Leigh Academy Cherry Orchard to expand its pre-school and offer 30 more places by April 2026

An oversubscribed pre-school, which had previously denied local children a place, is set to expand.

The nursery within primary school Leigh Academy Cherry Orchard — formerly known as Cherry Orchard Primary Academy — is to increase the number of places it can offer neighbouring families thanks to a major cash injection.

The popular pre-school in Castle Hill, which is within the Ebbsfleet Valley, came under fire two years ago for not being able to accommodate young families who had moved into the new development.

Among them was mum-of-two Rosie Taylor who was left frustrated at having to drive her daughter back to her old nursery in Bexley after the youngster was denied a place, despite Cherry Orchard being just metres from their new home.

Rosie said at the time: “We previously lived in Bexley, so when we first moved I applied to the nursery by our new house, obviously assuming she was getting in, but she didn’t.

“I couldn’t believe it. She was still in a nursery where we used to live because my plan was just to swap her over when we moved.”

But thanks to money from Ebbsfleet Development Corporation - the body overseeing the regeneration in north Kent - an additional 30 nursery places across two sessions are expected to be available at the school’s pre-school by April 2026.

While the nursery is set to grow, there won’t be any change to pupil numbers within the school itself, says the academy.

The £675,000 being given to Leigh Academies Trust (LAT), which runs the primary school and pre-school, will also help fund new outdoor learning facilities at neighbouring Ebbsfleet Academy, which is also run by the same trust.

The addition of two new outdoor canopies at the Swanscombe-based secondary, says the Corporation, will create new shaded areas that will support a growing emphasis on outdoor learning, as well as giving students more recreational space outside.

Ian Piper, chief executive of the development corporation, welcomed being able to support both projects.

He said: “Schools play a hugely important part in the community, and we are pleased to have worked with the Leigh Academies Trust to provide improvements to these two local schools that serve Ebbsfleet residents.”

Phil Whittall, estates director at Leigh Academies Trust, said the nursery’s expansion will help meet growing demand.

He added: “We are incredibly grateful to Ebbsfleet Development Corporation for their generous investment in our academies.

“By providing improved facilities and opportunities for learning, we can ensure we continue to support all our pupils to reach their full potential.

“We are particularly excited about the expansion at Leigh Academy Cherry Orchard Pre-School/Nursery, which will help to meet the growing demand for early years education in the local area, enabling us to nurture an increased number of young minds.”

Leigh Academies Trust will be responsible for submitting any necessary planning applications, says EDC, and delivering each project over the next few years.

LAT is one of the country’s largest multi-academy trusts, running primary, secondary and special schools across Kent, Medway and South East London.

A number of its schools are currently undergoing a name change, as the trust tries to implement a similar naming convention for all settings within its remit.

Ebbsfleet Academy is to become Leigh Academy Ebbsfleet in September 2025.

And while most will keep some link to their original title under the plans - such as Cherry Orchard Primary Academy being changed to Leigh Academy Cherry Orchard this year - the decision has upset some parents.

Families at Eastcote Primary in Eastcote Road revealed in the summer their disappointment at their children’s school being renamed Leigh Stationers’ Primary Academy.

And this followed a petition from parents of pupils at Hartley Primary Academy, who were against plans to drop their village name from the front of the school’s title and rename it Leigh Academy Hartley from this September.

In a statement issued at the time regarding the name change at Eastcote, LAT said: “The decision to rename Eastcote Primary was made after extensive consultation with key stakeholders.

“It reflects our commitment to creating a unified educational community that attracts and retains high-quality staff and provides outstanding opportunities for our students.

“Whilst the name is changing, the ethos, vision and values of Eastcote Primary remain the same.”