Abbotswood Pre-School and Day Nursery receives £25,000 grant

Abbotswood Pre-School and Day Nursery, near Romsey, received the grant from the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) by Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC).

This funding has supported a significant infrastructure project exceeding £75,000, enabling the establishment of a training academy alongside Abbotswood nursery’s current childcare offering.

This will improve the quality of childcare services and help its own business to diversify and grow.

The grant has allow Abbotswood to renovate and transform an existing building. (Image: Test Valley Borough Council) The grant has enabled Abbotswood to renovate and transform an existing building into a dedicated Early Years Training and Support Hub.

The new training academy is offering a range of courses to early years professionals and parents, providing high-quality training, mentoring, and support.

Lou Simmonds, owner and managing director of Abbotswood Pre-School and Day Nursery, said: "The grant helped us hugely in knowing we could get the project done to the standard and finish we wanted.

"Abbotswood Day Nursery’s core value is outdoor learning and teaching staff how to thrive in the outdoors.

"Our new training room is our first major stepping stone in having a base/hub for teaching outdoor learning.

"We’re pretty sure it’s a one-of-a-kind facility in Hampshire.

"We’re now launching our outdoor training workshops, delivered in the training room and extended through practical hands-on learning in our woodland gardens and neighbouring nature reserve."

The room before work was carried out. (Image: Test Valley Borough Council) Ward councillor Janet Burnage from Test Valley Borough Council said: "This grant is a fantastic opportunity for Abbotswood Pre-School and Day Nursery to further develop their facilities and continue their excellent work in early years education.

"The Rural England Prosperity Fund is instrumental in supporting rural communities, and we are pleased to see this investment benefiting our local area."

The Government’s Rural England Prosperity Fund is part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund that provides capital funding for rural businesses and rural communities.

TVBC received just over half a million pounds which has been distributed between businesses and community organisations across the rural areas of the borough to help develop the rural economy.