PARENTS have launched a campaign to save a pre-school at risk of closure after was branded ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted.

Funding could be withdrawn in four weeks from the Bowland Montessori Pre-School, which is based in St James CE Primary School in Greenacre Street, Clitheroe, after inspectors raised concerns about hygiene risks and children’s safety.

Owner Nancy Bigmore said staff had volunteered to work for free until the end of term to minimise disruption to children.

Melanie Spedding, whose daughter attends the pre-school, said although the Montessori method, which sees freedom as the most important factor in allowing children to develop, does not appeal to everyone, parents do not want to send their children anywhere else.

She said: “The points for concern in the Ofsted report have clearly been rectified and I can see no reason to withdraw the funding.

"Clearly all of the parents are happy to have their children there as the numbers show.

“There is nowhere else in Clitheroe that I feel would give my daughter the same life skills and opportunities that the pre-school gives our children.

“I have cried over this and my family and I fully back the pre-school, Nancy Bigmore and her team 100 per cent.”

Katie Skelton, whose son also attends, said the pre-school is wonderful and she is ‘absolutely devastated’.

She said: “The education they receive is 100 per cent child led and child centred and I couldn’t ask for anything better for my son.

“There is nowhere else I’d want to send him and I feel sad that his younger brother may never have the incredible experiences he has.”

Lucy Few said her four-year-old son has always been well cared for and has thrived.

She said: “Having to find a new childcare setting that I fully trust for only six weeks is highly distressing for us and deeply confusing for my son.” The group of parents have called on Lancashire County Council to wait for the outcome of a follow-up inspection by the education watchdog in six months before the authority decides to withdraws funding.