Wargrave Preschool, a beloved community institution for 44 years, is at risk of closing unless it can raise £20,000 to cover its rising costs. Ffion Robinson-Jones, a parent and fundraising manager at the preschool, described the school as a “cornerstone of the community” and said its closure would be “absolutely devastating.”
The preschool, which currently has 19 pupils, is struggling with increasing expenses, such as higher utility bills and the cost of supplies like stationery. In addition, the school faces declining demand, partly due to lower birth rates and a growing trend of parents choosing wrap-around childcare services.
“We’re finding it hard to keep up with the rising costs,” Robinson-Jones explained. “We also need to upgrade facilities, particularly to better support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), which we hope will attract more families.”
Robinson-Jones emphasized that the school’s facilities haven’t evolved as much as she would have liked. “We don’t have all the equipment we need to give the children the best experience,” she said. The funds raised would also help provide financial security for the preschool’s “amazing” staff, who would otherwise face uncertainty about the school’s future.
“My daughter runs into the preschool every morning without saying goodbye—I know the care she receives is exceptional. The staff deserve to feel valued and secure,” Robinson-Jones added.
To raise the necessary funds, the preschool has launched a crowdfunding campaign and is organizing fundraising events, including a Christmas elf trail. However, Robinson-Jones admitted that the ongoing financial strain was causing significant stress. “It’s that constant dread that we won’t raise enough money,” she said. “We could face closure unless we receive help from the community or the council.”
Wokingham Borough Council’s executive member for children’s services, Prue Bray, expressed support for the preschool. “We are fully committed to ensuring there are enough high-quality childcare places available,” Bray said. “Wargrave Preschool is receiving advisory support to help improve and sustain its services, and we remain dedicated to working with providers to ensure the sustainability of early years provision across the borough.”
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