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From bust to boom in just 14 months
A HORNCASTLE Nursery that was closed down by the county council has been rewarded with a move to a new building just 14 months after reopening.
Bearhugs Nursery, sited on the Horncastle College Campus, was reopened by parent and local business woman Sonia Elton after she ploughed a large amount of her family savings into the Nursery to secure its future.
It currently occupies a mobile classroom at the back of the college site, but is moving to one of the brick buildings to give the nursery more room to provide facilities.
The nursery was closed down by Lincolnshire County Council in early 2011 after running at a huge loss.
Sonia, a former accident and emergency nurse, continues to work closely with parents, children and nursery staff, and manager Sam Hoyes runs Bearhugs on a daily basis.
Sonia said: “This just shows the dedication and commitment of the staff and everyone involved here.
“We can’t wait to move into our new building.”
She explained that the nursery will be able to offer cooked meals and more space for both children and staff members as they are currently working without a staff room.
“We will be opening in the new building on Monday October 1,” she said.
“Everybody is going to help with the big move over the weekend, including members of staff, mums, dads, aunties and uncles.
“We will also have a garden area where we will grow some of our own vegetables for the kitchen.”
In April this year, just 10 months after opening, they experienced their first Ofsted inspection and were awarded a ‘Good’ by the governing body. They have also recently been awarded the highest accolade from local governing body Birth to Five.
Assistant manager Sara Milne said: “We were delighted with our rating from Birth to Five, which was ‘Dark Green’.
“This is the equivalent of ‘Outstanding’ in an Ofsted inspection.”
The nursery employs 15 staff and also runs a successful volunteers programme and apprenticeship scheme.
Bearhugs is a not-for-profit company, and any profits the nursery does make are put back into resources and staff development.
Funded places are provided for all three year olds, and many eligible two year olds.
Sonia added: “We currently have 60 places taken by children at the moment, but we have a rota which means we have around 30 at any one time.
“When the new building opens we will have an after school group giving children a chance to relax when they have finished school.
“They can catch up on homework or we will provide board games for them too.”
For more information contact Bearhugs Nursery: 01507 523844.
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Weather for Horncastle
Wednesday 19 June 2013
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 12 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 12 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
