Panda Nursery officially launches its new premises on Glebe Meadow, on Saturday, 15th September, and would love to invite parents, kids, Limpsfield residents and local media to help celebrate the move and view the new home of this hugely popular Limpsfield pre-school and child care.
Panda, rated Outstanding by Ofsted, has now been part of the community for 58 years, supporting Oxted and Limpsfield families. Currently managed and owned by Alison Thompson, it was previously run by her mother-in-law, June Thompson and before her, by Shirely Dare. These three ladies, who have given so much to local families and the community, will launch the new building together.
Ali Thompson has dreamt of a new premises in the lovely rural setting of Glebe Meadow since she took over management of the nursery. After three years of negotiations with the Diocese of Southwark (who owns Glebe Meadow), her dream has finally come true.
The state of the art education building was built off-site and was transported to Glebe Meadow in July (see our Facebook posts). A fantastic feat of modern engineering (not to mention driving skills by the delivery truck driver!) saw the new nursery building arrive in six parts, lowered into place by a huge crane, directly onto the pre-installed foundations, plumbing and electrics – ready to be connected up and have the facia applied.Now, looking like it’s been there for ages, the brand new nursery is ready to go and will be open from 8am to 6pm. While places for the morning pre-school are just about full, there are a few ‘fully funded’ places for children for the afternoon sessions, as well as for breakfast and after school care.
“This is fantastic for the families and community of Limpsfield”, said Ali Thompson. “In the Church Hall, we only had limited capacity and opening times, due to sharing the building with other activities, but now we have a beautiful new premises, just for us, and can offer a much wider range of activities and longer opening hours.”
“It’s such a lovely location, right in the heart of the village, surrounded by the fields and the playing fields used for so many different activities, like the Limpsfield fete, adults’ football and Raw Skills, so it’s lovely to feel like we’ve really come home,” she said.
Panda’s new home will be officially opened by Ali, June and Shirley at 2pm on Saturday 15th September.