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Tiverton children enjoy creature comforts with opening of new neighbourhood nursery

NEWS RELEASE

11 August 2004

Tiverton children enjoy creature comforts with opening of new neighbourhood nursery

When: Wednesday 25th August 2004 at 12.30-2.30pm
Where: The Woodside Centre, Lea Road, Tiverton
What: New Neighbourhood Nursery Official Opening

David Sproxton, Founding Director of Aardman Animations, creators of Wallace & Gromit and Creature Comforts, will officially open The Woodside Centre on August 25th 2004. The centre on Lea Road, Tiverton was purpose-designed by local firm Louise Crossman Architects and will provide excellent facilities for children. It is one of two Pre-school Learning Alliance nurseries in Devon and has been built under the Government's Neighbourhood Nurseries Initiative.

Guests at the opening will include representatives from Devonshire Homes, who donated the land on which the building stands, the Heathcoat-Amory Trust who provided early support, other local charities, parents and children and all those involved in bringing this project to fruition. Activities have been planned around the theme of Aardman's ‘Creature Comforts', with children and staff taking part in clay modelling and painting pictures.

The Woodside Centre project was set up to create a flagship childcare facility and began some five years ago with Belmont Nursery. The nursery was a small local charity and needed to raise a staggering £500,000 for the building. With strong backing from the Pre-school Learning Alliance, Devon's Early Years and Childcare Development Partnership (zero14plus), the project was able to come to fruition. The Alliance and Belmont Nursery have been able to access both capital and revenue funding through the Neighbourhood Nursery Initiative.

David Sproxton, who supplied sponsorship at the beginning of the project, said:

"At Aardman we employ many creative young people who have small children so I am increasingly aware of the demands made on working families and how important good quality childcare is to them. It is in the interest of employers to back projects like this that support the whole family. What impressed me most about the Belmont project was that the idea came from a group of dedicated parents. I am delighted that they have been able to bring the concept to reality."

Lin Ashby, Regional Executive Officer and Team Leader at the Pre-school Learning Alliance commented:

"Given the number of new homes being built and families moving into the area, the need for this facility is quite obvious. The new nursery will help families to get to know each other and will start to create a sense of community. It also provides valuable local employment opportunities."

Residents of Moorhayes Park in Tiverton have watched the construction of the new nursery with growing interest. The building provides a safe but exciting environment for children, and a rewarding workplace for childcare professionals. Light and inviting, the centre has play and work areas with lots of space that will be of endless inspiration to children.

Andrew Dodd, principal architect, said:

"It has been wonderful to be able to carry so many of our original ideas into the final building. We have incorporated many practical suggestions that have come from the parents and staff of the Belmont and we have had an excellent working relationship with them."

The new nursery offers 40 full daycare places, five days a week, for children from six weeks old to school age. Before and after school care will also be developed for older children attending local primary schools. Children will have the chance to learn through play in a stimulating and nurturing environment.

Gail Burnett, Centre Manager said:

"There is a high demand for places for babies as parents return to work or training. We are familiar with this through the Belmont and one of the joys of our work is caring for the babies as they become toddlers, then pre-schoolers, and eventually move on to school. The nursery becomes their home-from-home and we are their second family. For all of us, children and staff and parents, this is a wonderful opportunity."

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Sandra Finn
Pre-school Learning Alliance
T: 01278 691719
Out of hours press calls:
E: Sandra Finn

Notes for Editors:

  1. The opening ceremony will be at The Woodside Centre, Lea Road, Tiverton, Devon, EX16 6SU.
  2. For further details and a leaflet on the Pre-school Learning Alliance NNI projects in Devon please contact Sandra Finn, Area Executive Officer on 01278 691719. Further details about the nursery are available from Gail Burnett, Centre Manager on 01884 243712.
  3. The Pre-school Learning Alliance links 15,000 pre-schools and 500,000 young children and their families in England. Registered as an educational charity, the Alliance is the national dimension of the pre-school movement. For further information about the charity and changing lives changing life Campaign, please contact the National Centre on 020 7833 0991 or visit the website on: www.pre-school.org.uk
  4. The Pre-school Learning Alliance is establishing a network of over 30 Neighbourhood Nurseries nationwide. The underlying objective is to provide flexible, affordable, high-quality daycare for parents returning to work or training. The scheme is targeting the 30% most deprived wards in England.
  5. Pre-school Learning Alliance members receive a regular magazine (Under Five) reflecting issues affecting the early years sector. If you would like to receive a copy of this please call 020 7833 0991.
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