Staff, children and parents at Heighington Pre-school in Lincolnshire are delighted to have swapped their village hall accommodation for a portable building refurbished to exactly fit their requirements.
Sarah Turfrey joined the setting ten years ago when it had just eight children, and three years ago she took over as manager. Heighington now has 47 children on roll. It employs six staff and a lunchtime supervisor.
The local council gave the pre-school its marching orders from Jubilee Hall last year when it was deemed too large for the premises. Ms Turfrey says, 'I was devastated - where could we go? How would we fund it? The nursery had just £15,000 in its coffers at the time, which did not seem a realistic sum to establish a suitable building.'
Building solution
An even more pressing problem was where in the village the pre-school could relocate. Ms Turfrey approached the village school but it wasn't until last September, when the school became an academy with more autonomy, that it agreed the pre-school could move on to its land. From there it was a case of deciding what kind of building was financially viable.
Ms Turfrey says, 'I looked around at portable accommodation, as this was the most cost-effective and flexible solution. But nobody I initially contacted could provide a quality building for what we could afford. Finally, I contacted a company called Portable Offices, who agreed they could provide a refurbished unit and not only help with the unit but also with architect and planning support.'
Portable accommodation is one solution that offers a versatile and speedy alternative to conventional building methods which may be expensive and disruptive. Ms Turfrey explains that portable buildings have come a long way from the traditional pre-fab style and can even resemble a traditional brick-built facade, with an enduring lifespan and a degree of aesthetic appeal.
She says, 'Initially, I contacted our local authority but they had no budget available to help with the project. So, with the support of staff and parents, we set about raising funds through village events and sponsorship.'
This involved a wide range of activities, including sponsored walks, 'indulgence' evenings, charity auctions and quiz nights. 'You name it, we did it - and quickly,' says Ms Turfrey.
A total of £20,000 was raised over a period of nine months. This included a small amount of Ms Turfrey's private money, and she also managed to obtain a 'tiny' grant from the local authority to cover the connection of water and electricity to the modular building and to fit out the kitchen with a cooker and fridge.
Planning bombshell
After an eight-month process of planning permission, building control, flood risk assessments and ground works, a 117 square metre nursery space was agreed for a two-year period, with an option to extend. But then a bombshell was dropped some way down the line.
Ms Turfrey says,'We were going for a unit that was flush with the ground. Then the planning department advised us that we were on a potential flood plain, so the cabin had to be raised, which involved steps and ramps. This meant an additional £8,000 on our costs. We are still fundraising, and with the help of people in the village we hope to clear that additional cost.'
When the portable building recently arrived on site, the large crane and the lorries carrying it attracted the attention of most of the village. The pre-school children and staff came to see the operation and cheer on the construction team.
'The building was beautifully refurbished - immaculate, light, bright and warm, complete with baby toilets and small handbasins, a new fitted kitchen and new lighting, decorated throughout with new flooring and a cosy corner where a sofa now sits,' says Ms Turfrey. 'We are all truly delighted with the finished building.'
She is extremely proud of what the staff team and the village have achieved. 'We are so pleased that we have done it all ourselves and feel there is no compromise in the space and final fitments of the pre-school.'
She adds, 'Some of the parents had expressed reservations about the prospect of portable accommodation, no doubt imagining a scruffy, damp cabin. The reality is miles away from this outdated perception. Instead, the building is quite state-of-the-art. It provides a clean, warm, bright environment that encourages the children's creativity.'
