Nursery bounces back after blaze hits

Since then the nursery, which has 58 children on the roll, has been using its single-storey building while the damaged building is repaired.

But Janeen said: “We were struggling to manage because our main kitchen was in the building that was burned.”

Staff faced the prospect of changing the play area into a dining area several times a day to prepare and serve breakfasts, lunches and teas – disrupting play sessions for the children until Cheltenham-based modular commercial kitchen supplier PKL Ltd arrange for a temporary kitchen to be sited in the council car park near the nursery.

Janeen said: “It’s been a quick turnaround and that’s brilliant. The staff were really looking forward to having a proper lunch space to allow our children to get back to serving themselves and mixing around tables as they normally do.

“The children have really been looking forward to walking out across the playground to have lunch - it’s a little adventure for them! We’re really grateful to PKL for turning this around so quickly. It will make the months until we are back in our normal building much easier to deal with.”

She said it was hoped to re-open the refurbished two-storey building for the end of May.

“It was a real shock to lose so much in the fire,” said Janeen, “We pride ourselves on being flexible for our parents and they have been incredibly kind in their support and generous in their donations of toys, clothes and other bits and pieces. Our staff have been amazing in making the transition to using one building. I feel very lucky despite the stress it has caused.”

PKL chief executive Lee Vines said: “Our temporary kitchens are designed to work anywhere and help those in desperate need of kitchen facilities at short notice. We’re delighted that Janeen and her colleagues are able to cook for their 58 children again and we wish them well for the refurbishment.”