Devastated parents using a Surbiton pre-school have launched a desperate bid to save it from closure.

Users of Stepping Stones pre-school, based in Surbiton's Children's Centre Nursery, were told in January that they would have to leave the building at the end of their lease in July.

The pre-school, which is used by about 70 families, now has to find new premises for September, but faces a race against time with regulator Ofsted needing to know where in the coming weeks.

A Kingston Council spokeswoman said the nursery needs the building from next year due to an expected increase in demand for places.

Bryn Regan, chairman of Stepping Stones, said: “We’ve been renting a building. I’ve been volunteering for three of four years.

“Obviously the staff are busy delivering child care so a committee and a bunch of volunteers have been trying hard to find a suitable site in the area.

“If you look in the area there are NHS buildings sitting empty. We are putting all our energy in trying to find a new building.”

The news has worried parents in the area, with nearby St Matthew’s pre-school closing last year.

Stepping Stones is rated as outstanding by Ofsted and is one of the few pre-schools in the borough to not charge extra top-up fees.

Staff have applied to Surbiton Children’s Centre Nursery to extend its stay, but were unsuccessful.

The nursery has declined to comment.

Mr Regan added: “There are some special things about Stepping Stones. It’s just to offer parents a flexible and different option.

“I’m staying optimistic right now, I think if we get to Easter and we haven’t sorted it out I will become concerned.”

Surrey Comet:

Parents have set up committee to find a new site

Jo Clasper, 42, of King Charles Road, in Surbiton, sent her two boys to the pre-school and was hoping her daughter Abi would be able to start in September.

She said: “Well it was a huge blow because it’s been such a good pre-school.

“It might mean that my daughter doesn’t go. I think it’s quite a helpful preparation –it gets them used to going somewhere and make friends in a different environment.

“Both of my boys really loved Stepping Stones. The staff are fantastic, they’re really encouraging and caring.

“I’ve not quite accepted it yet, I’m hopeful that they will find something else. I know it’s a challenge trying to find something nearby.”

A Kingston Council spokeswoman said: "The governing body at Surbiton Children’s Centre Nursery has decided to no longer lease the land that is currently home to the Stepping Stones Pre-School in an effort to expand and use its whole site to offer more full day childcare places.

"After careful consideration, the governors made this decision in light of meeting the expected increase in demand for places for three and four year olds from September 2017.

"The council is working closely to support Stepping Stones find new suitable accommodation."