A NEW pre-school in Witney is offering the ‘perfect environment’ for tots to learn and develop on the site of a primary school.

Childminder Carrie Currell set up the new pre-school inside Witney Community Primary School in Hailey Road following Government changes to childcare funding.

The new Witney Community Primary Pre-School. , which offers care for children aged between two and four-and-a-half, promises to offer high quality care for classes of up to 25.

When the Government last year extended the amount of free childcare parents are entitled to from 15 to 30 hours, Ms Currell began researching the area and discovered there was not enough early years provision in the area to cater for the increased number of hours.

She engaged the primary school in discussions about the project and was able to rent out one of its classrooms for the pre-school.

It was finally launched earlier this month and classes are running five days a week, 51 weeks a year.

Ms Currell said: “It has been very fast and difficult and has been a lot of hard work but we’ve now got a really good team and, most importantly, happy children."

She said that much of what is involved in running the preschool is a continuation of her work as a childminder, but there were some substantial differences.

She said: “It’s been quite a big change.

"Doing this on a larger scale and managing a team of staff has been different – as well as being in an environment that isn’t home.

“But I’m so fantastically pleased with how everything has been going. The staff are amazing and have already made bonds with the children.

“I think the most important thing we can do is make sure the children are happy and relaxed in a perfect environment for them to learn and develop.

“I think a big part of that is working as a community with the school. Although we are a separate entity and in a separate classroom, the staff have been really supportive.”

Ms Currell said the support from the primary school was vital, including a play area in which preschool children can mix with youngsters from the primary.

It is hoped the efforts to bring the two will boost the performance of children who will move on to the primary school.

Application forms for a place at the pre-school available from the main school office.

To find out more about the pre-school visit its Facebook page at bit.ly/2fmsm5v