Parents concerned after nursery announces closure

Parents have expressed concern they will be left without local childcare provision after a nursery announced it will close at the end of the academic term.

Giggles 'N' Squiggles in West Winch, Norfolk, offers wrap around childcare for pre-school children and those attending the nearby primary school, but will shut as the village hall in which it operates needs a new roof and other repairs.

Robert and Wendy, whose son Hadrian attends the nursery, raised concerns that alternative placements could mean more travel and less flexibility.

Norfolk County Council said its data shows there were sufficient other nursery placements in the area.

Robert and Wendy live in West Winch and their seven-year-old son Hadrian has been attending Giggles 'N' Squiggles since he was three.

Hadrian currently spends about three mornings and four afternoons at the nursery when his parents are at work.

Robert said: "It's been an absolute lifeline for us. We drop Hadrian off first thing in the morning at 07:30 BST and then they will take him to the school and they give him breakfast as well.

"Then after school, they pick him up and then they take him back to the setting at the village hall, and then we pick him up at about 17:30 BST."

Wendy said: "If it turns out that it's not reopened or anything like that, or there's no childcare in the area, I'll probably end up like losing hours [at work] which is quite detrimental to our lifestyle being able to afford everything that we have."

Giggles 'N' Squiggles is rated "good" by Ofsted and has about 100 children on its roll, offering places for children from three months to 12 years old.

Emma Thom, the organisation's managing director, said: "We are continuing to explore every possible option to remain within the village.

"We've proudly served the village for the past seven years, and it's incredibly encouraging to know that our contribution to the community is being acknowledged."

One option being considered is a modular building on land near the village hall or the school.

Alexandra Kemp, an Independent councillor on Norfolk County Council, said the authority should be doing more to ensure the nursery can operate out of a new building in the village.

She said: "West Winch is designated as the growth area for West Norfolk, and cannot afford to lose highly-rated educational infrastructure."

Norfolk County Council said its data suggested there were sufficient childcare places in the area to meet local need but that provision would continue to be monitored.

A spokesperson for the authority said: "We are currently working with West Winch Primary School to try to support them to develop their own wraparound childcare provision for the new school year."

West Winch Village Hall is being closed at the end of July and the work is expected to take until October.

Alan Johnson, the chair of West Winch Parish Council, said "We are trying to do this [the repairs] for the safety of all parishioners".

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