A PACK-AWAY pre-school is preparing to launch a permanent facility after more than 20 years of community fundraising.

Building work is underway to provide a new centre for Ducklington Pre-School in the grounds of the village’s primary school.

The new facility will enable the pre-school, which currently runs out of the village hall, to offer more sessions and more support to parents of young children in Ducklington.

Chairwoman of the charity which runs the preschool, Jo George, talked about the limitations the current set up had.

She said: “More of our parents now work, and offering only morning sessions would lead them to seek alternatives.

"Eventually the pre-school in the village hall would have had to close as a result of dwindling numbers.

“Having a pre-school in the village means the families can get childcare without having to travel to Witney and it can be in the same location as their older siblings at the primary school.

“A few of our parents would have to rely on a bus service to Witney if there was no preschool in the village.”

Ducklington Pre-School has been running morning sessions in Ducklington Village Hall, in Standlake Road, for more than 40 years for up to 26 children.

It is run by a committee of volunteering parents who manage its day-to-day running and finances.

The plan to establish the pre-school in its own building has been around for more than 20 years, and the committee has managed to raise £35,000 during that time.

When Ms George took over as chairwoman of the committee she moved the project into the planning application stage but needed additional funding.

When the Government last year extended the amount of free childcare parents are entitled to from 15 to 30 hours, the committee successfully applied for a grant of £285,000 from the Department for Education to expand.

Support has also been offered in the form of donations from a wide range of organisations in the area, including The Bell Inn in Ducklington, Lakeland in Witney and Smiths Bletchington Quarry based just outside of the village.

The building work is being conducted by RMD, based in North Leigh and the team hopes to move into their new home by the end of October.

There is a wishlist for new equipment on Amazon for anybody who wants to support the school, which can be found at amzn.to/2ymfNQf