Last of ‘fledglings’ fly as family-run pre-school closes
A family-run pre-school is to close to make way for housing after 17 years serving its community.
The Ducklings of Detling nursery will be packing away its building blocks, creche mats and ride-on cars for the last time in two weeks.
And for Gillian Barry, nursery chairman, and her family, who all work there, it will be sad occasion.
Mrs Barry said: “We are basically all grieving, but we are trying hard not to be too emotional about it.”
The Ducklings is managed by her eldest daughter Debbie Hoy, secretary is her middle daughter Kate Robinson, while youngest daughter Sharon Caim is the supervisor.
The school will hold its gradua- tion day for the final class in the last week.
Mrs Barry said: “Many of the children joined us as two-yearolds. We’ve watched them grow and turn into little people. We will have to have our tissues at the ready that day.”
The nursery meets in a mobile classroom that was once part of the old Detling C of E Primary school in The Street, which closed in 2007.
Owner, the Diocese of Canterbury, is now seeking to sell the site for housing and has given the nursery notice to leave.
Mrs Barry said: “We have considered starting up somewhere else, but it’s very difficult to find appropriate accommodation.
“The rules and regulations are so much more stringent these days; there would be a lot of hoops to jump through opening new premises.”
Mrs Barry said although the nursery was currently viable, with 15 children on the roll, there was in any case a question-mark over the long-term future.
She said: “Society is changing. New houses have been built in the village, but a lot of the new people don’t seem to have children. I think we would have struggled to find sufficient numbers in future.”
The Ducklings are going out with a last hurrah. They are holding a family fun day, the day after the closure, on Saturday, July 16, to which all pupils, past and present are invited. There will be face-painting, a bouncy castle, music and refreshments.
The pre-school will also be selling off its toys and equipment.
‘Many of the children joined us as two-yearolds. We’ve watched them grow’