A PRE-SCHOOL has been saved from closure after it won a £570,000 grant for a new building.

Rainbow Playgroup, in Hendon Place, Bicester, was set to close within a year until Oxfordshire County Council secured its long-term future by approving the scheme.

Last year, the pre-school’s 30-year-old building was condemned by county council inspectors, but the community rallied round to patch up the building for the short term.

Now, its future has been secured.

Joint manager Mandy Zdyr-ko said: “There were a few tears when we found out. We are absolutely ecstatic.

“This is very important and without it we would probably have closed within a year. Funding is tight at the moment so this makes us extra appreciative.”

The new building will allow the pre-school to increase its pupil roll from 70 to 100.

Parents will also benefit, as the new building, set to open by Easter next year, will allow the group to extend its opening hours by holding new breakfast and after-school clubs.

Bicester county councillor Michael Waine, cabinet member for schools improvement, said: “I am delighted the scheme has been saved.

“The current building is in an extremely poor condition even though work had been put in to repair it by the community.

“This is something the community desperately needs particularly with a growing under-five population.”

However, two other pre-schools in north Oxfordshire lost out on grants as a total of 14 improvement projects were scrapped across the county.

The Grimsbury Family Association Play Group, in East Street, and Deddington Village Nursery have both missed out as the Government cut £2.75m from its £14m funding pot for Oxfordshire.

Deddington nursery lost out on an £18,000 grant to revamp and prolong the life of its temporary classroom and to build a canopy extension to allow children to learn and play outdoors in all weather conditions.

Cash was also to be spent on climbing equipment for the nursery’s 30 children, wet weather playsuits and wooden planters to establish a vegetable garden.

Early years manager Sarah Inkpen said: “It is disappointing. We had our AGM on Monday night and everyone’s totally gutted.

“Everyone was really excited, we had the plans drawn up and managed to get some really decent quotes so it’s knock-ed everyone off their feet. The plans will have to be shelved.

“I don’t see how we can ever raise enough through local donations to make it happen.”

County Hall made its decision on which projects would be axed as part of the Department of Education’s efforts to slash £1bn from its budget in this financial year.

The authority selected which schools would get cash based on greatest need and whether the project could be completed by March 2011.

Councillor Louise Chapman, cabinet member for children, young people and families, said: “I share the disappointment of those who can’t now go ahead with their projects.

“I really do sympathise, but this is the financial situation the whole country faces and there are difficult decisions to be made.”