Caversham Nursery School Press Release

REYS (Reading Early Years Schools Federation) Governors have sadly announced the permanent closure of the Day Care (i.e. non-term-time and under 2’s) provision at Caversham Nursery due to a severe and worsening shortage of qualified Early Years Practitioners. Despite extensive efforts to recruit staff, moving forward, the provision will no longer be able to operate legally (under the statutory regulations for day care), safely or meet the high-quality standards expected by parents and the community that we have been able to provide in the past.

The closure, effective from 9^th May 2025, disproportionately impacts working families, as the Day Care provision takes care both of children under 2, and of older children who need all-year-round places. However, the School (on the same site) will remain open for children aged 2 and above, continuing to offer high quality education and care, but term-time only.

We understand the significant impact this decision will have on families who rely on our Day Care services, and this closure is a significant blow to our ethos of providing the opportunity for excellent education and care to all children in our community; however, ensuring the safety and well-being of the children in our care has always been our top priority, and we cannot compromise on that.

We are committed to supporting our affected families to find alternative provision, and efforts are underway to assist families in transitioning to other wraparound care options. The School will continue to provide an outstanding nurturing environment for children aged 2 and above.