THE doors will close for the final time this summer at a Bicester pre-school after 44 years.

First and Second Step Pre-School currently shares a site in Cemetery Road with St Edburg’s School. The school is relocating to the new Kingsmere Estate early next year.

As a result, the pre-school committee has decided to close on July 15, as it is no longer a viable option to continue on its own.

Pre-school supervisor Beth Brennan, who has been in the role for 20 years, said: “It has been on the cards since they decided in about 2007 to build the new school.

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“When we heard they had just broken ground at the new site in January we had to make a decision and let parents know.”

As an independent voluntary pre-school, with 33 pupils, the committee is made up of parents. The preschool was first established in 1971 and was based at various locations before St Edburg’s Primary School allowed it to build a temporary classroom on site.

The pre-school, on St Edburg’s site since 1997, plans to close six months before the primary school relocation in order to allow time to clear the site.

Work started on the new St Edburg’s Primary school in Whitelands Way in late January. It will lower its entry age for pupils as young as three.

The plans come as part of the Kingsmere Village development site which includes a new Premier Inn Hotel, Brewers Fayre Restaurant, sports village and up to 2,450 homes.

The pre-school supervisor said: “I am very sad we are closing, we all are, because it has been a good pre-school and has great staff. I have been involved with the pre-school for 23 years and supervisor for 20 years.

“It is very sad but it’s one of those things that has to happen. We are just pleased to have been given a ‘good’ rating by Ofsted in December, so we are going out on a high.”

The December rating awarded to the nursery, which takes three- to fiveyear- olds, follows a run of inspections rated by Ofsted as “good”.

As a celebration of the work and achievements of the pre-school over the years, the team will be putting on a party.

The bash will take place on Saturday, July 11, and the pre-school is inviting past pupils, staff and parents to come for one last hurrah.

The party will be at Bicester Scout Hall, in Ashdene Road, and anybody thinking of attending is asked to contact the pre-school in advance on 01869 320781.