Insider Media Limited

A childcare nursery based in Daventry has moved to a new purpose-built site following investment from NatWest, Northamptonshire County Council and Daventry District Council. Dolphin Day Nursery has relocated to the grounds of the Falcolners Hill Infant School in Daventry after receiving more than £150,000 in funding.

The nursery provides preschool day care for children up to the age of five as well as out-of-school care for children up to the age of 11.

Since 2006, the nursery had operated from the nearby Phoenix Centre but restrictions on space meant that capacity was limited to 25 children.

This expansion to new premises has meant that capacity has doubled, and a new kitchen providing hot meals has been installed. The new site also includes a baby room, large outdoor play area, and sensory room to further for children with additional needs.

As a direct result of the expansion, additional staff have already been recruited and further hires will be taken in the near future, said the nursery.

Banking partner NatWest provided funding through the government’s enterprise finance guarantee (EFG) scheme to facilitate the move.

Northamptonshire County Council has provided a £150,000 grant to assist the move under their Early Years Capital Funding scheme and Daventry District Council provided support through a grant of £10,000.

Anna Ellison, healthcare manager at NatWest who arranged the funding, said: “This is a good move for Caroline and her team. They have built a strong nursery proposition and will benefit greatly from the new location, as well as having the space and better facilities to extend the nursery’s operations.”