A GROUP of youngsters from an outstanding early years centre dressed up in hard hats to witness the roof being installed on its sister institution.

The site, in Lower Wick, opens in September and has been set up by Alice Bennett, who got a £10,000 grant from the Government.

Centre leader Mrs Bennett has been involved with Madresfield Early Years Centre for 20 years, and said the new premises will offer high-quality early years teaching for Worcester youngsters.

She said: "It's a fulfilment of my life's dream and I've put my savings and my pensions into it.

"It's going to be the best pre-school in Worcestershire."

Mrs Bennett said the new centre will be run with the same ethos that has helped Madresfield be rated outstanding by Ofsted.

It will cater for 24 babies, 24 toddlers, 24 children aged three and four, and 24 pre-schoolers.

There will also be capacity to care for 48 youngsters after-school.

Staff from Madresfield will move to run the new centre.

Mrs Bennett: "My most treasured gift is my staff team and my managers [at the new centre] are coming from Madresfield.

"It's been designed by us and it's going to be purpose built."

It will be based on the site of the Battle of Worcester and Mrs Bennett said the history will inspire future children, as well as the proximity to the working dairy farm.

Worcestershire County Council successfully bid for the cash from the Department for Education to create the new early years centre.

It will offer a much-needed option for parents from Worcester City and Worcester South, where there is currently a lack of ‘outstanding’ childcare choices.