Saying they lack the necessary funding to keep it open, the board of Community Living Dufferin (CLD) has announced it will close Rolling Hills Children's Place on Sept. 18.

Rolling Hills will, however, retain its Pre-School Resource Program, which helps to assess the needs of special needs children before they enter full-time school.

"This is a very difficult decision and our board did not make it lightly," board chair David Childs said in a press release.

"However, we have been unable to secure adequate funding through fees and government grants to continue operating Rolling Hills"

The facility, situated next to Headwaters Health Care Centre, was opened by CLD in 1994 with the aim of ensuring that all families - including those whose children had special needs - had access to fullday child care.

Rolling Hills' programs are available to children aged 18 months to 12 years.

Toddlers as well as junior and senior preschool children can enroll in full day sessions.

A half-day Nursery School (mornings or afternoons) is available and school-aged children can attend before- and after-school programs during the school year, as well as full day sessions at Christmas, March Break and during summer holidays.

"Community Living Dufferin will continue to ensure that children with developmental disabilities receive the support they need to be well integrated in child care centres across Dufferin through our Pre- School Resource Program," CLD Executive Director Sheryl Chandler said in the same release.

She pointed out that care for special needs children has expanded to the point where all certified day care centres in Dufferin County provide full-time spaces for those children with special needs.

As well, the release said the provincial government's announcement that children aged four and five will begin full-time education in 2010, has somewhat decreased daycare requirements.

"Today we face very different realities than those that led us to establish Rolling Hills 15 years ago," said Mr. Childs.

"Children with developmental disabilities are more integrated today and that's good. But, we are saddened that current financial realities make the closure of Rolling Hills necessary."