TWO-year-olds in Blackbird Leys will be able to go to pre-school sessions at two of the estate’s schools.

Pegasus Primary School and Windale Primary School will both be able to take 32 children every day, meaning 64 children can get pre-school education from next week.

Sessions at Pegasus, in Field Avenue, began last month and Windale, in Dunnock Way, will begin to take toddlers after the half-term break.

Earlier this year both Little Doves and Shepherds Hill pre-schools closed because of staffing and space shortages, leaving the estate with no provisions for two-year-olds.

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Mary Blackshaw is the advisory teacher at the Pegasus scheme, which has built a new classroom for the scheme.

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  • Claire Slattery and her son, Mason, two

She said: “We previously used a small room in the school. This is much bigger and we can take more children.

“Before we could take only eight and they had specific needs, like vulnerable children or those with special needs. Now we can include other children and it’s open to anyone.”

Debbie Scrivener, a family support outreach worker at The Children’s Centre on the estate, welcomed the new provisions.

She said: “This was really needed to support the two-year-old’s development. It fills a big hole.

“Especially for families that have other issues, like drug addiction or mental health problems, it’s important for them to get this support.

“It’s really beneficial for children to socialise with other children and get positive interaction with other adults.”

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  •  The nursery at Pegasus School

 

Claire Slattery’s son Mason began at Pegasus in September after losing his spot at Little Doves.

The Blackbird Leys resident, 31, said: “He absolutely loves it, he’s already come a long way with his speech and he’s made lots of friends.

“Little Doves closed down just as he was due to start in March and there wasn’t anywhere for him to go.

“It’s a big relief to have this.”

Two-year-old Olivia Moir was also left in the lurch after Little Doves closed, but now loves her sessions at Pegasus. Her mum Jean Saunders, 34, said: “She was absolutely devastated when Little Doves closed.

“She had made friends and established connections with the teachers.

“There was just nothing else. I had funding but nowhere to send her.”

The Greater Leys resident said: “She loves coming here now. Her confidence has grown, she loves singing and it’s great for her to interact with other children her age.’’ The pre-school is free for those eligible for Oxforshire County Council’s two-year-old early education funding, which covers parents who earn less than £16,190 a year.

Sharna Kirby’s daughter Miley, two, is at Pegasus and her one-year-old son Mason is set to follow.

Miss Kirby, 22, said: “There isn’t anyone in my family who’s Miley’s age so this is good for her to interact with other children. I was a little bit worried when the other nurseries shut because I did want her to have that level of interaction.”

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