New Build

2009 sees the official launch of Rolleston Pre-School’s New Build Project.

Rolleston Pre-school has been fortunate to be able to rent a mobile classroom from John of Rolleston Primary School for a number of years. However, it receives no funding from the school and is run as a separate charity.

A structural survey of the deteriorating pre-school building was carried out around two years ago and it may soon not be safe to use. We have requested support from the local education authority but they will not fund the pre-school replacement.

We are aiming to replace the building by September 2010.

The pre-school benefits the community in the following ways:

• Children are prepared well for John of Rolleston Primary School. This has been recognised in the recent school Ofsted report.
• Mr Bateman, JOR Headmaster, believes that the existence of the pre-school maintains enrolment numbers at the school. If children attended another school nursery, such as at Tutbury, it is likely that they would continue at the school where they had formed friendships.
• The pre-school provides a very good level of care for our children, as recognised in the pre-school’s latest Ofsted report, which recorded it as ‘good’ in every area.
• As a charity, the pre-school enjoys a high level of participation from parents.
• The pre-school committee also runs three toddler groups in the Methodist chapel. These are a valuable resource for young families to meet. Many friendships have been started at the toddler groups. These groups also provide a regular feed for the pre-school, ensuring that it is consistently well attended.

Without the pre-school, there would be a shortage of childcare provision in the village. The school has capacity for fifty seven reception places.

The pre-school is highly regarded and has been fortunate to recruit very experienced staff. We need to be able to provide assurance that we are doing everything possible to keep the pre-school running to retain them. It is the staff that make the pre-school the special place it is.

Following a recent change in Committee, we are now looking at new ways of raising money to make a New Build possible. Alongside various grant application possibilities, local fundraising and support is going to be vital for our success.

Please support us in any way you can – signing petitions, attending the events held throughout the year or endorsing any of the fundraising initiatives listed in our newsletters or on this website.

Thank you for any support you can give to Rolleston Pre-School.