Environment is so stimulating (From Swindon Advertiser)

Environment is so stimulating

in News

Staff and children at Lydiard Millicent Pre-school have had more than one reason to celebrate recently.

The pre-school, in The Butts, has spent the past 15 years operating out of a small mobile classroom but in January officially moved into a Victorian building which formerly housed Lydiard Millicent Primary School.

The pre-school was also rated as ‘good’ with ‘outstanding’ features in its latest Ofsted report, with inspectors praising the ‘stimulating environment’ the staff have created within the new facilities.

Inspector Jennifer Cutler said: “The renovated premises on the old school site allow the children to play and learn in a stimulating environment.

“This is much appreciated by staff, children, parents and carers, who hold the pre-school in high regard and consider it a good preparation for the primary school.

“Children are safe and work in a calm environment because adults make sure there is a secure and warm atmosphere at the pre-school.

“They enjoy coming to pre-school and take part in a good variety of activities which support all areas of learning.”

The village primary school is being rebuilt as part of a £3.8m government-funded scheme, so the pre-school has moved into the former school building.

It now has a spacious classroom, separate eating area and art area, purpose-built toilets, an office and a kitchen.

Anne Hobson, pre-school administrator, said: “When we were in the mobile classroom we made the best of it and we did the best we could for the children, but the new premises are fantastic.

“The children love it. They have the freedom to move around and having their own toilets gives them a lot more independence.

“They’ve also got their own outside area with a canopy, which is brilliant.

“We were really pleased to get such a good Ofsted report. We had only been in the building a few months when the inspectors came but we were really pleased that they said the children were so well settled in the new pre-school.”

The pre-school cares for 35 children aged two and a half to five, and because of the new larger premises, they are now able to offer around six extra places a day.