Parents and children held an end-of-term farewell party to mark the closure of a pre-school that has served the borough for more than three decades.

The Old Barn Pre-School in Finchley has been forced to shut down after 36 years after coming under financial pressure.

Together with other friends of the school, parents and pupils said goodbye to each other and to long-term managers Anju Jasphara and Penny Koule at the party on Friday, July 20.

The school’s trustees blamed an increase in rents at the Long Lane Scout Hut, the lack of an alternative venue and the low fees paid by the council for its demise.

With both managers due to retire shortly, the trustees felt unable to hand over such a difficult situation to any successor.

Emily Burnham, a trustee whose three children are former pupils, said she was “disappointed” the council had rejected the school’s bid for inclusion in the new Tarling Road centre.

Due to open in the autumn, Tarling Road was designed to replace the Old Barn community centre as a shared space for local community groups.

Ms Burnham added: “Though the council acknowledged that we provide a community benefit and are a good fit to share space with after school and holiday activities, they kept saying that the centre had to ‘wash its own face’.

“Also, they said we would have had to take on a long lease with hefty responsibilities – instead of paying an hourly rate like we always have.

“This isn’t right for a small charity run by local parents. We are worried that children living nearby won’t be able to afford whatever nursery takes our place there.”

Claire Meade, chair of trustees, added: “It’s so sad that the Old Barn Pre-School has to close. It has been a really difficult decision and we wish the circumstances were different.

“We believe there should be more support for this type of affordable provision, which is being lost to our communities.”

The council increased its funding levels for early years’ education in April 2017.

A council spokesperson said: “The rooms at Tarling Road Community centre will be available to all community groups, including Old Barn Pre-School, to hire per hour or to lease for a longer period.

“The room hire costs will sustain the building, which includes utility bills, building maintenance, and managing the centre. The council will not be making any surplus income from the community centre, with the room hire charges directly used to keep the building open and in good condition.”