Failing pre-school in Dibden Purlieu relaunched under new management

A Dibden Purlieu pre-school has officially opened its own nursery which replaces a former preschool on the site.

The former Wildground Preschool, which was led by a voluntary management committee, closed last year after Ofsted visited in June and said it required improvement.

Just months earlier, in March, an inspector had said it was inadequate, which is the worst rating it could receive.

The new nursery provision, which accepts youngsters aged two years nine months and up, is based within the infant school and is led by teacher Molly Weeks and four nursery assistants.

The Wildground Federation consists of Wildground infant and junior schools, based at Crete Road.

A celebration of the new nursery saw school staff, governors and parents gather to look around the new setting, which teaches 50 children each week.

Youngsters sang songs and demonstrated some of the activities the nursery offers before the school’s executive headteacher, Amanda Mullett, thanked everyone for attending.

She said: “We're so pleased the nursery has become part of the federation. It's just fantastic and staff have done a wonderful job.”

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was carried out by Fiona Western, who was chair of governors between 2012 and 2018, and three-year-old pupil Ophelia.

Fiona told guests she was “really pleased” to be at the opening and added: “We're seeing really rapid improvement and we're looking forward to many great years ahead.”

Also at the opening was Dibden and Hythe county councillor Malcolm Wade, who said: “The staff and governors have done a fantastic job to turn this around. This is a great example of a school doing the best for their children.”