A pre-school playgroup in East Dulwich may have to close because it does not have enough children.

Alleyn Community Playgroup, based at the East Dulwich Community Centre in Darrell Road, takes children aged three to four.

It has room for 16 but only four are attending this term.

Senior play leader Jacqueline Stevenson, who started working at the playgroup 15 years ago, said the shortage of children meant there would not be enough money to continue paying staff and rent.

She said: "We are currently paying out more money than what we have coming in because we can only put four children in for the nursery education grant.

"I don't think a lot of people know we're here because we are on a side road."

Parent Jane Bettell said her son Mitchell, three, has been going to the playgroup on weekday mornings for the past year.

She said: "I don't know why there are not more children here because my son loves coming and would be very upset if it had to close.

"When he started in January last year, there were 13 childre, but there are only four this term. If more parents do not send their children here it will have to close on March 31."

Southwark Pre-school Learning Alliance, which allocates funds from Southwark Council for playgroups borough-wide, has given funding to the playgroup.

Jean Tucker, from the alliance, said: "We have supported Alleyn with extra funding and attempts to recruit more children but there is a lot of childcare provision within that area.

"We are not going to close them down but if they cannot recruit more children, the group's parent/carer running committee might decide it has to close."

Any families looking for pre-school childcare provision should phone the playgroup weekday mornings on 020 8693 2874.

January 28, 2003 12:00