The Department of Education and Training will not continue its Parents as Teachers (PAT) program next year. The program was established in 1981.

Its aim is to help parents give children aged 0-3 the best start by laying the foundation for school and life success through play sessions, information sheets and home visits.

In a letter sent to Mt Druitt state MP Richard Amery, the Minister for Education and Training, Verity Firth, said the department had a legislative responsibility to children starting school.

``The legislative responsibility for children under school age rests with other agencies,'' the letter states.

A department spokesman said there had been significant enhancement in parenting support through the Families NSW initiative since the PAT program began.

The program is used at eight locations across NSW, including Madang Avenue Public School.

Nearly 50 families are involved in the Whalan program through babies', toddlers' and grandparents' groups that meet fortnightly and at a weekly playgroup.

They rallied outside Mt Druitt Library yesterday in a desperate bid to get the decision reversed. They accused the department of passing the buck.

``It helps the department in the long run every dollar put in the program saves $7 in the future,'' Glendenning mother Sheridan Murphy said.

The program is valuable for first-time mothers such as Mrs Murphy.

``We don't have family close by as I'm from Perth and my husband was born overseas,'' she said.

``Being a first-time mum can be daunting so it's nice to get that reassurance that everything you're doing is OK and that your child is normal.''

Hassall Grove mother Debbie Sheerin fears 15-week-old Ronan will not have the same socialisation experience as his sister Angelica, 3, gets.

``I have found the program to be extremely helpful,'' she said. ``It's an opportunity to share experiences and my daughter and I have formed friendships we know we will have for a long time.''