A group of St. George's parents and residents are banding together in the hope that they can halt the closure of what they say is the only school in the area to take children up to the age of five.

Kids' Venture Nursery School on Church Folly Lane is to close its doors on October 30 but a community group is hoping they can take the reigns and ensure their toddlers have an early education.

They want to run the building as a non-profit making venture, providing nursery for the two to three-year-olds, up to five years.

And they fear that if they are not allowed to take on the project, it will mean a frantic search for many to find places in other schools as far afield as Hamilton.

On Saturday the group held a mini-summit to discuss plans, with PLP Leader Jennifer Smith and St. George's North candidate Deleay Robinson present.

Campaigner Stacy VanPutten said there was a group of people who were determined to make the new "school'' happen.

"It would be a great injustice if the school closes down,'' she said. "We, as parents, believe we can bring the school up again. There are a lot of parents who are joining forces to try and re-open the school within two weeks before October 30, before the children have to leave.

"We are trying to open the school on a non-profit basis. Trying to keep it going.'' Ms VanPutten believes it would be a tragedy if the school was lost and would leave the whole area without a service.

"It will leave the community without a nursery school. The closest schools are at Bailey's Bay or St. David's.'' A letter to parents from David Goodwin of Kids' Venture blames declining enrolment and economic concerns for the closure.

It reads: "We have made many attempts over its (the school's) seven year existence to give St. George's what it deserves in a quality education nursery school, but the quantity of children needed never came to a reality.'' Already the parents have formed a group to coordinate the effort and have contacted the trustees of the building to ask for permission to begin their venture.

They see the use of the Church Folly Lane premises as essential to the success of the idea, since it is already equipped as a nursery. They have already come up with a name for the venture, The Giving Tree.

The group aims to start fund raising soon and have already had offers of help from local community, who are also keen to see the project get off the ground.

They need at least 20 students to make the project viable and aim to supplement their income with pledges and contributions.

In addition, the group will work as a cooperative, running the nursery with man hours donated by participating families.

"We hope we can make it work, people are willing to take on work to see it through. The parents are really committed to see it through,'' said Stacy.

David Frith, chairman of the board of trustees of the premises, gave a cautious thumbs up to the project.

He said providing they can show viability and ability to pay a negotiated rent, then it was likely their offer would be accepted.