JANELLE KIRKLAND
A roll of three means this kindergarten is under threat of closure next year, the victim of Kereru's dwindling population.
Kereru Tots and Dots Early Childhood Centre loses three of its children to primary school next year and will most likely shut its doors after 12 years, says teacher Lindsay Averill.
"I can't see it carrying on," she said. "It is just such a shame not to have a few more children in the area to keep us going."
The nearest kindergarten Maraekakaho Early Childhood Centre has a waiting list of at least a year, meaning parents would either need to travel to Hastings for kindergarten or consider forming a playgroup at the Kereru community hall.
She said the centre could remain open if enough parents on the waiting list at Maraekakoho were prepared to drive the extra 15 minutes to the Kereru centre.
"It has lots of equipment and it's a great little area," she said.
Kereru School Principal Peter Hansen was concerned the low number of 2 to 5-year-olds reflected a trend that would also affect the school roll, as the school drew new entrants primarily from the kindergarten.
Eventually, it could affect staffing, but probably not for the next three years, he said.
The school has a current roll of 36 that he expects will "slowly sink" to the low 20s.
"You go through these cycles every 10 to 15 years in rural areas, the roll peaks when a new generation comes along."
"There's the odd farm or two that gets consolidated and that usually means you are not getting as many people in town."
In the past 10 years, farms were more often sold to older people with children of secondary school age, he said.
Mother-of-four Tatum Jowsey said it was "sad to see", and that the social aspect of kindergarten was the most important reason children attended.
She said she would consider travelling 45km to Hastings or sending her kindergarten-age child to play group.
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