Nursery owner refuses to shut down (From Yeovil Express)

Nursery owner refuses to shut down

5:44pm Wednesday 1st March 2006 in Yeovil By Lyndsey Mayhew

A CHILDREN'S nursery in Yeovil was still open this week - despite education officials ordering it to close.

Safe and Sound Nursery owner Jo Fuller is defying Ofsted bosses, who told her she could be prosecuted and fined up to £5,000 if the facility remained open after last Friday.

Supportive parents are continuing to send their sons and daughters to the nursery which opened 20 years ago. Mrs Fuller moved the business from Preston Road to Swallowcliffe Gardens last October, despite failing to get planning permission due to concerns about increased traffic, parking and noise, and Ofsted said she could not be assessed and re-registered.

Mrs Fuller said: "It's been a nightmare. I've never had so much as a parking ticket. I've had so much support from parents. That's why I'm still open - out of loyalty to them."

Judy Lye-Forster, who sent her daughter to Safe and Sound 18 years ago and has a three-year-old son there now, said: "I have absolutely no intention of removing my son, regardless of whether she is Ofsted registered or not.

"The reputation and years of successful childcare that Jo has displayed are far more a recommendation than any piece of paper from Ofsted."

"It's been such a nightmare I have never had so much as a parking ticket"

Nursery owner Jo Fuller

Swallowcliffe Gardens residents are now concerned that if the nursery is closed the house may be turned into a hostel for transients.

Resident David White said: "I'm happy for the house to be used as a nursery, but about 50% of the residents are against it.

"I've lived here all my life and have no objections to the nursery. The little children don't harm anyone and it's better than backpackers living here."

Mrs Fuller has appealed against the planning refusal and has started a petition in a bid to get officials to reconsider.

South Somerset District Council group manager for regeneration and land use Andy Foyne said the authority had issued an enforcement notice to take effect on March 22.

An Ofsted spokesman said: "Any person required to register as a day-care provider, as specified in law, who operates without being registered by Ofsted is committing an offence.

"Ofsted has powers to prosecute providers if they are operating without registration. We are currently investigating allegations that the provider is offering care that requires registration, and will decide, once that investigation is concluded, whether we need to take any further action."