PARENTS, staff and governors at a Botley nursery rated outstanding by Ofsted have attacked plans to merge it with a nearby primary school.

When inspectors visited Elms Road Nursery School two months ago, they said children made “exceptional progress” leaving them “very well equipped” for their future lives.

Headteacher Alison Brockliss could be forced to leave the 67-year-old nursery if Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet today decides to merge it with Botley Primary School under a single headteacher.

The council proposed the merger after Ofsted said the teaching of Botley Primary School’s reception class on the nursery school’s site added an “unnecessary layer of complication to management and governance”.

Staff and governors at the 250-pupil primary school have backed the change, saying it would simplify management.

But their counterparts at the 48-pupil nursery and children’s centre said it would compromise the quality of early years education by getting rid of the nursery’s specialist head.

During the council’s consultation, 28 parents spoke out against the proposal, while 12 backed the merger.

Officers were also handed a 249-signature petition against the proposed move.

Mrs Brockliss said if the plans went ahead, last week’s end-of-term celebrations could be the last Christmas with the children.

She said she was “very shocked” when first told of the proposal in April.

She added: “We felt the issue was something the two schools could work on together.

“A lot of parents are very upset about this.

“The issue a lot of them have is that my position would go and the nursery would be under primary school leadership.”

Chairman of governors Anne Winter said: “Our position is that we believe the quality and care of early years education in Botley would be better served by having an independent nursery school, working closely in partnership with Botley Primary School.

“That was our position before October’s Ofsted report, and our view is Ofsted confirmed our view that the nursery and children’s centre are providing a really good service.”

Elms Road is one of seven council-run nurseries and childcare centres in Oxford not linked to primary schools.

According to council documents, if the schools merge, funding would be cut by £64,000 a year.

Elms Road is already expected to lose £32,000 from April because of changes in Government funding formulas.

The council has not ruled out redundancies.

County council spokesman Louise Mendonca said: “The informal consultation has taken place and councillors will now make the decision whether to publish a statutory notice which will lead to a further six week period during which people can make formal objections to the proposal to merge Botley Primary school and Elms Road Nursery and Children’s Centre.”

She added: “Any representations will be considered by the county council cabinet before a final decision is made.”

lsloan@oxfordmail.co.uk