Loggerheads pre-school loses pupils after primary criticised
A pre-school based near Market Drayton has lost pupils after Ofsted criticised a nearby primary school – even though the pre-school has its own separate government inspection.
Pinewood Pre-School, at Loggerheads, is run as a charity in the grounds of Hugo-Meynell Primary School which was placed in special measures in February.
The school has since made satisfactory progress but the pre-school had a separate inspection in April and was rated good. Despite this, staff claim parents have been taking children out of the pre-school.
Manager Kerry Tagg said the pre-school now has about half the number of children it could be taking on.
She said: "We lost children when the results for Hugo-Meynell were announced and the school was put in special measures.
"Parents were taking their older children out of the school and also their young ones from the pre-school. We had a separate Ofsted inspection in about April though and people don't realise we are different. Our pre-school was good with outstanding features."
The pre-school was launched in the 1970s but has been sharing the site with Hugo Meynell in Eccleshall Road for about five years.
A new sensory garden has been created at the pre-school this year with different lights and textures to aid the youngsters' learning. It has four members of staff and takes children from the age of two until reception year.
"We have about 20 children at the moment but we could in effect double that number," Mrs Tagg added. "We have space for 22 children each day.
"We were very busy in the summer fundraising but September and October are always the most difficult months we have."
