PARENTS are planning to row a marathon to help fund-raise enough money to give their children snacks at break time.
Catshill Rising Stars Preschool was faced with the difficult decision of possibly charging parents £2 a day to help them provide snacks to the children.
Even though the school is funded 98% by the government, rising costs have meant that some facilities, like snacks at break times, would need additional funding.
Mike Foster and Mel Heard – whose children attend the school – decided to each row 42,195 meters on January 13 to help with rising costs.
Mike said: “The preschool really does an amazing job, and I just wanted to give something back – they worked wonders with my daughter.”
He added that paying £2 a day would be a huge payout in the long run for struggling families in the area.
“We are helping the community save money in a time of need and helping the community grow together – we work and help each other.”
The fund-raiser aims to give the school a pot of money to use so all children have equal amounts and the same snacks at break.
The school currently receives approximately £4.37 per child per hour.
But some have estimated that for the preschool to keep up with increasing costs, would need to be paid £7.29 per child per hour.
Lisa Hadely, headteacher, said that she was ‘worried’ about rising costs and did not want to charge parents or allow parents to buy their own children snacks due to wealth inequality.
“We want our children to have the same experiences instead one child with a nicer healthier snack because their parents can afford it.
“We also did not want parents to be embarrassed to say they are struggling with the costs of preschool.
“It is about the children and giving them the best start in education.”
So far, the preschool at Catshills Methodist Church has raised over £500.
Visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/mffpreschoolrow to donate.
