Building blocks for new nursery in Barne Barton
Huge building blocks are being craned into place next week that will form the external walls of a new nursery in Barne Barton.
Councillor Nicky Williams, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People and ward councillors for St Budeaux, will watch the pieces of the nursery come together in a giant 3-D jigsaw puzzle on Monday (24 March).
The new £517,000 nursery at Kit Hill Park, Barne Barton will provide childcare for a maximum of 36 two to four year olds in the area.
The work is part of a city-wide investment programme by Plymouth City Council worth £1.75 million to create extra pre-school places in Plymouth to meet rising demand, largely due to the increase in those eligible for free childcare places for two year olds, plus increased birthrates.
In September 2013, it became the council’s responsibility for ensuring there are enough childcare places for 20 per cent of disadvantaged two year olds in the city. In September 2014 this responsibility will increase to 40 per cent of all disadvantaged two year olds.
Expanding entitlement to free early education for eligible two year olds is a key part of the council’s early intervention and prevention strategy.
Providing free early education to young children from economically deprived backgrounds is seen as having a significant contribution to breaking intergenerational cycles of underachievement and low aspiration.
The new nursery is being built on land straddling the park and the existing car park. To make up for the loss of the green space in the park, £20,000 is being made available to fund the maintenance of the nearby Red Brick field for a period of 20 years. This will allow this field to be brought into use by the community for sports and recreation.
Councillor Nicky Williams, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “A child’s early development is absolutely crucial – the first five years of life can shape all the years that follow.
"Getting a good start means when a child begins at school they are not at an immediate disadvantage. We want to ensure that no child in Plymouth is in a situation where they need to play catch-up.
"This is known as early intervention in professional circles and key to this is good child care. That’s why this programme of work is so crucial and the new nursery in Kit Hill will provide a much-needed resource for the local community.”
Sue Kowalska and Karen Sweet from K and S Childcare Limited trading as The Cabin Childcare Centre have been appointed to operate the nursery on behalf of the Council, which looks set to open in May 2014. Two Plymouth-based companies, SW Crane Hire and Staddon Groundworks have also been involved in the building project.
Over the next year, local arts company ‘Take a Part’ and commissioned artist, Dom Moore, will be working with the community to produce a photographic artwork compiled from thousands of images taken by local people. The artwork will be fixed to the exterior of the new nursery helping to give it a bright and vibrant appearance and create pride in the local community.
Anyone interested in registering for a place at the new nursery should contact the provider at thecabinchildcarecentre@live.com or at www.thecabinchildcarecentre.com or call 01752 761015.
