Plans go in for new Kettering nursery

Compass Primary Academy announced it had been given the green light for the nursery, which will be called Little Explorers, in January.

Now plans have officially been submitted for the building.

A planning document reads: “Compass Primary Academy, a school that operates under the Brooke Weston Trust, requires a high quality nursery provision for 60 Early Years/nursery places, to enhance the service they currently deliver, and meet the needs of the local community.

“The service will operate for a minimum of 30 hours per week, over a minimum of 38 weeks per year with the intention of opening from 7.30am to 6pm (weekdays).

“On some occasions the unit will need to accommodate a full day attendance for 30 pupils and so it will provide sufficient room should this ever be the case.”

Compass Primary Academy (formerly the primary school side of Kettering Science Academy) says the new accommodation will provide specialist facilities for three and four-year-olds and is due to open in September this year.

Speaking in January Principal Jo Fallowell said: “This is an amazing opportunity to expand the places we can offer, and also extend our provision so we can provide full time places for 51 weeks a year to better meet the needs of working parents within our locality.

“The new purpose-built building will be next to our existing nursery to allow for ‘Little Explorers’ to be fully integrated into our academy community.

“The trust submitted a bid in August and we have just found out that we have been successful.

“There is a lot of work to be done, including recruiting additional nursery specialists to join our existing team.

“Our long-term aim will be to use the accommodation to also offer extended provision for the rest of the school, such as breakfast and after-school clubs and a holiday club.”

Funding for the project will come from the Department for Education and the Brooke Weston Trust.

To view the plans, click here.

A decision is expected by May 8 this year.