An English-medium early-years setting in Llanfair Caereinion is set to close in early 2019 - only 16 months after it first opened.

Meithrinfa, the three years plus setting at Ysgol Gynradd Llanfair Caereinion, provides free-funded bilingual pre-school education but it will cease its English-medium provision in January 2019.

Powys County Council has funded the early years setting since September 2017.

It says a lack of children is making it “economically unviable” to keep it running.

The closure would mean from January, only one out of the six early years providers in the Llanfair Caereinion catchment area will be left to provide English-medium early education.

The next nearest English early-years setting is in Meifod, at MiniBeasts Playgroup, which is a 12-mile round trip from Llanfair Caereinion.

Parents have raised their concerns since the announcement of the English stream’s closure.

“We need everyone’s support to keep it open,” said Rebecca Williams, whose son attends Meithrinfa.

“It is a wonderful nursery and staff are fab. The work they’re doing with my son is phenomenal. The difference in his speech is fantastic.”

Some parents say without an English stream in the town, Welsh-medium children will have an unfair advantage compared to their English-language peers because they will have a smoother transition experience and will be better prepared before they start their full-time placement at the primary school.

Rebecca added: “It’s going to have a knock-on effect on children who don’t want Welsh-medium education. Without an English-medium stream available in the town, some children are not going to be classroom ready for school.

“It’s taking away the parents’ choice for their children.”

A Powys County Council spokesman said: “The Early Years English medium setting at Llanfair Caereinion has provided education for early years children aged three to four since last September, receiving funding from Powys County Council Early Years Provision.

“However, the setting will cease in January because the number of children attending make it economically unviable.”