PARENTS have been left “incredibly saddened” after a village pre-school has announced that it will close later this year.

Kings Worthy Pre-school has said that it will shut for good at the end of December due to challenges in making the nursery financially viable.

The pre-school is operated out of two rooms at Kings Worthy Primary School but the licence on one of those, the Willow Room, is not being renewed which would reduce the intake.

Parents have started a petition calling for a solution to be found and save the pre-school. At the time of publication, the petition had been signed by 249 people.

A statement from parents of children at the pre-school said: “As parents we’re incredibly saddened to hear the pre-school is closing, especially as there has been no consultation with the community it was set up just over 10 years ago - with over half a million pounds of public money – to serve. After years of making a loss and relying on fundraising from parents and the community to stay afloat the pre-school was finally able to break even with the use of the Willow Room, which is being taken away so soon.

“We are looking forward to working with the primary school, Hampshire County Council and the community to explore every possible way of keeping the pre-school open.

“It’s essential such a vital community asset is saved so children between the age of two and four can continue to benefit from and be nurtured by such a happy and thriving environment.”

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The primary school and Hampshire’s Services for Young Children will be seeking tenders for a new pre-school to operate onsite.

Jamie Dodson, headteacher at King’s Worthy Primary School, said: “As a school we have a duty to provide the best education possible to all of our 432 pupils, and for some time now it has been clear that we needed a dedicated space to use with our younger pupils to help them catch up after the Covid closures, and in particular to support our growing number of pupils who have additional needs.

“The room in question (the Willow Room) had been licensed to the pre-school since September 2019, and before half-term our governors took the decision that we would not be renewing the licence.

“Hampshire County Council has advised that the pre-school would be able to continue to operate by reverting back to one room, as was the original case when the provision opened. However the trustees of the pre-school decided this was not possible and to close.

“It is regrettable that individuals have chosen to blame this decision on Kings Worthy School, when we are acting to support our most vulnerable pupils at an unprecedented time.”