Pre-school is awarded nearly £350,000 to build new facilities

3:30pm Tuesday 16th March 2010

By Liza-Jane Gillespie

AN OUTSTANDING pre-school has been awarded nearly £350,000 to build itself a new home.

The Olveston Pre-School, which was given an outstanding Ofsted report last year, has been awarded the grant by South Gloucestershire Council’s Early Years Capital Funding Grant.

The windfall will mean the popular pre-school, which is run by a parents committee, can build itself a dedicated facility.

At the moment the pre-school hires several rooms at the Olveston Parish Hall, on Upper Tockington Road, which it has to share with other local community groups.

In 2008, Olveston Pre-School was left facing a £1,000 bill after equipment, including toys and books, that it stored at the parish hall were vandalised.

Natasha Harrod, from the parent committee, said: "The group has grown considerably over the years. What started as a popular play group is now a thriving pre-school running five days a week.

"This money means the pre-school can now at last have its own facilities without having to pack every thing away everyday.

"We are still finalising the exact plans for the building but we hope to get it into the planning process very soon."

A South Gloucestershire Council spokesman said: “Olveston Pre-School has been awarded just under £346,000 to build an extension on the existing parish hall where the pre-school operates from.

“The money comes from a grant worth £3.1 million awarded to South Gloucestershire Council from the Department of Children, Schools and Families. This grant has enabled the council to improve the quality and access of childcare for pre-schools, nurseries and childminders across the district.

"Subject to planning permission, the project will be completed by early 2011 increasing the number of pre-school places to 40 children. The extension will provide a welcome boost to facilities and will house toilets and baby changing facilities, an office, parent’s meeting room, secure storage, a lobby and improved access."

The new two-storey extension to the parish hall will include improved security for storing equipment, better access to the pre-school’s garden area, a new lobby area for parents to collect children, a coat hanging area, and toilets specially designed for children.

The extension will also create one large play area for the children, replacing the two small existing rooms, which will mean the pre-school can increase its places during its morning and afternoon sessions from 30 to 40.

Olveston Pre-School was started in the 1960s as a parent and toddler group, but during the last 40 years has evolved into a full time pre-school with more than 70 children, aged between two and a half and school age, in its care.