POLICE are investigating an allegation of fraud at a Bournemouth nursery school.

In a statement, Dorset Police said: “At 2.16pm on Sunday March 10, Dorset Police received a call reporting an incident of fraud in relation to money stolen from Queens Park Pre School on East Way in Bournemouth. An investigation is underway. No arrests have been made.”

The news came just hours after the Charity Commission received a ‘serious incident report’ from the Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ rated pre-school’s trustees.

“We are aware of concerns regarding Queen’s Park Pre-School Group in Bournemouth,” said the Charity Commission. “The trustees have submitted a serious incident report to the Commission and we have contacted them for further information.”

The Echo was contacted in early March by furious parents who arrived at the pre-school to discover a notice tied to the locked gates which said the school would be closed that week. Some claimed they had not received an email and others said they had already paid fees.

A week later another notice appeared on the gates and yet more parents complained of poor communication.

Last week the Daily Echo revealed that the pre-school had a deficit of more than £10,000 from 2016-2017.

Parents taking their children to the pre-school yesterday said they had been informed by email on Friday that it would be open to older pupils on April 1. One dad, dropping off his son, said: “There are a number of new faces in there. I’m a bit sad that if it’s to do with money.; why didn’t they ask us to fund-raise or pay a bit more?”

Another mum had arrived to collect her child’s journey book as she had placed him with another nursery. “I’ve had to take three days unpaid leave from work, pay for a deposit at a new nursery and I haven’t had my fees refunded yet,” she said. “It’s not good enough,”

Acting service director for children, young people and families for the new BCP Council Kay Errington said: “We are maintaining regular contact with Queens Park Pre-School and can confirm that it is their intention to re-open as soon as possible. We are advised that some staff have resigned but there have been no redundancies. We are assured that the reasons for the closure are not due to any risk or harm to children.’’

News of the school’s difficulties comes just three years after it received an Outstanding rating from Ofsted.

Inspectors said the staff showed ‘inspiring enthusiasm’ in their work, continually identifying ‘ new ways to maintain the highest achievement for all children’.

Trustees chairman Rosa Trout said: “On behalf of the Trustees I wish to make it clear there have never been any issues surrounding the safety or safeguarding of children or staff at the pre-school, and the only reason it was forced to close temporarily was due to finance.

“About three weeks ago, the trustees became aware of a very serious financial issue which is now the subject of an internal investigation and which we have also reported to both the police and The Charity Commission. Due to the ongoing nature of this incident it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this time.

However, we have been working very hard to reopen the pre-school and are pleased we were able to do so today, albeit in a limited way for 3 and 4 year olds.

“We have been doing our best to stay in communication with both staff and parents who we value greatly. We are very sorry for any upset and uncertainty and share their frustration.”