ALLSORTS Pre-school is hoping for a £1,452 grant from the Royal Wootton Bassett and Cricklade Area Board next week to ensure its pupils still have access to the garden.

A fence has been in place for around 15 years and the nursery, which caters for more than 60 families, has been repairing and repainting it for some time.

But now it is rotting and needs replacement, so the plan is to install a new one that will include Perspex panels allowing the children to see passing traffic.

“Since 2003 our volunteers have repaired and painted the fence to extend its useful life as far as possible,” said the nursery in its application. “The loss of our garden would impact negatively on the children’s health and well-being their gross motor skill and understanding of the world development.

“Children with additional needs respond positively to time in the garden where their behaviour and interactions with others often improve.

“Without the garden we would have to organise twice daily outings to the park requiring six volunteers to cover the ratios. Many of our parents work or have younger siblings to care for so could not help us with this.”

The cost of cost of the project is expected to be around £2,900 and the nursery plans to use its reserves and fundraise to cover the shortfall. Councillors are due to decide at the area board meeting on March 21 at the Memorial Hall in Wootton Bassett.