Nursery to close after 20 years (From Yeovil Express)

Nursery to close after 20 years

8:18am Wednesday 22nd March 2006 in Yeovil By Helen Rossiter

A NURSERY in Yeovil that has been caring for children for 20 years has been forced to close.

Safe and Sound Nursery owner Jo Fuller says she has been backed into a corner by the authorities and has no option but to shut the nursery from Friday (March 24).

Problems began when Mrs Fuller moved the business from Preston Road to Swallow-cliffe Gardens last October.

Government body OFSTED said without planning permission she could not be assessed and re-registered and so the nursery would have to close. They warned Mrs Fuller she could be fined £5,000 if the facility remained open.

Mrs Fuller said this week: "I have no other alternative but to close. I would like to thank all the extremely loyal parents who have stayed and supported us throughout these complications. I wish I did not have to make this heartbreaking decision. I am still continuing apply for planning permission for the nursery. I am not giving up on this."

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."