School tells nursery to leave its home of 20 years

The nursery said it would challenge the decision

A private day nursery said it has been told it must leave the Shropshire school site where it has been based for two decades.

Kaleidoscope Nursery, Shifnal, which is based at St Andrew's CofE Primary School, said the news was "devastating" and it was trying to work out what to do.

The school said the childcare provider had been asked to leave by 23 August and with building work planned near the nursery, it would not be a suitable environment for the children.

St Andrew's Primary said it had given as much notice as it could and the school would be offering its own childcare service from September.

Carole Rolinson, director of Kaleidoscope, said they have been delivering early years childcare in Shifnal for 30 years and were based on the school grounds for 20 years.

"We are desperately trying to get our heads around the devastating news that we must vacate the site," said Ms Rolinson.

The nursery was in talks with its legal team as well as Shropshire Council and the school to best understand its options and how to move forward, she added.

The school said the decision not to renew the nursery's lease agreement had involved "a great deal of thought and careful consideration".

Preparations were being made for an "exciting school rebuilding programme" which would mean construction work directly adjacent to the nursery, it stated.

The school said it had confirmed the decision now to "give those parents affected by this every opportunity of securing alternative provision" and would be announcing details of its own before and after-school childcare in the summer term.

Kaleidoscope Nursery said its staff and the families using its service had shown "immense support" and it would continue to keep them updated on the situation.