A PRE-SCHOOL playgroup is facing closure because after three months of advertising for a new supervisor it has had no applicants.

Liden Pre-School in Swindon has been open for 27 years and caters for 49 three and five-year-olds. But unless a new supervisor is found by next month, these toddlers will have to find other playgroups or possibly miss out on pre-school learning altogether.

Liden Pre-School chairman Nicole Ash believes the recruitment problem has been caused by a recent government rule change which means all playgroup supervisors must have a minimum NVQ Level Three qualification.

She said: "There is a national problem finding qualified staff. Earlier, experienced staff could be accepted but now we can't appoint anyone without the qualification."

Mrs Ash has tried advertising in the press, job centre and in local shops all to no avail. Now time is running out fast for the playgroup as its current supervisor is moving to Wales next month.

She said: "We will have to close until we can find a new supervisor, it won't be the end of it we will keep looking. But in the mean time if all the children have gone to other schools we could re-open and have no children to look after."

She added: "We are a very good pre-school and we've got excellent Ofsted reports and good links with local primary school. People want to send their children here but unfortunately we are not going to be able to help them much longer at the rate we are going.

"I think the parents and the children are all going to be pretty upset if we have to close. I have a two-year-old myself and I was hoping to send her here next year."

Anyone wishing to apply for the post of supervisor at Liden Pre-School should contact Nicole Ash on 642744. Mrs Ash said the post would particularly suit someone with school-age children as the playgroup is only open during school hours.

Applicants must have NVQ Level Three in Nursery Childcare Education. The post is for 19 to 25 hours a week and the pay is £6 an hour.