CHESTER’S oldest nursery school has moved house after spending more than a century and a half on the same site.
Children and staff from St Mary’s Community Nursery School, on St Mary’s Hill since 1846, has taken up residence in Handbridge.
The school has relocated to Old Wrexham Road between Overleigh St Mary’s CE Primary School and The Catholic High School.
It shares the Overleigh St Mary’s site but remains independent from the primary school and teaches three and four-year-old children from across all areas of the city.
Looking forward to the move, headteacher Ken Jones said: “It is an exciting time for children, parents and staff as they explore the new site and begin to settle in.
“The children have taken to the new building like ducks to water and have settled well into the new routine, including the lengthening of the sessions to three hours.
“Staff and children are looking forward to welcoming the new starters into the new building next Monday.”
A recent Ofsted inspection of the school declared it “an outstanding school that gives its children an excellent start to their education”.
During the February half term break, work will take place on a outdoor classroom featuring a climbing area, play house, seating and storage.
Ownership of the building, on St Mary’s Hill, is in the process of being transferred from Cheshire County Council to Chester City Council.
A city council spokesperson said: “There has been no decision made yet on the future of the building which will be handed over to the new Cheshire West and Chester authority in April.”
