New premises for nursery after council's funding U-turn

Dizzy Ducks Day Nursery in Billericay, Essex, situated in the grounds of Mayflower Secondary School, was promised £1.2m through the Early Years Capital Grant to fund their new setting after the lease on their building came to an end.

However, the future of the new nursery, on the same site, appeared in doubt when the Department for Education told Essex County Council in September that it was putting on hold any funding not already ‘fully committed’ to settings.

To save the nursery, Dizzy Ducks' owner, Sian Nisbett, enlisted the help of Basildon and Billericay MP John Baron, who got the council to honour its contract and provide the funding as originally planned.

The new nursery, which is registered for 92 children and employs more than 100 staff, opened in September. Mr Baron, who helped rescue the nursery, visited the setting for the first time at the beginning of this month.

The MP for Basildon and Billericay said, ‘Because of a potential funding glitch within Essex County Council, there was a moment when it looked as though this nursery would not be built. After raising the issue with the council, I am pleased that they honoured their word and provided the promised funding. Persistence does pay off.

‘This nursery is doing a fantastic job and I congratulate Sian and the whole team on its success. It’s great to see so many smiling faces.’

Sian Nisbett, owner of Dizzy Ducks, which has four settings in Essex, said, ‘I’m thrilled that after two years of hard work, the nursery is now operational. There was one point where I was seriously concerned about the long term future of the nursery when I thought our funding had been lost completely. I can’t thank Essex County Council enough for supporting our project and funding it. The nursery is now registered for 92 and is operating at about 85% occupancy right now.
‘We have incorporated a range of offices within the building and are running the company from here now too, so it gives my admin team a proper base.

‘Relived, doesn’t quite sum up how I feel. I am ecstatic that the children can continue to access the outstanding provision given by my superb staff, for many more years to come.’