A cherished playgroup in Cheltenham, PATA @ Winchcombe, is set to close its doors at the end of the academic year in July 2025. After more than 30 years of nurturing young children in the Winchcombe community, the Board of Trustees has announced that continuing operations is no longer sustainable.
The decision follows extensive efforts to explore alternative funding, restructuring, and partnerships. Despite these attempts, the trustees concluded that the financial and structural challenges facing the early years sector have made it impossible to maintain the service.
PATA expressed profound gratitude to the families, staff, and community members who have supported the playgroup over the decades. The team remains committed to ensuring that children currently enrolled continue to receive quality care for the remainder of the academic year.
Jade Craswell, CEO of PATA, acknowledged the deep impact this closure will have on the community. She highlighted the relentless dedication of the team since PATA took over from a parent committee in 2019 but emphasized that ongoing funding difficulties have made the closure inevitable. While saddened by the outcome, Craswell expressed pride in having sustained the setting for an additional five years.
This closure reflects a broader trend affecting early years provision across England, where numerous playgroups and nurseries have faced similar fates amid rising demand but shrinking resources.