Forty-four early years settings are celebrating after finding out they will share just over half a million pounds to improve the quality of their learning environments and access for children with disabilities.

Gloucestershire County Council received 187 bids for the funding which comes from the Early Years Capital Fund. The 46 successful bids come from across the county and from all types of settings including playgroups, nurseries and childminders.

Cllr Stephen McMillan, Cabinet Member for Young People, said: “Nurseries, playgroups and childminders give children a great start in life. All of these settings are providing a great service to our youngest children and beat off strong competition to be awarded this funding. The funding will be used to make the settings even more accessible, stimulating and child-friendly.”

The successful settings are: Gloucester St Mary’s Playgroup, Hucclecote – Outdoor learning & play area (£41,000) Busy Bees Playgroup, Brockworth – The Beehive project (£10,000) Chestnuts Nursery, Barnwood Road – Canopy for outdoor play area (£7795) & outdoor climbing equipment (£4688) Creative Kids Childminding Service, Longlevens – Patio & sensory garden (£6000) Chestnuts Day Nursery, Longlevens – Patio doors from baby room (£3126) & canopy for outdoor play area (£20,000) Hugo & Holly Day Nursery – Pre-school room (£7500) Gloucestershire College, Gloucester – Improvements to outdoor play area (£6000) Teddy Bears Picnic Day Nursery – Outdoor play area (£15,000) Twin Gables Day Nursery – Improve play & physical outdoor activities (£28,583) Joanne Dovaston (Childminder), Hardwicke – Improve outdoor environment (£5747) Cheltenham Giggles Nursery – Garden development project (£7591) Puddles Nursery – Outside development (£3891) Little Sunshines Day Care, Bishop’s Cleeve – Sensory garden project (£10,215) Little Smarties – Safety surface (£5607) Gloucestershire College, Cheltenham – Canopy (£10,000) Gloucester Road Playgroup – Transition area (£5595) St Mark’s & Hester’s Way Playgroup – Garden are (£2500) Bushbabies Day Nursery, Wellington Road – Improvements to outside area (£14,000) Bushbabies Day Nursery, Prestbury Road – Improvements to outside area (£14,000) Brightlands Day Nursery – Outdoor covered area (£7470) Bright Eyes Day Nursery – Outdoor environment (£7000) Katherine Berkley (Childminder), Bishop’s Cleeve – Playhouse & planter (£3280) St Christopher’s Playgroup – Resurfacing outdoor play area (£4350) Forest of Dean St Anthony’s School Nursery, Cinderford – Relocation & extension of nursery and play area (£41,000) St John’s Playgroup, Cinderford – Outside play area (£3895) Broadwell & Coalway Playgroup, Broadwell – Building improvements (£10,000) Kidscope/Riverside Nursery, Tutshill – Outdoor provision (£18,000) Primary Colours Childcare Service, Newent – Outdoor play equipment (£3000) Steam Mills Under 5s – Turning play inside-out (£10,000) Ellwood Nursery, Coleford – Canopy (£10,000) Tibberton & Taynton Early Years Partnership – Outdoor stage (£5747) Tutshill Pre-school – Outdoor classroom (£6698) Countryside Day Nursery, Corse – Outdoor play equipment (£8554) Parkend Nursery – Outdoor classroom (£13,169) Stroud Phoenix Playmates/Nailsworth Primary School – Early Years Centre (£30,000) Horsley Playgroup & School – Outdoor play area (£10,000) The Kindergarten at The British School, Wotton-under-Edge – Outside play area (£24,914) Bar Bar Nursery at Stratford Park – Blue Sky Learning Project (£29,000) Blue Coat Pre-School, Wotton-under-Edge – Canopy (£6671) Bar Bar Nursery at The Rosary School – ‘Whatever the weather, we’re outside’ project (£14,000) Tewkesbury Angela Goodwin (Childminder) – Outdoor play space (£2700) Sarah Spencer (Childminder), Northway – Covered outdoor play area (£2900) Cotswolds Bourton Pre-School – Outside play space (£25,219) Bright Eyes Early Years Centre, Cirencester College – Provide disabled access (£6000)