Well-loved Plympton Pre-School finds new home for Sept 2021

Woodford Community Pre-School in Plympton has found a new home for September 2021 after an outpouring of community support.

The Pre-School, currently based at Woodford Methodist Church, found out in February that its current premises would be closed from December of this year, as the Church is seeking a developer for the site due to escalating maintenance costs.

The community has since rallied around to support the Pre-School, which was founded in 1963, with much determination to keep it open.

Hannah Price-Faulkner, who has two children that attend the pre-school, was the first to set up a community group and a fundraising page to help provide support and funds, and others were quick to add their support.

"Having two children attend there during the pandemic, they have been nothing short of wonderful," said Hannah. "Sending home small tokens during the first lockdown to let us know they are thinking of their children and families.

"The pre-school have provided love and care to many families especially during the newest lockdown, working so that other key-workers may still attend their jobs whilst giving routine and stability to the children.

"They're not just a pre-school, they are a family and it shows through the amount of care they give to every child that walks through the door.

"Even whilst they face potential closure, staff are thinking about others such as the lovely church members and others who use the facility for clubs, events."

After much searching in the local area and exploring multiple options, the Pre-School is now able to confirm that it will be relocating to a new location from September of this year. Its popular breakfast club will continue in the current Church site until the end of this year, at which point it will move to the Scout hut in the grounds of Woodford Primary School.

The new site, located in Bell Close in Plympton, boasts modern facilities such as air conditioning and is a large, airy space. It will also offer the opportunity for the Pre-School to extend its current opening hours, which has never been possible in the past due to the multiple use of the current building.

The Pre-School staff will all move to the new site, maintaining the family feel that locals have come to know and love.

Claire Dixon, Business Manager at Woodford Community Pre-School commented: “Having spent months researching possible options and facing the possibility of closure, we are so delighted to have found a space that will make a perfect home for our Pre-School.

“There are exciting possibilities moving forward, with the option for us to operate longer hours and support working families even more than before.

“On behalf of the Pre-School staff and trustees, I’d like to thank everybody in the community that has rallied around us in recent months. Your support has been invaluable to us and we look forward to staying an integral part of the Plympton childcare community.”