PARENTS are celebrating the fact their special needs children can still attend playgroups, even if it does mean a change of venue.

There were concerns the developmental playgroup at Great Oaks Clinic, Basildon, could have closed after rumours surfaced in April that NHS South West Essex may not be able to continue with funding due to budget cuts.

However, the health trust now says it will continue to fund half the group’s running costs at £38,000 a year, but will hold the playgroups at children’s centres instead of clinics. Sam Worrall, 33, whose son Freddie Fairchild, four, was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at 18 months, attends the playgroup at Great Oaks.

Mrs Worrall said: “In April we heard rumours the playground was going to close because staff had been meeting on a regular basis with management over the past four months about the future of the playgroups.

“We later found out the playgroup would be closing in four weeks, due to lack of funding.

“But now this is not the case and I am glad my Freddie will still get the support he needs.

“Other mums are also delighted their children will get the help they require.”

NHS South West Essex said the playgroups would remain the same for now, but in September the time and location of the playgroups would be changed.

Stewart McArthur, associate director of children and young people’s services at the health body, met the mums to tell them about the changes.

He said: “As the playgroups have a far greater remit than health, which is the core remit of the primary care trust, our local authority partners have agreed to support the service by helping children with moderate needs to access specialist services in children’s centres.

“We must ensure limited PCT resources fund the provision of health services, and that we work with our partners to share costs where services overlap with education, social care and family support services.”

Other clinics affected by the changes include Corringham Health Centre, Billericay Health Centre and a centre in Brentwood.