Long shot - is there any chance of getting funding for a new pre-school building? Think our pre-school will die without one.

[startouchedtrinity]

Since the 1960's the village pre-school has been in the church hall, which has worked well. Now the church committee have decided that the setting must clear away every day so that the hall can be used by other groups in the village (the cynic might say and make them a few quid in fees...)Anyway, this has meant that teh whole set-up has changed and apart from dressing-up it looks like nothing is going on. They can't buy soft seating or anything like that b/c it can't be safelt stored, and it means a lot of hard work for the staff to keep setting up and putting away. This coincides with a shiny new Montessori opening down the road, and if I were a new parent I know which I'd choose on first impressions.

I don't think OFSTED will be that impressed either.

A solution that I've thought of would be to approach the school to see if they would be amenable to having the pre-school in ademountable classroom within the curtilage of the school premesis. But I don't think the LEA would fund it. Are there any other sources of funding? I'm thinking about teh Govt's idea about pre-schools being 'one stop shops', maybe there is Govt funding, or grants from the lottery or charities?

[startouchedtrinity]

hopeful bump

[dalmatianbabe]

No advice I'm afraid, but sympathy as I work in exactly those circumstances.

The church owns our pre school building and it is falling to bits, but to get any money out of them is like pulling teeth!

We also have to clear everything away after every session. The church said they would make more money renting out our car park spaces than they make from our rent to them

I was thinking of approaching a building suppliers to see if they would like some publicity to provide nice new interior, I don't know of they would provide portacabin premises for you?

[hbbell]

It is posible if you can prove need for pre-school. You would need business plan. Backing of school always very helpfull. find someone from EYN to talk to or sure start. and prove how it can help rest of comunity..... if you can do all that you might get some where we did in the end.