13/09/2024
I am writing this with complete devastation.
In October last year, I underwent major surgery for a full hysterectomy and to remove Stage 1 cancer.
I did my utmost to keep our Pre-School running as normal and our staff were amazing and worked extremely hard in my absence.
I returned sooner than I should have due to my passion for our Pre-School and then we had an Ofsted inspection which went well.
Sadly, my son, who has a life limiting condition, has started to decline sooner than we anticipated. With my own health scare and trying to meet the needs of the Pre-School and our Pre-School families, our staff and myself and my family, I’m sure you can imagine the pressure that I have been under.
With the Early Years staffing issues that are regularly reported in the national press, we have found it increasingly difficult to recruit qualified and reliable staff that are willing and able to work the hours that we need in order to provide you with the hours that you require from us.
We have previously sought help from the local surrounding pre-schools and they have helped us in our times of need, for which we are extremely grateful, however, they are currently unable to release staff to us when we need them.
A huge shout out to Two Mile Ash Pre School who supported us through my surgery and had many discussions on merging but the time was not right for letting my setting go , they supported with advise , staff and was a huge support
Sandra , Simone and team at bletchley pre school and little rascals for the support over the years !
Ruth and Colette at Shenley Lodge Pre-school the support again over the years
Karen at mini monsters again for all the support
Our small charity settings have all worked together to support each other and I will miss the community a lot
Shenley Leisure Centre and Mo Selvester for putting up with us and helping us give the children more , with dance studio and much more thank you
Shenley Church End Parish Council for our lovely litter picking days
We will be supporting all charity settings with our reserve money left
With donating lovely resources to children centres , local pres schools and buttons
We have been in close liaison with Buttons Preschools, an Outstanding provider, and the have agreed to take over the provision. A bigger ‘chain’ who have multiple settings with a greater number of staff are more able to cope with the ‘ups and downs’ of any future staffing issues in any one setting by ‘lending’ staff across settings. We felt that this would be in the best interests of our Pre-School.
We have been working with Ofsted to try to expedite the process so that we could make the changeover as smooth as possible for the children. We had hoped that we could stay open until the new registration for Buttons was in place - sadly, with committee paperwork to be completed, it is not as straightforward as we had hoped.
My son has been called for an emergency surgery on the 24th September, and with not enough qualified staff to act in my absence, we legally cannot open.
So with great sadness, we are shutting the doors to the Pre-School at the end of sessions on Friday 13th September.
This closure will last until the Ofsted registration for the new Buttons Pre-School has been completed. (This has already been applied for and Ofsted are aware of the situation and will complete this as soon as possible.)
I have not taken this decision lightly and have contacted our local community pre-schools who have kindly agreed to accept any of our children (those currently attending and any on our waiting list) who wish to go to them. They are as close to Shenley Church End as we could source, and they have all worked closely with us throughout the years.
The local pre-schools are Shenley Lodge Pre-School and Little Rascals Pre-School (in Furzton) nurturville and mini monsters
They will welcome your children with open arms and we will arrange for some of our staff to be in those settings, to ensure that your children have a friendly face that they recognise to welcome them on their arrival.
If you are able to wait for the new Buttons Pre-school to open once they receive their Ofsted registration – which should take no more than 6 weeks. We have registration packs for Buttons that we can email out to parents, however, if you need a printed copy, please contact Buttons direct.
I have taught many children and siblings, with some families having been with us for over 7 years and we have always had very close ties with our local community. We love our setting and our community and we are very sad that we are having to close.
We hope that you understand these unfortunate circumstances and we wish you and your children all the best in the future.
Huge thanks to old staff new staff and my rock Ruth and Odessa for pulling me through COVID , no ew funding , Ofsted and staff issues
My team this week have been AMAZING keeping strong and wiping my tears and just being fantastic
Considering the devastating news to parents and the worry of a few weeks till buttons could open , and how their children would feel , I expected floods of un happy parents , but not a single parent, you all showed up today with open arms of preys , cuddles , gifts , flowers this reminded me why I loved our community so much , you families was not customers you was family , a charity with open arms , through every tear every grazed knee , you parents have always shown nothing but love and support and that reminded me what all the hard work and tears was for
Huge thanks Corina's Cool Kids Parties for you short notice party 🎉
Jodie and the Team
