When the team at Cecil Gowing Infant School in Norfolk found out they had been successful with their School-based Nursery bid, they knew straight away who to turn to for advice about the refurbishment of their space!
Why did you decide to apply for the School-based Nursery Grant?
It was perfect timing! We have had a pre-school onsite for many years, and the owners decided to retire – giving us the exciting opportunity to run the nursery for 2–4-year-olds ourselves. It was a very quick turnaround, and we had brilliant support from the entire Governing body. We know how important the early years are and this gave us the chance to be involved with our children and families from the start, to really make a difference as they now spend their whole journey with us ensuring smooth transitions too.
Why Early Excellence?
Effective Continuous Provision is at the core of our practice, right through to Y1 and we work with a consultant who recommended the room planning service. We have purchased from you over the years, know the quality and that it will last. Your furniture really stands the test of time, you can’t beat it!
What was the experience like?
Just brilliant! The consultant really worked alongside the team, making sure everyone was on board. The creation of floor plans helped bring the vision to life and she worked to our budget, helping us make effective use of what we already had too.
We were so impressed with the communication from Head Office who kept us up to date with delivery times and made sure they had numbers to contact us on. The driver was incredible; he delivered everything inside and put it in place for us. Then it was like Christmas Day as we unpacked the boxes, set everything up and made the nursery come to life!
What has been the impact?
Well for a start we are now oversubscribed! Parents are really impressed and love the ethos and principles of the Continuous Provision approach. The children have settled so well and there is always a calm and purposeful feeling in the nursery – alongside a sense of fun and excitement! It is an incredibly nurturing space, offering opportunities for open-ended questions and high-quality interactions. There has been a real shift in practice, and the team are loving the new environment and the possibilities.
What would be your “top tips” for any school looking to apply for Phase 2?
Go for it! Stay calm and work as a team, listening to each other and staying positive. It can be tricky to visualise all of your ideas and vision and that is where Jude, our consultant, came in – she really helped with this aspect. She and our builder gave us lots of ideas so it is good to get that expertise from others -stay open to what people suggest. Get all of the team involved too, they will have suggestions about how best to shape the space. After all, they work in there! A collaborative, open and honest approach definitely worked for us.
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