FOR half a century hundreds youngsters from Wheatley have begun their education in the care of Wheatley Pre-School.

After a challenging year in which the school was handed an inadequate rating from Ofsted and then turned things around to be rated good there has finally been a chance to celebrate the golden anniversary.

Staff, parents and youngsters from the past and present joined together at the school earlier this month, to mark the occasion with a party.

Pre-school manager Ruth Redwood said she was delighted so many people were able to come together and celebrate after so much hard work in recent months.

The school's actual 50th anniversary was in 2015 but the celebration was put off until this month to allow the school to get back its good Ofsted rating.

Mrs Redwood said: "The celebration was extra special because we have been riding on the excitement of achieving our good Ofsted.

"It was a fantastic day, we had a wonderful time with parents and people from the community.

"We had a vintage tea which was beautiful and it was a bit of an open day as well.

"I want to acknowledge the achievements of the staff and the committee and all of the support we have had from parents, especially as far as our 50th anniversary is concerned."

The day of celebrations brought in about £1,000 that will be used to refurbish the outside area.

The pre-school caters for youngsters from two to five years old and offers them a wide range of activities and learning.

Mrs Redwood said: "It is very play-based learning.

"We have organised a sports day, we have done fundraising for that and children attend forest school sessions.

"We do a lot of cooking and we have French classes which will continue in September.

"We are offering the early years curriculum to the children, we are doing maths and literacy."

There were 38 children on the roll at the pre-school in the past academic year and Mrs Redwood said the register is healthy for next year, with a number of siblings of previous pupils signed up.

Some parents sending their children there next year attended the pre-school themselves in the past.

Mrs Redwood said: "I spend a lot of time building good relationships with the local community.

"We have had a lot of support from early years at Oxfordshire County Council as well as other people with early years experience.

"It has been a very special year because the children and their families are what it is all about.

"We have had the most phenomenal support and engagement from our parents in the last year and I would like to say thank you to them."