NURSERY UNITS

The Government commitment to Nursery Education is intended to provide 4-year olds with education of good quality. Too often the spaces used to provide this are inappropriate and this Pillar Consultancy initiative aims to offer well designed yet economical units which will provide an inspiring setting for both children and adults.

The nursery building requirement can be taken up by Local Education Authorities and other providers in three ways:

The first two approaches require individual solutions for each project but the last presents an opportunity for the development of rationalised solutions. Compared with producing units on a one-off basis, this will give savings in both time and cost of construction and in professional fees.

Pillar Consultancy has produced a series of nursery units using the criteria available from DFEE publications and advice as the basic design guidance. These are standard designs without knowledge of any specific site or providers particular building requirements. Once these become known variations can be made available by negotiation.

Many buildings for 4-year olds also offer facilities for younger children including day care and other services. Larger and modified units to cater for these facilities can be produced by negotiation once a project’s requirements can be established.

For the standard Nursery Units child capacities of 26 and 52 have been selected as being the most economical on staff resources which limit 13 children to one adult and 26 children to one qualified adult. In addition a 45 child unit is offered as the recommended size of nursery unit suitable for use alongside a three form entry primary school. Two optional layouts for each size are offered, each with different internal plan layout and entrance arrangements, offering a choice of six units in all. Each is available in brick cladding and tiled roof for use where a traditional appearance is required and a lightweight more industrial roof and claddings for use where cost is of prime importance or a colourfull exterior is preferred. All exceed the minimum recommended teaching space per child (see schedule of accomodation for each type). Other variations in size and layout can be made available but the economics of doing so may depend on the number of units required of each type.

Class groups may vary from one Authority to the next where different teacher to child ratios are applied but it is considered possible to accommodate the majority of group sizes between 26 and 52 children within this incremental range. In addition larger units can be provided but at the other end of the requirement scale it is likely that units of sizes significantly smaller than 26 children will more economically be provided by the adaptation of existing buildings. Alternatively a 26 unit could be considered even for smaller initial child intake if there is a likelihood of numbers growing as this size is the optimum for economical use of staffing resources.

The majority of these nursery units will be built adjacent to existing schools of widely differing architectural styles. Therefore, it was considered that the most suitable design solution would be ones which produced permanent buildings, clearly expressing their own character as nurseries on a domestic scale. Particular features of the designs are low maintenance costs and high insulation values which will result in good comfort conditions and low energy use. Other advantages are the potential for fast construction at an economical cost and the ability to alter (or extend) the existing plan in the future as all walls are non loadbearing and a structural frame is used.

An aim of this initiative is to enable Authorities or other providers to obtain the units with the minimum outlay of professional resources. The construction of the buildings has been considered as a complete package, including foundations, superstructure and engineering services. Keeping the standard of construction constant and the cost of building management low is assured by allowing overheads and site control costs to be spread over a series of projects and ensuring that the expertise gained in the construction of the first units is re-used throughout the programme. The cost target for each unit has been prepared on the basis and of the above criteria. Variations can relatively easilly be achieved as all information is computer generated but changes may introduce a cost and/or a time penalty.

General description of provision

Technical Description

The Pillar Consultancy Nursery Unit packages include:-

Foundations, site slab and Floorings

The over site slab is insulated (normally unrienforced) concrete with individual pad column bases. A damp proof membrane is laid over the slab and finished with vinyl sheet in the wet play areas, lavatories, kitchens, and coats storage areas. Staff rooms, quiet room and the remaining play areas are carpetted.

Structural frame

Structural economy is achieved by using a light structural steel frame with sections adjusted to give maximum economy for either the "traditional" roof or the "lightweight" sheeted roof.

Roof

Two options are available:- The "traditional" version uses interlocking tiles on timber rafters with plasterboard soffit and the "lightweight" version uses insulated metal decking or tile sheets. The internal volume of the building follows the line of the roof creating a light and spacious interior. Natural light and ventilation is enhanced by the provision of central roof windows.

External walls

Glazed cladding and Doors are aluminium framed and incorporate fixed and opening lights. Solid cladding can be either brickwork or various profiled sheeting panels, with an inner lining of plasterboard on supporting studs incorporating a very high level of insulation. The cladding is capable of receiving fixings for shelving or a dado rail.

Internal divisions

Partitions are of plasterboard on metal studs with those around toilet areas kept low to aid supervision. Various applied wall finishes may be used.

Doors are ply faced in painted softwood frames and in some instances curtains or lightweight folding screens are used.

Environmental Services

The main volume of each nursery unit is heated by warm air heaters within the ceiling void with supplementary heaters in the entrance and coat storage areas. In warm weather the units can be run to assist air movement. Electric heating is standard but alternatives can be considered including wet heating systems if suitable service /boiler connections can be made available on site.

The interior benefits from good natural light and ventilation due to continuous perimeter glazing but can be illuminated by baffled flourescent tube fittings, using the sloping ceiling and the walls as reflectors and supplemented in other areas by low energy feature fittings.

Twin sockets outlets are provided in kitchens, staff and utility rooms and also located at points in the play area for tape recorders, computers, educational equipment and cleaning appliances.

Hot water is supplied from individual water heaters to the utility and kitchen sinks and water at a lower constant discharge temperature is provided to the wash hand basins.

Electrical connection CCUs and the cable entry route into the building are provided.

Water storage tanks are provided at high level above the utility room which is also fitted out as a disabled/staff toilet. Sinks are provided in utility rooms and kitchens. Low level sinks are provided in play areas for water play. Drainage is provided from all w.c.s, basins and sinks to a collection M.H. which can then be connected to a main drainage run.

External works

Hard play areas are provided outside the playroom and this forms part of the external space requirement of 9 square metres per child minimum with approximately equal split between hard and soft landscaping. Covered play areas are provided.

Furniture and Equipment

All furniture and equipment is normally excluded but for "turn key" package arrangements could be arranged if required.

Services available from Pillar Consultancy:-

EXAMPLE OF 52 PLACE NURSERY UNIT

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