Wells Nursery School launched its fully refurbished building and teaching equipment yesterday in front of current pupils, their families and prospective applicants.
The nursery provision will now be open full-time from September 2018 after The Wensum Trust took Wells-Next-The-Sea Primary and Nursery School under its wing last year and ‘transformed’ the site with a major investment.
At the event, children were invited to do activities as if it were any other day at the nursery, while parents listened to talks from the school’s head and deputy headteachers.
Rachel Stroulger, headteacher of both the primary and nursery school, said: “I am delighted to have welcomed so many families and members of the local and wider community to see the excellent provision.
“We are thrilled to be opening the Nursery full-time.”
The site has been operating a reduced schedule in recent years but it is hoped that the new investment will allow the nursery to go from one success to another.
Deputy headteacher Julia Norman said: “There was a lot of interest at the event. There were three application forms handed in on the day.
“We wanted to put the nursery out there in the minds of the community with a big event to showcase how good it looks.
“People often can’t see us tucked away at the back of the school - they don’t know we’re here.”
John Smith, chair of the trustees at The Wensum Trust said: “The trust is delighted to be providing the Wells community and surrounding areas a seamless provision from the age of three to 16 via Wells Primary, Burnham Market Primary (where Mrs Strougler is also headteacher) and Alderman Peel High School.”
Wells Deli and Morrisons supermarket in Fakenham sponsored the event.
The renovation is a big boost to a school which has a stellar reputation in early learning, culminating in results in 2017 four per cent above the national average at the end of Reception year.
The nursery will run sessions from 8.30-11.am and 12-3pm as part of the new full-time schedule.
The Wensum Trust is a not-for-profit sponsor of primary and secondary education, whose aim is to work with its partner schools to help pupils reach their potential regardless of their background.
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