KING Edward Road Nursery in Minehead is celebrating after receiving £10,000 from the National Lottery to redevelop its baby and toddler outdoor space.

The nursery has been running since 2017 and has 15 highly qualified staff. The West Somerset Academies Trust bought the building in 2016 when another setting in the town closed. The trust recognised that the community was struggling to provide enough nursery places for the local children and their families and so opened King Edward Road Nursery.

The 50-place nursery is now open five days a week, all year round, with 64 local children registered, where they enjoy activities such as painting, singing and playing games.

As well as learning and having fun, the children make new friends and gain greater confidence, self-belief and important collaboration skills.

Nursery manager Shelley Hooper said the team was delighted by the recognition of its work and could now go ahead with plans to broaden the range of opportunities available to local children and their parents.

“This is important because it helps both the children and the parents to build relationships with others facing similar challenges and to create their own supportive circles of friends and peers,” she said.

The National Lottery Community Fund distributes money raised by National Lottery players for good causes and is the largest community funder in the UK.

Paul Rushforth, chief executive officer of the West Somerset Academies Trust, said: “Our trust recognises the vital importance of Early Years learning and we work hard with our families to ensure that the nurseries that we manage support early child development which we know, sets the foundation for lifelong learning, behaviour and health and wellbeing.

“We are truly grateful for the funding awarded by National Lottery Players. The improved outdoor play space will help Shelley and her wonderful team provide extended support to the children in our care.”

For further information about nurseries that the trust runs and manages contact its Early Years advisor Emma Murch at [email protected].