Pre-school saved after Crawley News appeal

By shewitt

WORRIED parents who thought their tots would be left without a school can breathe a sigh of relief as it has been saved.

Rainbow Pre-School will no longer be forced to close, after an appeal in the News was answered.

The pre-school, currently based in Furnace Drive, Furnace Green, was told by West Sussex County Council it must leave the premises by September, as the land was going to be sold for development.

Debbie Tippett, acting chair for the nursery, made a plea for help in the News in February, after Rainbow was left in desperate need of new accommodation.

Now, just two months on, the pre-school has been saved from extinction, thanks to the offer of a new site in Tilgate.

Debbie said: "It is fantastic, really amazing. Everyone is so pleased.

"Until this place came up, we were uncertain as to what would happen."

The school caters for two to five-year-olds and has been running for more than 33 years.

Debbie said: "We had to let parents know our lease had been terminated and that we were doing all we could to find somewhere new.

"That's when we came to the News, we told our story then shortly after a gentleman called Rob Shannon, who works in Crawley Borough Council for the community centres, said he would do all he could to help us."

Parents at the popular pre-school were then told they had a new site, Tilgate Community Centre, in Shackleton Road.

Debbie said: "Before we had this site we had parents saying 'well what will do next year?', and we didn't have an answer.

"They were worried, they had sent their child to us for the first year and wanted them to attend the school for the second year.

"It's completely understandable, the second year is very important. It is the year that leads up to the children starting school.

"It felt amazing when we were able to say this is where we're going and we don't have to worry anymore.

"We were saved because of the story and we are really pleased."

The school, which currently caters for 62 children, will move to their new home in September.

Anyone who wants more information on the pre-school should call 07787 179681.