Theale Primary School Nursery at risk of closure

Theale Primary School Nursery, located on Englefield Road, caters to children until they are ready to progress to primary school at the age of five.

With a lack of nursery provisions in the village for three- to five-year-olds, parents have expressed their concerns about the potential closure.

A consultation period for the proposed closure of the nursery class in Theale Primary School started on January 17 and will last until January 17.

According to the chair of Governors at the school, Jon Houghton, the fall in pupil numbers has meant that the nursery is now running at a loss.

He said: “There is increasing free government early years child care grants for parents and more and more of them are working and want longer and more flexible hours than we offer. 

“The number of pupils in the nursery each year falls, reflecting this current trend.  At the point at which we started the consultation, we had only one applicant for this coming September which means that the nursery is running at an increasing loss.

“This reduces the funding available for the main school and, as everyone is aware, school budgets are incredibly tight and reducing in real terms which is forcing every school into considering difficult options.”

Parents have expressed that they believe that this fall in numbers is due to the nursery only offering a 15-hour scheme for children and the lack of advertisement for their before and after school clubs.

Following the consultation period, the school and government body will analyse the responses received and make a decision whether to proceed with the closure.

Theale Primary School nursery has been described as ‘hugely beneficial for the children who attend, both in education and routine as they get ready to transition to the school.

Mr Houston said: “We are, naturally, disappointed that we are having to even consider this move as the nursery provides, and has always provided, a valuable start to children’s school life.”