Voluntary Pre-schools Under Pressure Due to Premises Shortage
A shortage of suitable premises is placing significant pressure on voluntary pre-schools to remain operational, according to a nursery currently struggling to secure a new location.
Rainbow Corner has operated out of the same Deramore Orange Hall since 1979 but has been informed by its landlord that it must vacate the premises by 30 June 2027.
Following months of searching for an alternative venue, the pre-school's committee reported that all options within a five-mile radius have been exhausted, leaving the organisation facing potential closure.
Teacher Alison Toole told NI that the uncertainty has caused considerable stress among staff, who are concerned about their employment status beyond the next academic year.
Unlike statutory pre-schools managed by the Education Authority (EA), private and voluntary nurseries like Rainbow Corner must secure their own accommodation. Staff highlighted that the increasing use of church and community halls for other activities has made it difficult for organisations such as theirs to find suitable premises.
Rainbow Corner's landlord, Deramore Community Group, expressed that it has enjoyed a "mutually respectful relationship" with the pre-school over many years but, due to its own event schedule, it is unable to offer the facilities on a long-term lease beyond 30 June 2027.
Community Concerns Over Pre-school Closure
Daniella Mediondo de Lima, whose daughter Aria attended Rainbow Corner three years ago and whose son Eliot is due to start next year, voiced her concerns about the impact of a potential closure.
"I feel very heartbroken," she said. "I can see new developments in the area, and so many babies around, and I just feel like, where are they going to go knowing that the other pre-schools around are full?"
In November, Rainbow Corner, located in Moira, County Down, received formal notice from Deramore Orange Hall's owners to vacate by 30 June 2027.
Despite the notice period extending until the end of the next academic year, Rainbow Corner indicated it requires a new venue by autumn to allow the EA to approve it as a suitable location.
Alison Toole described the notice as a shock and expressed disappointment at having to leave their current setting.
"Our current setting has a great space inside for the children. We have somewhere to store our equipment and we have a fabulous garden for the children to use. It would just be very unsettling and sad if that's not there any more for them.
As staff, as you can imagine, it's difficult because we won't know if we have a job. We worry about it every day. It's a constant stressor for us to be honest but we just come into work every day, get on with our job, and try to provide the best education we can."
Deramore Community Group stated that it provided an "extended period of notice, far beyond what we were legally and contractually required to serve" to give Rainbow Corner as much time as possible to find alternative accommodation.
They added, "As residents of Moira ourselves, we will continue to support Rainbow Corner in their efforts to obtain new accommodation, and our own members are actively engaging and enquiring with other potential locations within the village and surrounding area."
Challenges in Securing New Premises
Toole highlighted the difficulties faced by Rainbow Corner, a charity, in finding new premises compared to EA-run nurseries.
"We have exhausted all empty buildings, churches, local halls, everything like that, but unfortunately they are used for other community groups," she said.
"It's a very busy community and unfortunately if we do not find another premises we will not be part of that community."
Voluntary nurseries like Rainbow Corner serve 29% of pre-primary children in Northern Ireland.
Parents Emphasize Importance of Pre-school Continuity and Location
Laura Coney, whose daughter Sophia was born prematurely at 24 weeks, praised Rainbow Corner as the first place outside her family where Sophia received care.
"I just don't think it's an option for Rainbow Corner not to continue," said the 34-year-old. "If I had any other children I would 100% put them into the Rainbow Corner setting. It's been second to none."
Speaking at a public meeting addressing the issue, Coney emphasized the importance of the pre-school's location.
"Rainbow Corner is right on our doorstep which is so handy for us even to make it on school on time," she said. "It's also so important that we can walk, you're not adding extra traffic to the village. We cycle, walk, scoot to nursery every single day."
Stephen Rankin, whose son Moses attends the pre-school, echoed the sentiment regarding location.
"It has to stay here, it has to be somewhere in Moira itself, because there is such a demand," he said. "They're building so many more houses here and we have to meet those needs, so it has to stay here."
