Caverstede Early Years Centre, Walton.

Caverstede Road Nursery School was officially opened on 13th May, 1946. Prior to that, the building was used by children whose mothers were working in local factories towards the war effort. Back then, the building was a simple wooden/brick structure. After the war, it was decided to keep the nursery open, this made Caverstede unique in Peterborough. There was also a nursery in London Road, but that eventually closed in December 1955, which left Caverstede as the only nursery school in Peterborough. In January 2002 Caverstede Nursery School became Caverstede Early Years Centre. The centre is now open from 8am to 6pm, 5 days a week, 50 weeks a year. Children from birth up to the age of 8 are catered for. For many years Caverstede has specialised in provision for children with special needs.

Having studied many photographs and the building itself, I have realised that it is obvious that the building has been extended many times. In 1965 the first brick building was built, containing a classroom (now known as the 'Buzzy Bees'), toilets, kitchen, staff room and an office for the head mistress. Sometime between 1966 & 1968 a small extension was added, I assume this was a reception area as it still is today. Towards the end of 1972 another extension was built, this contained a second classroom (now known as the 'Ladybirds'), staff room, toilets and a couple of small rooms. This extension was complete and opened in 1973. During the 1980s a mobile classroom was added to the site. The mobile remained until 1995, another extension was built to accomodate another classroom for the children, now known as the Butterflies classroom. A pitched roof was also built on top of the old flat roof building.

During 2001 a small extension was built that joined the Ladybirds and Butterflies classroom buildings together. A larger sensory room was added to the end of the building, and a conservatory was also added to the Butterflies classroom. The entire Caverstede building then formed a shape that resembled the letter 'U' when viewed from above.

In 2002 some internal changes were made. Baxter & King from Lincolnshire were awarded the contract. The family room became the new staff room. The kitchen that hadn't been used for a couple of years became the new family room, this also doubled up as a dining room. The cleaning materials store cupboard/laundry became the children's library. A couple of offices and a small kitchen were also created.

In the Summer of 2003, the nursery garden received a makeover the Ground Force team would have been proud of! The old tarmac playground was ripped out, as was the paddling pool and sandpit. In fact, pretty much everything in the garden was changed. Two mounds that resembled 'Tellytubby Land' were formed, tarmac was replaced with astro turf and much safer rubber paving. A planting day was held in October of that year. Children and their parents were invited in on a Saturday to spend the day planting. The contractors, Blakedown, have since completed other projects in Peterborough. One of those was the skate park behind Paston Farm.

More changes were made internally during 2004. This time round, Garfield Builders were awarded the contract. A corridor that used to lead to the Ladybirds classroom from the reception area was completely blocked off, the administration office, head's office and a couple of storage cupboards were demolished to make way for a larger administration area, a meeting room and a new office for the Head of Centre. The children's toilets in the Ladybirds classroom were modernised at the same time.

April, 2006 welcomed the start of yet another building project and another new contractor, Graham Kirk Carpentry. The demand for children's lunch time meals meant that Caverstede's current kitchen and dining facilities could not cope. The new project consisted of the building of a new kitchen, multi-purpose room (which is also the dining room), laundry, staff toilet, NVQ administration office and Site Services room. The car park was treated to a fresh new tarmac surface and painted lines.

2007 has been quiet so far, with the exception of a new water play area built in the nursery garden, designed and built by Timotay Landscaping.

 

The inside cover of the register from 1946. The first entry was a male child, born in 1943 and was a resident of Willesden Avenue, Walton.

The above photograph was taken in 1948. The land across the road is now occupied by a pair of bungalows.

An excellent view of the old building photographed in 1949. Caverstede's children still enjoy playing with sand!

View of the garden during the Queen's Coronation, 1953. The flag pole stands in front of what is now the Ladybirds classroom of the current building.

A photograph of the rear garden taken in 1953. The recent extension now occupies most of this area.

A view from Caverstede Road of the side of the old building taken in 1956.

The admission register from September 1965. This would have been a fresh start for Caverstede Road Nursery, the wooden structure was demolished in favour of a new brick building. The new brick building would house a new classroom which is known today as 'Buzzy Bees'.

This photograph, taken in 1966, has always interested me as it was good fun identifying the location this photo was taken. The adults & children are standing just in front of where the current reception area is. The Silver Birch tree in the background remained in that location until 2005. It was not in good health, caused all sorts of gutter problems and eventually would have had to make way for the new buggy park.

This photograph was taken in 1968. The Silver Birch as seen in the previous photograph can be seen above the roof of the building. The part of the building directly behind the ladies was not present in the photograph taken in 1966.

Start of the new extension 23rd October 1972. This will house the new classroom that is now known as 'Ladybirds'. The houses in the background are located on Paston Lane. The top of Paston Church can also be seen. The Sycamore tree to the left of the photo is still standing today, it has caused problems for Caverstede in the past. During high winds, branches have broken off and gone through a window and the roof.

Completion of the new extension, April 30th 1973. The flag pole that can be seen in the front garden was removed during the build of a Buggy Park, Summer 2006.

During the late 1980s to early 1990s a mobile was used as another classroom. The photograph above, taken in 1995, shows the building of a new classroom (now known as Butterflies) to replace the mobile.

Building work of the thrid classroom almost complete. A room known as the 'Family Room' built on the end of this extension, was opened in April 1996 by the Duchess of Gloucester. The entire Caverstede building also had a pitched roof built on to it.

Planting out in the revamped garden, October 2003.

The new nursery garden, October 2003.

Building of the new extension commences with a bit of demolition work. Photograph taken 25 April 2006.

Caverstede's 60th anniversary, May 2006. Building work continued in the background.

Birdseye view. Photograph taken during Summer 2006, whilst the building of the new extension was taking place.

September 2006, building work almost complete. The car park received a makeover during October.

The latest addition to the rear garden, a water play feature for the children. Photograph taken April 2007.

View from front showing the new layby and buggy park in the front entrance. Photograph taken April 2007.