Fulwood nursery and pre-school which was destroyed by arson to see new building open

The new nursery building in progress Pic: Blog Preston

A fire-ravaged nursery and pre-school building in Fulwood is to be back open in January.

Highfield Priory Nursery and School saw the former bungalow building destroyed in a fire in mid-October 2022 on a Saturday evening.

After demolishing the remaining bungalow building – which was declared unsafe after it was gutted by fire in an arson – has now been completely rebuilt.

The £1.5million project means the independent school now has a purpose-built nursery and pre-school within the grounds.

School business manager Tilly Cottom said: “It’s been an emotional time for a lot of the staff and pupils since the fire.

“We took the decision, following health and safety advice, to demolish the old building because there was clearly no way it could be repaired.

“A lot of memories went with that building from over the years, but we’re looking to the future now.”

Four 14-year-old boys were arrested and then charged with the fire and were given youth behaviour orders as a result. They were charged with criminal damage and arson – not endangering life.

Ms Cottom said they had gone into the building and started a fire to ‘keep warm’ but it quickly spread, and six fire engines were sent to the scene in Fulwood Row on that Saturday evening.

Firefighters at blaze at Highfield Priory Nursery Pic: @LancashireFRS / Twitter — The aerial platform was used to tackle the fire Pic: @LancashireFRS / Twitter

She said: “It’s difficult to understand why they thought it was a good idea.

“I remember getting the call on that Saturday evening and just being in disbelief.

“Thankfully it was a weekend evening and there was no one else on site at that time.”

The nursery has continued to operate, using temporary facilities across the rest of the school, and once the new building opens the school will be able to increase their capacity for children with 40 nursery places and 40 pre-school places.

Highfield Priory’s new nursery building Pic: Blog Preston

Ms Cottom said: “We’re all very much looking forward to all the work being complete.

“It causes a lot of disruption with parts of playgrounds sectioned off and the work ongoing, but the children have all coped with it all really well. They love watching the diggers at work!”

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