Mudeford Wood playgroup get new home thanks to BCP Council after row with Mudeford Wood Community Trust

A PRESCHOOL is relocating after after being given its marching orders in a row over health and safety.

Mudeford Wood Preschool will move from its base at the village community centre to Highcliffe day centre.

A previously reported, the trustees of the hall, which include Paul Hilliard who was until recently mayor of Christchurch, had claimed the nursery had repeatedly broken health and safety rules.

Emily Hernon, who runs the school, attended by 70 children, said at the time she’d been told she had until July this year to find another home.

She said: “It is very upsetting. We pay £4,500 a month to hire our room. That is triple what most pre-schools pay.

“What landlord would want to evict a good tenant who pays their bills on time, in the hope of finding one who has been as reliable as we have for over three decades?”

The row between the pre-school and the Mudeford Wood Community Trust had been sparked by trustees’ claims Emily had been warned several times about play equipment being left out after her sessions, including a playhouse.

The trust claimed this was putting other users of the hall in danger and also meant other hirers of the space could not use it.

Local MP Sir Christopher Chope became involved when he visited the preschool to speak to angry staff and parents.

Emily said her room had never been planned as a “pack away room”, and pointed out that the extension housing the preschool had been paid for by a grant of £171,500 from the Department of Education, to which it had added £15,000.

But in a statement issued at the time the trust said its decision was “non-negotiable and irrevocable”, adding that the school had “consistently abused its trust” and that “their attitude of entitlement and misrepresentation of facts has been unhelpful”.

Now BCP Council has announced it has found the pre-school a new home at the day centre in Lymington Road.

It closed during Covid but is set to be reopened especially for the playgroup, with BCP saying this will “ensure it can carry on its much-valued childcare provision”.

Emily has thanked the authority, saying: “Our priority has always been to provide high-quality, affordable early years education for the children of our community, and we are thrilled that this new location will enable us to continue to do so.

“The past few months have been incredibly stressful for everyone, our parents have been worried sick that their children would not have a future with us, and our skilled staff have faced uncertainty.

“We would like to thank all our wonderful preschool families for their patience and unwavering support, which has boosted staff morale and strengthened our determination to find a way forward.”

She added: “We are extremely grateful to BCP Council officers, the council’s chief executive Graham Farrant, the local councillors in Highcliffe and BCP’s education team for supporting us through this very difficult period when we really feared we might have to close for good. We are looking forward to a bright future.”

The new preschool home has a grass area and parking and is just two miles from its old one. The school will have an initial one-year lease to operate from the building.

Cllr Andy Martin, BCP portfolio holder for customer, communications and culture, said: "We are very pleased to have found a suitable alternative site for Mudeford Wood Preschool, ensuring their services continue without major impact to families. Highcliffe is delighted to welcome the playgroup with open arms.

“The council and the preschool share an overwhelming commitment to children and young people, and this fantastic site will ensure they have the necessary facilities at their disposal to provide children with the best possible start in life.”

“I would especially like to thank the chief executive, who has been personally involved in all the efforts to secure the playgroup’s future.”