ROGATE Primary School has taken in a playgroup which was due to be made homeless by the summer.

For the past three years Stedham Squirrels playgroup has used a classroom at Stedham Primary School, but as more youngsters are to join the school in September the classroom will be needed.

Last Thursday Rogate Primary School governors agreed the playgroup could move the three miles to their school and use an empty classroom there.

The group will now call itself the Rogate Robins, and the ambition is to integrate it into the school.

Rogate headteacher Amy O’Toole said: “This will allow us to offer children the chance to go right through to age 11 in one lovely setting.

“By working together, we can avoid the changes that can make the move from nursery to primary difficult for some children.

“If it all goes well, the ideal would be to merge into one school for two to 11 year olds, and my governors have already agreed to explore integration plans.”

Playgroup manager Gemma Gabler said: “I want to thank Stedham for letting us know as soon as they could about the expansion of the school once it was agreed.

“Rogate has lots of outside space and facilities, and I feel this might be the best thing that ever happened to us

“We will be entering into a partnership to invest in new equipment and learning material, and running a full day care service with Rogate to provide flexibility for working parents. It’s a fantastic opportunity for us and I can’t wait to get started.”