May 12, 2026 02:45pm
Cedar Children’s Academy has proudly opened a new nursery space in Strood, expanding its early years provision and welcoming two-year-olds into the school community for the first time.
Funded through the government’s School-Based Nursery Capital Grant, the project has created a bright, purpose-designed environment that supports children’s learning, play and wellbeing during the earliest stage of their education.
The school celebrated the opening on Friday 8th May with a special event attended by children, staff, and representatives from the Thinking Schools Academy Trust. Local MP for Rochester and Strood, Lauren Edwards, officially opened the space with a ribbon cutting and spoke about the positive impact of investment in early years education.
Lauren Edwards MP said:
“I was delighted to cut the ribbon at the newly expanded nursery at Cedar Children’s Academy and to meet Headteacher Tracey Baillie, along with the dedicated staff and children who will benefit from this fantastic new space.
"Cedar was one of the first schools to receive government early years funding as part of a national programme, backed by a further £370 million to expand access for younger children and support more families. Investment like this is about giving children the best possible start in life and ensuring local parents have access to high quality early education.
"I look forward to seeing many more nurseries like this across my constituency in the coming years.”
During the event, guests were invited to explore the new nursery area and meet the team, gaining a first-hand look at how the space has been designed to encourage curiosity, creativity and confidence through play-based learning.
Headteacher Tracey Baillie reflected on the journey behind the project and the people who made it possible:
"This really is a proud moment for our school. From the earliest discussions through to seeing children begin to enjoy the space, this project has been a true team effort, and it means so much to see it come to life.
"I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to our incredible staff team, whose care, creativity and commitment have shaped every detail of this environment. Their dedication has created a space where our youngest children will feel safe, inspired and ready to begin their learning journey.
"At Cedar, we are passionate about giving every child the very best start, and being able to extend our provision to include two-year-olds is a significant step forward for us."
The new nursery provision reinforces Cedar Children’s Academy’s commitment to supporting local families and ensuring children benefit from high-quality education from the very beginning of their learning journey.
