Growing size forces Oswestry primary school to close pre-school centre

Woodside School in Oswestry, which is the biggest in the town with 560 pupils, also took over the running of the Sure Start Centre, which provides 40 families with day care for two and three-year-olds after Shropshire Council withdrew its financial backing and the centre was left with a large deficit.

After deliberation the governing body has decided to close the services at the centre, after running at a loss for several years and being unable to make up the £60,000 shortfall.

The service will close on September 30 for babies to two years old, and from December 31 for two to three-year-olds.

​The closure will bring with it the loss of nine jobs. However with further increases at the primary school other opportunities will be available according to headteacher Rob McDevitt, who has apologised to the families affected.

He said: “Closing the Start at Woodside facility has been a hugely difficult decision to make, and we know that it will be unsettling for the 40 families who currently use the service.

“Woodside Primary School and the education of our pupils has to remain our core priority though, and with class numbers increasing year-on-year, and with no other funds likely to be made available, we have no choice but to divert the revenues we generate from breakfast, after-school and holiday clubs into the school itself.

“This will allow us to add the classroom space and teachers for two new Key Stage 2 classes, and will ensure that every pupil here receives the truly exceptional standard of education that they deserve.

“We are, of course, supporting our families, and our team fully at this time and in the weeks and months ahead.”

“There will be job losses, and that is a regret, but there will be other opportunities on offer in the school.

When Start was launched in February 2006, it was funded through the Sure Start programme and was guaranteed financially by the local authority. However the authority pulled the plug on funding in 2012, with the centre costing more to run than it brought in through revenue.

The school took the decision to fund the shortfall through paid-for breakfast clubs, after school clubs and holiday care for school pupils. The centre continues to run at a loss and now costs over £60,000 per year more to run than it earns.

After looking at avenues to keep it open, governors found it would need to increase fees by over 40 per cent, with a full day feel for babies going from £16 to £55 per day, and toddlers £17 to £54.

Mr McDevitt added: “This is well above the rate offered by other care facilities in the area and so we recognise that it’s simply not viable. Even with the higher fees, based on current costs and usage, the service would still not make a profit.”

With the demand of the school increasing, two prefabricated additions to the current phase one and two rooms, and extra toilets will be built ready for September 2018.

As an academy school, an application for a grant was made for the new facilities, but it was rejected.

Mr McDevitt added: “Education funding is a concern for all schools, and Woodside Primary School has to be our priority, and we’ve reached a place where subsidising the Start facility may impact on the future of the school.

“Without making tough choices the future of our children’s education is at risk.

“Once again can I say how sorry we are that we have had to make this decision.”