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Ilkley's longest running pre-school closes for good

Saturday, 25 April 2026 09:48

Ilkley Pre-School, which has been serving the local community since 1968, has announced this week that it has closed its doors for good.

The pre-school moved to new premises at Ilkley Cricket Club late 2025 after leaving its home for over five decades, the Friends Meeting House on Queens Road in Ilkley.

In March, staff launch a fundraising appeal, and announced that without £30,000 in emergency funding to cover essential costs including staff wages, rent and utilities, the pre-school would be forced to close.

Manager Tracey Fearnley said at the time:

“We are heartbroken to even be in this position. Ilkley Pre-School has been part of this community for generations. We’ve supported thousands of children to become confident, independent and ready for school. Now we need the community’s support to help us continue.”

This week the pre-school confirmed the sad news in a Facebook statement:

"Good morning, not a post that we wanted to be sharing but unfortunately after more than 60 years Ilkley Pre-School has closed its doors.

"We would like to thank the hundreds of families that have trusted us to care for their children over the years, it has been an honour and a privilege.

"We would like to thank everyone for their support and kind words, we are devastated that it has come to this."

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