WHILE many teachers and students have been enjoying a relaxed summer there has been plenty of activity at Ilkley's Clevedon House School.

The school 're-launched' itself in June and announced plans for a day care nursery. Those plans have swiftly become reality.

The completely refurbished wing at the Ben Rhydding Drive-based school will cater for babies and toddlers aged three months to three years - including state of the art play and education equipment.

Wendy Whitaker, manager of the day care nursery, has been overseeing the building works during the summer months to ensure the new facility is ready to take its first group of youngsters on September 6.

She said: "This is my dream job, being able to start right from the beginning and equip a nursery with exactly the right things to keep babies stimulated and safe. I knew exactly what I wanted here, bright colours, tactile equipment and interactive play areas like the musical wall which is being installed."

She said the musical wall was a recognised invention for stimulating the young with different sounds and shapes.

The new nursery manager said: "Clevedon House recognises that parents need to be confident they are leaving their little ones in good, safe hands."

"But they also want their babies to be stimulated in an informal way. I know this is going to be a very happy and homely environment for our babies," she said.

Clevedon House will start the new school year in a different form. A decision was made last year to close the senior school and boarding facilities.

From September it will reopen as an independent day school and nursery day care centre for children aged between six months and 11 years.

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