Pebbles Pre-School in Bulmer raising funds for new building

The staff and committee members of Pebbles Pre-School, in Church Road, Bulmer, are looking to raise £100,000 for a new building.

The ‘outstanding’ rated pre-school is based on the St Andrew’s Primary School site and uses a large modular building that is more than 30 years old.

As a community-led charity run by caring and dedicated staff, the pre-school provides a learning environment for youngsters between the ages of two and four.

Happy - Pebbles Pre-School staff and pupils celebrating a previous 'outstanding' rating from Ofsted (Image: Pebbles Pre-School)

Learning experience - Pebbles Pre-School students on a nearby nature walk (Image: Pebbles Pre-School)

Location - The tired Pebbles Pre-School building (Image: Pebbles Pre-School)

However, the building is past its prime, so options are being assessed.

Nursery manager Rebecca Fitzpatrick said: “We always thought if this building becomes shocking, the school may help us find a space but the school has expanded.

"If not, we would need to find somewhere else.

“The worst case is we have to close which considering there aren’t many pre-school provisions in the area, it would quite tough for the families we serve.”

Poor condition - The side wall of the Pebbles Pre-School building (Image: Pebbles Pre-School)

Old - The cracked ceiling of the pre-school's large room (Image: Pebbles Pre-School)

“At the end of the day, our provision is outstanding - Ofsted saw that.

"We would like to provide the children with an outstanding setting for them to work out of, so they have a better space to learn.

“It’s a brilliant area, and we’d like to be able to extend what we can offer.

"In the summers it can get very warm for the children and staff, and winters can be extremely cold.

"It is not suitable."

The pre-school has been based at St Andrew’s since 2022 after having to move out of two previous halls.

Staff love the current location.

Mum-of-two Charlie Letham, 39, of Bulmer, is a committee member at Pebbles Pre-School and has a son who goes to the nursery.

Caring - Pebbles Pre-School nursery manager, Rebecca Fitzpatrick (Image: Rebecca Fitzpatrick)Helping to raise funds - Pebbles Pre-School committee member, Charlie Letham (Image: Charlie Letham)

She started a Gofundme page to raise £50,000 for the building.

Campaigners hope to raise the rest of the money through Essex County Council or other funding.

She said: “We’ve looked at lottery funding but as we are such a small project, in comparison to others, it said we weren’t a candidate at this time.

“We’re having a meeting next week to do discuss doing a sponsored walk. We’ve done a school disco with the help of St Andrew’s Primary School as well and plan to put on an Easter event.

“My little girl was in a nursey before she went to Pebbles and the location and the environment and everything they do is amazing. I would be sad if they do have to move.”

To donate to the fundraising page, go to tinyurl.com/uta223d6.