A MONMOUTH nursery must move into new accommodation by April or it will lose vital funding.

Thirty-five children aged between two and five who attend Monmouth Community Under-5s Nursery in temporary accommodation at the Bridges Community Centre are facing an uncertain future.

The nursery was told by Monmouthshire Council that the group had to leave the Overmonnow Family Learning Centre in Wonastow weeks before the start of term in September last year.

The group, which formed 30 years ago, was offered a temporary base at the community centre.

Staff are now hoping to rent a demountable building to site on Singleton Court Industrial Estate but supervisor Sue Weston fears red tape could hamper the move.

"We found a demountable but our last piece of red tape that we need to get through is planning permission to put it there," said Mrs Weston.

The application was received by the council’s planning department last week but takes up to eight weeks to be considered.

"In order to continue receiving early years education funding from April we need to meet certain criteria, such as providing immediate outdoor access," said Mrs Weston.

"We receive funding for 95 per cent of our children and if we have to close there is no where else for them to go."

'Building not to standard'

MONMOUTHSHIRE Council said the temporary accommodation does not meet the standards required to provide early education and gave the playgroup six months to move into suitable premises from September last year.

"Since then, they have informed the council that they intend to relocate into permanent premises by April 2011," said principal school improvement officer Liz Humphrys.

"Under the terms of our early years development policy we would be unable to extend the date any further."

"This would mean that while the playgroup could continue to operate they would be unable to remain approved to provide early education or claim the grant.

“As agreed with Mrs Weston we will be contact the playgroup after the half-term break for an update on the situation as parents will require information on grants for the summer term."