A pre-school playgroup could be forced to close because parents are moving their children to a new Early Years Unit.

Wootton Pre-school, in Besselsleigh Road, Wootton, near Abingdon, looks after children aged four and under in Wootton and Dry Sandford.

Its governors fear the area will be left with few choices for youngsters if it closes. Twenty-four four-year-olds were on the register, but ten have been moved to the EYU at Dry Sandford Primary School, which was set up in September. Pre-school chairman Linda Newman said it was losing £250 a week because of the fall in numbers.

She said: "I think parents believe their children stand a better chance of gaining a place at Dry Sandford if they attend the EYU. But we have very close links with the school and do not see any disadvantage to them being looked after here." Jenny De La Coze, headteacher at Dry Sandford School, said Dry Sandford EYU offered parents choice and enabled continuity of teaching at the school.

She said: "Previously we took in new children three times a year and incorporated them into the existing year one class.

"I do share the pre-school's concerns, but I cannot be to blame for all the children who have left it."

Story date: Thursday 04 November

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