Dawn To Dusk, the beloved local nursery, embarked on a seemingly impossible journey to secure a new location, obtain planning permission, and construct a custom-built facility, all within a remarkably tight timeframe. Swanley Town Council played a pivotal role in making this ambitious endeavour a reality, recognising the potential impact on hundreds of residents in the area. Mayor of Swanley, Cllr Michael Horwood, stated “The Council was determined to prevent losing a major supplier of nursery provision in Swanley and we are delighted, through closely working with the nursery owners, children in Swanley will now benefit from a completely new building and facility. A lack of local nursery provision and travel to out-of-town nurseries would have made it harder for Swanley parents to be able to further juggle the requirements of childcare and their careers, so we are delighted our close partnership has retained that amazing provision yet another fantastic new facility within our town.” 

 

Swanley Town Council’s CEO, Ryan Hayman, expressed his immense relief and delight at the project's successful completion. "This custom-built facility will enhance the lives of the children and families we serve for years to come," Hayman stated, emphasising the importance of the new nursery to the community. Dawn To Dusk added, “On behalf of the entire team. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone that has helped us get this amazing facility open in such a short space of time. It’s thanks to the vision of both Swanley and Sevenoaks Council that we have been able to save this nursery from disappearing. We are very proud of the result we have all achieved, and hope this facility serves Swanley and its children for many years to come! Our staff are extremely excited to work in this amazing new facility, creating a warm and welcoming environment for the children to thrive in! We would also like to thank our team of staff for making the transition into the new building so smooth! Our management team have been instrumental in making this happen, we cannot thank them enough!” The journey to secure the new site was fraught with challenges.  

 

Dawn To Dusk tirelessly explored nearly twenty alternative locations before finally finding a suitable home in the tarmacked Birches Car Park, located within the idyllic Swanley Park. The location not only ensures accessibility for families but also offers a beautiful and natural environment for children to thrive. The project was made possible through the efforts of Swanley based Callisto, a construction company that delivered the nursery on time and within the allocated budget.  

 

The total cost of the construction was privately financed, underscoring the commitment of Dawn To Dusk to the local community in preserving this vital service. Another Swanley based business Haskins Design managed the architectural and planning processes which helped allow building works to start in record time and has led to a beautiful and functional space.  

 

The new Dawn To Dusk nursery is poised to provide a nurturing and educational environment for children in Swanley for many years to come. With its strategic location in Swanley Park and the support of many members of the community, it stands as a symbol of resilience and dedication, ensuring that the youngest members of Swanley have access to quality childcare and early education. Local parents and residents are expressing their gratitude for the successful rescue of this essential facility. The nursery's reopening not only relieves immediate concerns but also strengthens the sense of community and solidarity in Swanley, a town that rallied together to ensure its youngest members have a bright future. As the children settle into their new nursery, it's clear that this story of determination, cooperation, and community spirit will remain a cherished part of Swanley