A VILLAGE pre-school is set for closure at the end of the school year as the manager looks to “move on to new challenges”.

Colne Engaine Pre-School, in Station Road, announced this week it is closing at the end of the summer term.

As of the last Ofsted report in 2019, when the nurserywas rated good, there were 35 children on the school roll.

In a statement, Manager Vanessa Szwandt said: “Yesterday, April 17, I informed the staff and current parents of my decision to permanently close Colne Engaine Pre-School at the end of the summer term – Friday, July 14.

“This was far from an easy decision for me to take.

“We set up in October 2007 to keep a service running after the previous pre-school closed. It was intended to be a short-term project that somehow drew me in for 15 years.

“In that time, I have had the pleasure to share so many wonderful moments with so many wonderful children and families.

“Some are no longer children. I now see some finishing school, college and some going off to university, but to me they’ll still be wearing their red ladybird t-shirts and playing in the garden.

“We’ve had ups and downs and survived the challenging times facing all businesses under Covid.

"We’ve gone on to be as strong as ever but on a personal level my life, goals and priorities have changed, and the time has also come to move on to new challenges.

“It has been an honour providing childcare for this community and I am very proud of our achievements over the last 15 years from four successful Ofsted inspections, including one outstanding grade, RHS medal for a garden we created and so many more, but most of all providing a high-quality start for the most precious set of children.

“We will, of course strive, for excellence for the remainder of the summer term and despite everything I hope we can finish the year on a high.”