A TEDDY bears' picnic was held in the Meadows at Tavistock to highlight the plight of preschools starved of cash and struggling to survive.

The Tavistock branch of the Preschool Learning Alliance, which is made up of 24 preschools, playgroups, nurseries and parent and toddler groups organised its own special day last Thursday — the same day as a national PLA conference was being held at London's Docklands.

Billie Burnett, wife of John Burnett, the MP for West Devon and Torridge, dropped in to lend her support.

Preschool development worker Maggie Calvert, of Lydford, said: 'This year, 50 preschools in Devon are in danger of closing due to low income — thankfully none of our groups are included in this number but some are definitely borderline cases.

'Last year two groups in West Devon came very close to closing and, although there is no real danger at the moment, there are certain groups which are struggling.

'It is a continual battle to get funding for three year olds and often it falls on the shoulders of parents to fundraise.

'The Government supplies funding for children over the age of four but our part of Devon lost out in the recent allocation of funding for three-years-olds, so many groups are struggling to stay afloat. A group in Bere Ferrers received money, but no one else in West Devon.'

Mrs Calvert said she appreciated Devon County Council only had a limited pot of money and had to identify areas of greatest need.

'I would like to meet the people who work out those in greatest need to see how it is done,' she said. 'But it all goes back to central government and I feel it should put more money into three-year-olds without the groups having to be means tested each time.'

She said: 'This part of West Devon is mostly rural and the facilities provided by our groups give their members social as well as educational opportunities for all concerned.

'For some smaller communities, the local preschool can be a lifeline for the whole family, preparing children for full time entry to school and teaching them social skills.

'These isolated and rural groups should have benefited from funding.'

Mrs Burnett agreed and said playgroups were vital for youngsters and their parents.

'John and I very strongly support all preschool groups,' she said. 'They are particularly important in rural areas for children to meet others and learn to share — the social side is terribly important.

'The familiarity of local groups often leads to children making friends — sometimes for life. Mothers, who can feel very isolated, also get out and meet people.'

A NOP survey carried out two months ago showed 3,500 preschools and playgroups in England were threatened with closure.

Chief executive of the PLA, Margaret Lochrie, told the education select committee inquiry into Early Years Provision that the preschool movement could disappear within 'a very few years'.

'This would be a great hardship for the hundreds of thousands of children who attend preschools every day,' said Margaret Lochrie.

'Education ministers have the solution in their own hands.'

While additional emergency funding would be very welcome, the independent review report set out a comprehensive action plan to provide more resources for the voluntary sector she said.

'It is vital that this is acted upon without delay.'