Parents question sudden closure of Hart Plain Church Pre-School in Waterlooville after 58 years
Devastation after closure of pre-school announced, with petition launched to save 58-year-old institution
Parents and staff have questioned the abrupt closure of a pre-school which has been serving the community for 58 years, with the managing church blaming staffing issues as the cause.
Staff at Hart Plain Church Pre-School, in Waterlooville, have said they are “devastated” at the recent news that the pre-school will close in July, giving them a matter of weeks to find new jobs.
The Reverend Kate Macfarlane, minister-in-charge at Hart Plain Church, said the Church Council made decision to close Hart Plain Church Pre-School because due to difficulties recruiting and retaining qualified staff.
She has told parents the pre-school will close this summer because they cannot guarantee enough suitably-qualified staff will be available from September.
She said: “In recent months, it has become harder to recruit and retain suitably-qualified members of staff to run the pre-school. This is an issue that is happening nationwide, but particularly in this part of Hampshire. Because these children are so young, the staff-to-child ratio is vitally important to ensure their safety and wellbeing. Parents would understandably expect us to meet those standards if the pre-school were to continue.
“Our Church Council is the body responsible for the pre-school. It took the difficult decision that the lack of qualified staff meant we would be unable to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the children from Autumn 2026. It will therefore close at the end of the summer term.”
Alima Khanam’s two daughters attended the pre-school and she was planning on sending her son when he turns one at the end of the year. The 37-year-old, from Waterlooville, has launched a petition opposing the closure, saying “it has hit everybody hard” and that parents are facing the difficult task of securing alternative provisions.
She said: “It is completely out of the blue. As parents, we had no reason to believe there was a problem with funding or staffing.
“Having spoken to the staff a bit more, they told me to contact the Archdeacon of Portsdown Bob White. I sent an email to him and cc’d in Kate asking what is happening - he basically said it is a staffing issue and they no longer comply with Ofsted and from September they will no longer have enough staff with the correct qualifications.
“I spoke to the staff again and asked about staffing and they said they are fully staffed and they have taken on more staff so they have got more than enough children, more than enough staff and more than enough funding. It’s all mixed and contradicting information. It doesn’t make sense. It seems as though the whole issue is the management in the church and that they no longer want to be involved with the pre-school. We have been given weeks to find alternative places which is very short notice as most nurseries have waiting lists.
“It has been running for a very long time, they have got everything they need to carry on in September but the decision has been made without the considering other options. There are so many people supporting us to keep it open. Parents have offered to do what they can to keep it running.”
Alima explained that she has looked at different nurseries but it is likely she will have to pay extra which is not financially viable, not only for herself but other parents impacted.
A member of staff at the nursery who has been part of the team for 19 years said employees were called in during half term, where they were informed the setting would cease to exist by September, without being given the opportunity to explore ways to keep the setting operational.
They said: “It was very unexpected. The whole team are devastated because we have got plenty of children on our books and we are financially viable and we work very well together. All of our team are shocked. As far as I know if you do the ratios, we are fully staffed.
“It’s a very long running pre-school - we have some vulnerable children and parents are very panicked about what they are going to do next because we know all of the needs of the children.
“It is nice to see how many parents support usbecause we have an amazing relationship with them and the kids - we all want it to stay open for the kids more than anything because they’re happy here.”
She explained: "This is incredibly sad for all concerned - including for myself and others on the Church Council. We have appreciated all the messages from parents praising the excellent care and commitment they have seen over the years from staff at the pre-school.