The purpose-built Kiddywinks Nursery, which has been funded by the Department for Education and Skills, the New Opportunities Fund and Devon County Council, will have a dedicated baby area, an extensive outdoor play area and a large main nursery.
Co-owner Clare Day said, 'The location of the nursery in Whiddon Valley will enable parents from all local communities to access the nursery with ease as it is within walking distance of many housing developments.
'We will be running a drop-off and collection service for children who attend local nursery schools. We will also be providing free sessions to children aged three-plus, whose parents wish them to take up their entitlement to grant funded sessions.'
Councillor Saxon Spence, the county council's executive member for lifelong learning, said, 'I am delighted that our first venture under the Neighbourhood Nursery programme is opening in Barnstaple.' Promising that all the staff will be trained to 'the highest standard', she added, 'They will be committed to providing the best care for children left in their supervision and the highest quality service to parents.'
A second neighbourhood nursery, funded by Sure Start and the New Opportunities Fund, is planned in Teignmouth, south Devon, for next March.
The nursery will be sited on the Broadmeadow industrial estate and close to a sports hall and the Kingsaway estate, which is an area of social disadvantage.
Tim Collins, local Sure Start programme manager, said the 45-place nursery would be shaped like a ship, to reflect the town's strong links with the fishing industry.
He added, 'We are very excited about this project which has been designed by Teignmouth District Council. It will be a new building with several unique features, with curved walls to create a good deal of open space, and at one end there will be a large glazed wall opening out on to the outdoor play area.
'This building has been specially designed so that the children can move easily from an indoor to an outdoor environment and vice versa.'
