PARENTS at a nursery, where the opening hours will be cut and children under two will no longer be accepted, have formed an action group and are hoping anyone in the area with a potential interest in childcare, will get in touch.

Little Owls Nursery, attached to All Saints School in Dulverton, is planning to cut two jobs, reduce its daily hours and open in term-time only, from September.

The decision was due to current hours no longer being financially sustainable, based on the number of children requiring full time care.

Local parents, though, are hoping the changes may be unnecessary and they are working with the school to try and find ways of becoming more financially sustainable.

They are also appealing to anyone considering childcare in the next year to get in touch with the nursery and the action group.

The nursery is currently open from Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, 49 weeks a year, for children from six weeks to school age.

Parents were recently informed that from September the hours would reduce to 9am to 3.30pm, term-time only, and children under two would no longer be accepted.

Among the many parents who spoke to the Free Press was Exmoor National Park head ranger Dan Barnett: “My wife and I have lived in Dulverton for ten years and we are looking forward to bringing our children up here.

“However, we both have to work to pay the mortgage and we will have to consider whether we can continue to live in the town as, without any of out-of-school-hours’ service or holiday club that can support both of my children, we will struggle to make it work.”

A spokesman for Somerset County Council said: “We understand the challenges facing childcare providers, especially in rural areas, and are happy to work with them to try and find ways of being financially sustainable and that is what we’re doing in this case.”