Pre-school launches after-school club (From Oxford Mail)

Pre-school launches after-school club

12:20pm Wednesday 15th February 2012 in Education News By Fran Bardsley

A NEW after-school club has been launched in an Oxfordshire village thanks to a Big Lottery grant.

Organisers of Southmoor Pre-School wanted to extend their hours to offer after-school childcare to children in the village.

And now, after successfully applying for £4,205 to equip the new after-school club, they have been able to officially launch ‘The Den’.

Grants co-ordinator and mum Eleanor Loutzenhiser said: “We were originally a pack-away pre-school in the village hall, with staff coming in early to set everything up. We were lucky enough to move to a permanent building and brand new facility on the site of John Bland Primary School in June 2010.

“We thought it would be a nice opportunity to think about starting an after-school club, because we’re now next to the primary school.”

There are currently 35 children, aged two to five, at the pre-school. Up to 16 children, aged three to 11, can be catered for at the after-school club.

However, if there is more interest then extra staff will be employed to help.