"This is not something we want to do, it's something we need to do."

This was the message from the headteacher of Wildmoor Heath Primary during an impassioned meeting with parents flabbergasted at the proposed closure of the Crowthorne school's nursery.

A £39,000 budget gap created over the last three years has left the school with few options other than to close the facility, the Monday night meeting heard. 

The school is facing a real terms budget cut of three to four per cent in 2016/17 and pupil numbers in the nursery struggle to pass 50 per cent capacity.

However, parents questioned the necessity of the closure, the loss of valuable teaching staff, suggested the length of consultation was too short and that the nursery could have been better advertised.

Headteacher Grant Strudley said keeping the nursery would result in the loss of vital teaching assistants in the higher years and said: "We have to protect the education for the 200 children in reception to Year 6. Our budget is given to support them not to subsidise the nursery, we don't have enough numbers in the nursery to break even. 

"Keeping the nursery open has the potential to have a significant impact on the educational outcomes of 200 children. It's not what we want to do, it's what we feel we need to do in the best interests of the whole school."

He added private providers were not interested in running the nursery on-site as it's not a viable business. 

If the council agree with the proposal to close the empty nursery room could be used as a new classroom for Year 6, a computer suite or a new library. 

Chairman of governors Karen Roach highlighted the hard work taking the school from special measures in 2012, to a 'good' rating in 2015.

She said: "Believe me, we know how good the nursery is, we know how good our staff are and we know how much value the young people get from the nursery education. We can't continue to siphon money from Reception to Year 6 to cover it. We are here with heavy hearts tonight. If you are feeling upset about it, we are sharing that with you."

The meeting also heard other unnamed nurseries in the area were having to consider closing as central government cuts to Bracknell Forest Council's budget begin to bite. 

A consultation on the proposal ends on February 12 with a decision expected by the end of the spring term. If the council supports the proposal, the nursery will close at the end of the summer term. 

To calm parents's concerns, Cllr Gareth Barnard, executive member for children, young people and learning, said: "I'd like to reassure parents that the consultation is purely regarding the nursery. Wildmoor Heath is a good school that has made vast improvements over the past few years. There are no plans to reduce or modify the school for Reception to Year 6."