Northampton nursery staff sleepover raises more than £1,000 for children with additional needs

A big staff sleepover at a nursery in Harpole has raised more than £1,000 for children with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities (SEND).

The ‘Purple Ladies’ of Harpole Pre-school packed up their pyjamas, toothbrushes and sleeping bags on Children In Need day (November 18) to raise money for the nursery’s SEND provision, which does not receive Government funding.

They raised £1,040 in total on their Go Fund Me page, coupled with cash donations.

Business Manager at Harpole Preschool, Gina Lawrence, participated in the sleepover. She told the Chronicle & Echo: “We are absolutely thrilled because initially we just set the target of £500 and we were pleased to reach that.

“When we knew we could raise more, we were just really thrilled that we did this and parents, friends and family have supported us.”

For Children In Need day, the nursery children and staff were invited to wear their pyjamas for the day.

Ten nursery staff members - ‘purple ladies’ - took part in the sponsored sleepover and they entertained themselves with pamper sessions and board games before getting a good night’s sleep - or did they?

Gina said: “It was a little bit cold and we did not get the best night’s sleep but it was all worth it for the children.”

The money raised will go towards sensory toys, toys to help children with physical disabilities get a range of movement, one-to-one sessions, music therapy and any external support from SEND consultants.

This follows after Harpole Pre-School was rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted for the third time in a row in a glowing report published last month.

Pre-school manager Sharon Matthews, who has run the nursery for 23 years, told the Chronicle & Echo that she feels her “life’s work is complete” after achieving this hat trick.

Sharon said tearfully: “We are really proud and I was so chuffed to get this third one. I believe there is no other place in Northamptonshire that offers what we do here.”

Harpole Pre-School was founded around 50 years ago as a mums and tots group run by volunteers.