A MALDON pre-school is celebrating its first birthday in a new home.

Maldon Community Pre-School were able to move into their new building on Wantz Road, Maldon, after receiving a £100,000 grant from Essex County Council last year.

The new pre-school, built on the site of the old one, is twice as big as the previous one and it means staff can look after more children.

Pre-school manager Vikki Mitchell said: “We do serve quite a lot of disadvantaged families. We received the grant to help improve the lives of families in Maldon. 

“The new building has really helped do that. We could only have half the number of children we have got now before, and more children has meant we have been able to offer more jobs for the area.

“We were lucky enough to get the full amount of the grant we applied for. Before this place, we were in a small portacabin that was about 30 years old. We were able to get rid of that and get a new building that is twice the size.

“It is so much better. There are twice as many playrooms for the children, which means we are able to separate the young ones from the older ones. It has really made a big difference.”

The pre-school recently received a good rating from Ofsted.