Page 19 - link magazine

swindonlink.com • February 2010 19
Shaw kids’ club closes as council LittLe Foxes ChiLdCare
shuts down community centre
& eduCation
A popular breakfast, after-school and holiday club ended just before
Christmas in advance of the closing down of Upper Shaw Farm social For children and their parents
centre - putting two people out of work. Established 1986
the common, Brinkworth, Wilts
tel: 01666 510356
Just a 15 minute drive from West Swindon & Priory Vale on B4042
l An independent family run nursery offering quality care and education
within a safe, secure, stimulating environment for all babies and children
from 0-5 and an out of school club for children aged 5-11 years
l Open: Monday to Friday, 7.30am-6.30pm, 51 weeks of the year
l Full, part time and term time places. Government funding for 3-5 year olds
l High staff to child ratios with qualified and experienced teaching staff and
nursery nurses
l Nutritious 3 course meals, hydro pool, multi sensory room, school hall with
gym apparatus, secure gardens, mini bus for trips out and about

Last party. Lyn Burch and Jayne Miller saying farewell to children
at Shaw Ridge Community Kids’ Club in December
Close to M4 junction 16, just a short drive from West Swindon
The Shaw Ridge Community the school. I was surprised in June
Kids Club was set up in 2001 by to be told by the school that there For children 3 months to five years
Lyn Burch as a not-for-profit group would be a tender process to run Open all year from 8am to 6pm
to provide care for children who at- out of school care.”
tended Shaw Ridge Primary School The school chose another pro- Extensive outdoor play & garden
across the road at Ridge Green. vider which meant the kids’ club Grant places available
But the decision by Swindon closed down in December - the only
Council to rebuild the school and group based at the farm which has For information call: 01793 851495
incorporate community facilities to not transferred to the school. www.thedaynursery.com
replace the farm, and the governors’ “The only reason the group
requirement to put out of school existed was to provide care for Brinkworth Road, Wootton Bassett, Swindon SN4 8DS
care to tender, has resulted in Lyn children at Shaw Ridge, so there
and her assistant Jayne Miller losing was no alternative but to close,”
their jobs. said Lyn. “It’s very upsetting for
Lyn explained, “when it was me and Jayne, and also the parents
decided to provide community who chose our group.
facilities in the school and we “The kids’ club has been my life
were told Upper Shaw Farm centre for the last nine years. We both loved
would close, we assumed the user working with the children; I’ll miss
groups would be offered space in them a great deal.”
What future for farmhouse?
Swindon Council decided in 2007 that Upper Shaw Farm social centre
was not required, as community rooms were to be provided in the new A high quality day nursery situated in West Swindon
Shaw Ridge Primary School. at Windmill Hill Business Park, close to the M4
However the recession has made selling the farm site for development Junction 16, offering a happy, sociable environment
uneconomic for the council. The centre was due to close at the end of where every child is treated as an individual.
January and councillors are deciding whether there is a short term use
OPen DAyS
for it, or whether the building should be boarded up. Come and Thu 11th Feb see us!
Fri 12th March
Sat 13th March
Wed 14th April

• For children aged 6 weeks to For more information
5 years please contact us:
• Open from 8.00am to Windmill Hill Day Nursery,
6.00pm, 52 weeks per year Whitehill Way
(except public holidays) Swindon
• Full time and part time places Wiltshire
SN5 6NX
• Large garden for all ages
• Fully inclusive, including all Tel: 01793 877646
meals, baby milk Email: [email protected]
and nappies www.childbase.com
Britannia Majorettes were presented with new T-shirts by Cre’8 Hair & Beauty • CCTV throughout
Salon in Greenmeadow in December. the nursery
The majorettes are looking for bookings during the Spring and Summer. Call Alison
Humphrey on 745487 if you would like them to provide entertainment at your event

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