A NEW pre-school in Bratton may be open as early as January, thanks to a £4,000 boost from Westbury Area Board.
In September, Bratton Pre-school closed, resulting in a lack of childcare facilities. After several weeks of planning, consultation and negotiation, Cygnets Pre-school in Westbury announced that an agreement had been reached with Bratton Parish Council for a new Cygnets pre-school in the village.
During the area board meeting on Thursday 5th December, Emma Osmond, manager of Cygnets Pre-School, addressed the board saying, “This wasn’t any vision or plan, but Bratton pre-school shutting in September was quite a shock and has left many families without a setting to attend. Some of those children are very vulnerable children from a pocket of deprivation in Bratton. Those vulnerable children have no-where to go.
“ I hope you all agree that an early years setting is quite a vital thing for us to have and for children to have access to. We want to offer the same wrap around care that we do in Westbury, to families in Bratton. I am both passionate and dedicated to this project and its success and I am certain we can make this work with the allocation of the funding and continued support.”
Jeff Ligo said, “Bratton Parish Council has also allocated a grant of £3,000 towards this project. There is huge support in the village for the pre-school, including from Ian Bolton, the headteacher of Bratton Primary School, who is absolutely certain that a pre-school is essential for the future of his school.”
The board all voted unanimously for the granting of £4,000.
Speaking to White Horse News of the result, Emma said, “I’m actually overwhelmed as it is such a large amount of money. But I’m so glad that the board understands the need of full-time childcare in Bratton. As well as their support, the support from the community has just been fantastic.”
A crowdfunding page has been set up for members of the community to contribute to the development of the new pre-school. Details can be found at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/ bratton-preschool.
