YEOVIL NEWS: Buckler's Mead Pre-School to close in March

PARENTS have been assured by Somerset County Council that their young children will be found new pre-school places following news that the Buckler’s Mead Pre-School in Yeovil is to close.

Letters were sent out to parents last week to tell them the pre-school’s last day of operation would be Friday, March 13, 2015.

“It is with regret that the committee of Buckler’s Mead Pre-School have made a vote to close,” said the letter. “Unfortunately with the volume of staff we are unable to recruit replacement staff in time to ensure your child’s safety.

“Legally we have to make sure all staff have to be fully referenced and have DBS Clearance – this can take up to eight weeks.

“We are down to one member of staff from March 13 and with the aid of bank staff we are able to stay open this week.

“This means the last day the pre-school will be open will be Friday, March 13, 2015.”

The pre-school initially opened in 1993 and moved into purpose-built new facilities within the grounds of Buckler’s Mead Academy in 2010.

But the pre-school will now only be open for a couple more weeks.

The letter to parents added: “We have not taken this decision lightly. But children’s safety is our upmost concern and working within the correct ratios.

“The committee has been in consultation with Somerset County Council to try and find alternatives to closure, but we have not been successful.

“We do apologise for any inconvenience and stress this causes to yourselves. We reiterate again this is not a decision we have wanted to make or done so without great deliberation.”

A spokesperson for Somerset County Council told the Yeovil Press: “Buckler’s Mead is a voluntary run pre-school and the committee explored every solution before taking the difficult decision to close.

“Our staff have worked closely with Buckler’s Mead committee and would like to reassure the families involved that places will be found for their children at alternative provisions in the local community.

“This was not an easy decision to take, however, in the current economic climate the pre-school could not survive without sufficient numbers of children and qualified staff.

“Pre-schools need to abide by the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage and ensure the correct staff to child ratios in order to keep children safe.

“It is not always easy to replace qualified staff quickly and this is a problem acknowledged nationally.”

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