Please ensure you support your local community facilities.
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We, the undersigned, call on the Education Authority and Department of Education to urgently confirm and allocate the promised free PSEP playgroup spaces to Burnfoot Community Playgroup.
Burnfoot was told that if eight children not already in the system registered for September 2025, free places would be awarded. Burnfoot now has:
- 6 children who fully qualify and are not placed elsewhere.
- 2 children whose parents had originally applied elsewhere but had long since chosen Burnfoot as their preferred setting.
This clearly meets the Education Authority’s requirement of eight children.
Burnfoot is a rural area of high deprivation. Families here face significant social and economic challenges, and access to early years provision is vital in helping to break cycles of disadvantage. Parents should not be penalised for making precautionary choices for their children at a time when rumours about Burnfoot Playgroup’s closure were circulating. Those rumours have already caused unnecessary worry in our community.
Our children deserve the best possible start in life, with access to high-quality early years education in their own community. Removing these free places would:
- Deny local children the same opportunities as others.
- Undermine parental choice and confidence.
- Threaten the sustainability of an essential rural service.
We therefore demand that the Education Authority and Department of Education immediately confirm and allocate the free PSEP spaces to Burnfoot Community Playgroup.
Updates
Reached 100 supporters
August 29, 2025
39 Comments
When I was working to form the Playschool, originally in the Orange Hall and later, when we bought the school, we fought hard for free places without success. Years later, the playgroup is still being denied free places and that is an absolute disgrace. The EA should be ashamed of this den
This is ridiculous that when funding has been given!! to say now No! This wee playgroup deserves more help from the government, it is a brilliant wee place
Our community is already disadvantaged enough without provision for our children to early years education
Funded places required for our local area. I am not only thinking of my child who is currently pre school age without a funded place but also my baby son who will be in the exact same position in three years time unless our local community is supported and offered equal opportunities
My previous children attended this (fantastic) playgroup, I had to choose elsewhere for my little one this year with the cost of living.
The playgroup is a valuable community resource, if these places are taken away the community will suffer.
This is sad that this wee play group could get spaces as a mummy who son went here a few years ago times are hard and people can’t wait both children care and playschool so these free spaces would be good to get
Please ensure you support your local community facilities.
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When I was working to form the Playschool, originally in the Orange Hall and later, when we bought the school, we fought hard for free places without success. Years later, the playgroup is still being denied free places and that is an absolute disgrace. The EA should be ashamed of this den