The closure of a Swindon pre-school has led to an emergency meeting and misconduct allegations.

Sparklers Pre-School is a charity-run not-for-profit educational facility in Peatmoor Community Primary School which has served the community for 35 years and was rated Outstanding by Ofsted inspectors in February 2023.

However, the pre-school unexpectedly closed last month and an emergency annual general meeting has now been called.

Now, the school's website directs only to a page with a single statement on it, which suggests that some are unhappy with how the closure has been handled and allegations of misconduct have been made and are allegedly being investigated. 

The message posted on the pre-school's website makes claims about committee procedures not being followed during the closure process and alleges that the Charity Commission is investigating.

It goes on to encourage staff members, past or present, and parents to 'add their voice' towards the ongoing proceedings by going onto the website and clicking on the button.

The Charity Commission has been approached for comment.

The pre-school is listed as ‘permanently closed’ on Google and the Adver understands that the allegations of misconduct relate to suggestions that the original closure decision was made at a meeting in which only one trustee from the committee was present rather than the required three.

It is also understood that the investigation does not relate to anyone who was responsible for looking after the children and that the closure was related to financial reasons.

The pre-school was originally located in the Community Room in Sparcells but moved to Peatmoor Community Primary School in January 2000.

It is managed by a committee which includes industry professionals and some parents and carers of pupils at the pre-school.

Research by the National Day Nurseries Association shows that 199 nurseries closed between September 2023 to the start of this academic year on top of the 216 closures recorded in the previous academic year.

This would have affected an average of 50 children per setting or more than 10,000 children in total.

Do you have any further information on this story that might be helpful, or have you been affected by the closure? Please get in touch.

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