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Parents win extra time for threatened Buffer Bear nursery

A Buffer Bear nursery under threat of closure has won a six-month reprieve from the local authority after parents promised to help fill places.

The nursery is part of a children's centre at Carter Community School in Hamworthy, Hampshire, and has 12 staff and 40 children.

Parents convinced Poole council and Buffer Bear that the nursery could find more business, after it was announced earlier this month that it would be closed on 6 March.

Following a meeting between all parties, Poole council promised to issue a Sure Start Sustainability Grant to Buffer Bear.

'It's all down to the parents,' said Kay Turner, chief executive of Buffer Bear. 'Without the long-term possibilities the parents offered, we wouldn't have carried on. The parents pointed out that there was a lack of similar flexible childcare in different areas of Poole so we should promote the nursery there, and that we could begin partnerships with local Poole employers. What works best to increase take-up is word of mouth.'

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