Little Explorers: Former pre-school staff fundraising for graduation party as children kicked out of nursery

Former nursery staff are determined to make sure a graduation ceremony still goes ahead - even after pre-schoolers were kicked out.

As reported last week, the places of more than 40 pre-schoolers at Little Explorers Nursery in Heritage Way, Gosport, were terminated last week. The children affected are all moving up to primary school in September.

Having been told at short notice, many parents are still struggling to find new pre-school places for their children. They have also told The News that their children have been ‘graduated’ according to an app used by Little Explorers.

Now, a former staff member is fundraising to throw the children a graduation party, to celebrate advancing to primary school and to reunite them with their pre-school friends.

Lizzie Featherstone, former pre-school room leader at Little Explorers, said: “I left just three weeks before these events unfolded. Like many others, I was deeply saddened to hear what had happened and the impact it has had on children and their families.

“In response, myself and a group of past and present staff have come together to organise a graduation celebration for the children - an important milestone they would otherwise have missed. With the support of a GoFundMe campaign, we have already raised a significant amount, with donations continuing to grow.”

Support has been flooding in from not only families affected by the changes at Little Explorers, but also businesses from Gosport and the surrounding area.

Lizzie added: “It has been truly uplifting to see the community come together during such a difficult time.

“As many will know, this final term of pre-school is a crucial period. It is when families learn which schools their children will attend, teachers begin transition visits, and staff work closely with children to prepare them emotionally and socially for this next step. The sudden closure has left many families distressed, struggling to find alternative placements, and in some cases unable to work due to urgent childcare needs.

“While this graduation event cannot resolve those challenges, it is a way to bring some joy back to the children, allow them to celebrate with their friends, and show families that they are supported.

We hope this positive response from the community highlights the importance of early years settings and the lasting impact they have.”

Hampshire County Council was contacted by The News for comment on Monday, April 13, but has not responded at the time of publication.

To donate to the fundraising campaign, people can click here.