Children who attended the Kiddi Caru nursery destroyed by fire found alternative places
Katy Morton
Thursday, July 21, 2022
Families whose children attended Kiddi Caru's Walnut Tree nursery in Milton Keynes have been found alternative places within the group’s other nearby settings, after the nursery was devastated by fire on Tuesday.
Kiddi Caru, which is operated by Grandir UK, has confirmed that families who use the 91-place Walnut Tree setting have been given temporary places at its nearby Kiddi Caru site in Caldecotte (89–place setting) and its Head Start Day Nursery in Milton Keynes Village (39-place setting), while alternative space has been found at a local community centre to take children from next week.
Due to the fire causing ‘significant damage’ to Kiddi Caru’s Walnut Tree nursery, Grandir UK estimates it could take 12-18 months before the setting can be rebuilt and re-opened to children.
A spokesperson for Grandir UK said that the priority over the coming weeks is to find a suitable permanent facility to provide care for all the children that attended the Walnut Tree nursery, which caught on fire on Tuesday when a red weather alert for extreme heat was in place for much of the country.
In a statement, the nursery group confirmed that the fire started in a neighbouring property to the nursery and that staff were alerted by the smell of smoke coming from outside and raised the alarm with the emergency services. A total of 66 children and 26 staff were in attendance on the day.
It goes on to state, ‘The team immediately proceeded to evacuate the nursery calmly and efficiently.
‘Despite the emergency services efforts the nursery has significant damage. It is likely to take 12-18 months before the nursery can be rebuilt and re-open its doors to the children and families. In the meantime, temporary solutions have been sort for many families at Kiddi Caru in Caldecotte and Head Start Day Nursery in Milton Keynes Village which are also part of the Group, and a nearby community centre which will be set up by the team ready to accept children from early part of next week.’
Grandir UK’s operations director Heather Young said, ‘We would like to praise and highlight the outstanding leadership of the nursery. Louise Higgins (nursery manager) and her staff team responded without hesitation, ensuring that all the children and the team were evacuated swiftly and safely to the nearby Blackberry Clinic, the nursery’s safe place, where children were reunited with their families.
‘We would also like to thank the community in lending a helping hand and coming together when most needed, and the emergency services who responded quickly to the scene. And the childcare sector of whom have made contact to offer their support.’
