A PRE-SCHOOL is finally to get a permanent home after a 15-year wait.

Puddleducks Pre-school’s new base is being built at Kendall Church of England Primary School, in Recreation Road, Colchester, after the £480,000 funding was secured from Essex County Council.

The building will have a large playroom, a kitchen and office space, as well as a community room to be used by health visitors and social services.

Construction work is set to start in the summer and is due to be completed next year.

Jeanette Gutteridge, Puddleducks manager, said: “It has been a long-term aim to get a permanent base and I’m very happy it’s finally going to happen.

“This will give us much better facilities and allow us to develop the strong links we have with Kendall.”

The pre-school has run at Wimpole Road Methodist Church hall for 15 years and in temporary buildings at the school for two years.

The school’s deputy headteacher, Clare French, said the new building would be owned by the school and the Diocese of Chelmsford and leased to the pre-school.

She said: “This is a massive investment in brand new facilities to replace some rather tired demountable classrooms.

“The school will benefit as a lot of our pupils come through the pre-school and they will have both enjoyed the facilities and be familiar with the surroundings.”