A SMALL band of four are the first recruits at a new preschool in Bromsgrove, which was launched after an earlier education centre at the same site closed following a damning Ofsted report.

The owners of Home From Home, based at St Godwalds Church Hall in Finstall Road, stress they had nothing to do with the former Play N Discover Preschool, which closed at the end of March after Ofsted said it did "not meet legal requirements for early years settings".

But they hit a delay in getting an Ofsted inspection so they could register the new business - and are now trying to overcome the reputation caused by the report labelling Play N Discover as "inadequate".

As a result, owners of Home From Home, Tracey Harris and Kellie Archer, so far have just four young clients, all aged three.

"We could take up to 26 children," said Miss Archer, aged 38, of Redditch, who has a BA Honours degree in early years education and has worked in the sector for 15 years.

"But we have been tarnished by the previous playschool's closure and need to get the message across to local parents that we are completely new with a brand new ethos.

"We have a learning approach that puts children at the centre of all we do."

Mrs Harris, aged 45, of New Road, Bromsgrove, who is working towards her NVQ III in preschool registration, said: "We are new owners and new staff and aim to wipe the slate clean from the previous preschool.

"We know there are children out there who need our service and we hope local parents will give us a chance."

Kerry Jones, mother of Home from Home pupil Jude Adamson, said: "I'm very happy with the preschool - I wanted him to go there because they have a really large outside play area where children can go out in all weathers. They also use the Phonics system to teach the alphabet, which I have found good for some of my other children."

Home From Home - which gets its name from a former preschool run by Miss Archer's mother, Dawn Archer for many years - takes children, including those with special needs, from the age of 20 months up to five years.

The preschool is in the process of renting an allotment with the aim of launching "muddy Wednesdays", in which the children will learn how to grow vegetables, and it organises afternoon PE sessions.

Home From Home is open from Tuesdays to Fridays from 7.30am to 5.30pm and currently has three members of staff, including the owners and early years practitioner Abbie Pinches.

It is also launching, at half term, a holiday club for two to 10-year-olds, running from Tuesdays to Fridays between 8am and 5pm and, as numbers on roll increase, the business would recruit up to three more staff.