Plymouth pre-school shuts blaming nearby primary

A Plymouth pre-school is to close after 50 years blaming a nearby primary school for taking over its breakfast and after-school clubs. Stoke Damerel Pre-School will shut on December 18 with all eight staff losing their jobs just before Christmas.

The pre-school’s “heartbroken” workers say the closure has been forced on them because Stoke Damerel Primary Academy has decided to no longer allow the pre-school to run breakfast and after-school clubs at the school.

The pre-school, rated outstanding by Ofsted, said each session attracts up to 65 children and the loss of this income means it can’t afford to continue, as only 48 tots attend its nursery at nearby Stoke Damerel Church, in Paradise Road.

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Stoke Damerel Primary Academy has written to parents saying it will be running the clubs - and that prices will rise. It said: “We are taking over a service that isn’t sustainable.”

Kerrie Robson, who has managed Stoke Damerel Pre-School with her deputy Clair Hodder for the past 26 years, refutes this and blames the transformation of schools into businesses.

She said: “The school took our wrap-around care, the breakfast and after-school clubs we have run for 15 years at the school. They are going to run their own.

“That has crushed us. It was the highest percentage of our income. We have to stop now to give out staff redundancy money. Hopefully they will find somewhere else to work. But it is not just our jobs - this has been our lives.”

She said the Government was keen for wrap-around care to be provided in schools, by academies and trusts, but said: “That is not our ethos. It’s very sad and we are all in bits.”

The pre-school has rented the space at Stoke Damerel Primary for a peppercorn rent. It charges parents for childcare, asking for just £3 for breakfasts, for instance.

Kerrie said other sources of income had been looked at, and meetings held with Plymouth City Council, but no solution has been found. She said parents are being given a list of alternative childcare providers, and told them in a letter: “We are truly heartbroken.”

Nicola Brailsford, whose child left the pre-school in September to start school and has another on the waiting list, said: “We are beyond gutted.

"The pre-school has been a part of the community for 50 years, the staff are incredible and always go above and beyond, it has a true family feel and I feel strongly that I wouldn’t want my child anywhere else.”

Another parent, Lisa Banks, said her son only recently left the pre-school and still attends a holiday club. She said: “To have to tell our son this has closed and gone is gut wrenching.”

In a newsletter to parents, Collingwood Road-based Stoke Damerel Primary Academy admitted that “the cost of breakfast club has risen, compared to the current provider” and said it was looking at funding options. It said it wouldn’t run the club at a profit and was recruiting staff.

The newsletter said: “I want this service to be suitable for you. Thank you for the contact I have had so far, it is important that you let me know your concerns so I can act on them.”

The school is part of Reach South Academy Trust. A spokesperson for the trust said: “We are aware of the situation and are currently looking into it.”

A Plymouth City Council spokesperson said: "Since September, we’ve been working really closely with the preschool to support them following Stoke Damerel Primary School’s decision to offer its own wraparound (before and after school) provision. We have offered a range of business support and outlined the options available so we are surprised and disappointed that they have decided to close, but will continue to offer our support during this time.

"We recognise that there is a need for childcare in the area, and the school’s plans do not impact this as they will only be providing care for school-age children. We recognise the impact that the closure will have on local families and our Early Years team will work to identify other businesses who may be able to step in to provide childcare in the area."

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