Boston Spa Pre-School reaps the benefits of relocation
MOVING house is a tough experience for any family, but when you have 25 children and 11 adults to relocate, it is even more challenging.
After months of planning and hoping, Boston Spa's Deepdale Community Pre-School has finally moved into its temporary home in Clifford.
It will spend nearly a year there while the eastern building at Deepdale is demolished to make way for a new children's centre as part of a Government scheme to give families better access to services.
Although the pre-school has found an ideal temporary home in the former school behind St Edward's Church in Clifford, the move was far from straight-forward.
The building had not been used as a school for many years and was in need of attention before it was suitable for children again.
Pre-school manager Anjie Fulford said: "When we moved in it was just a blank canvas. The council painted it all and did the floor but the rest we've done ourselves.
"All of the parents have helped us with the outside. One of the guys in particular went to Deepdale, got our sign from the front and put it up here as a surprise."
Anjie said the school in Clifford has always caught her eye as a potentially great location for a pre-school, with its bright rooms and extensive outdoor space, but moving there has offered even more benefits.
"The space here more or less echoes the space we will have in the children's centre when we go back," said Anjie.
"The beauty of this place is that, before, we operated in small rooms and shared premises. The building was old, there were leaks in the roof and plants growing through the walls. It was well maintained but it had come to the end of its life.
"Now, we've got one main room and we don't have to share our facilities."
Although the pre-school was rated as outstanding in its last inspection in 2007, the move meant the new premises had to be approved by Ofsted.
Not only did the inspector pass the site, she said the pre-school could expand to offer 30 places, an increase of five, which will continue once it returns to Deepdale.
The new children's centre will also offer a chance to improve the outdoor space and Anjie submitted an application for a grant to create a natural play area at Deepdale.
She has just heard the 25,000 has been approved, giving the children even more to look forward to when they return next January.
The homecoming will also offer new opportunities for the pre-school to work with other users of the children's centre, such as children with additional needs and their parents.
Anjie hopes to set up a drop-in clinic to allow the youngsters to play with support from pre-school staff while their parents enjoy a break and a chat.
But until the new facility is available early next year, Anjie and her staff are making the most of the change of scenery in Clifford and the opportunities it brings.
• To find out more about Deepdale Community Pre-School, which is run as a charity, visit www.deepdalepreschool.org.uk. For anyone curious about the way Deepdale Pre-School will be run from the former school, Anjie is planning an open day for parents, children and members of the community after the Easter break.
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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