History of Bram Longstaffe Children’s Centre

Barrow Island Nursery School opened its doors on 3 July 1939, to children between the ages of two and four. They attended all day from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm.
The school was established by the Labour Borough council of 1939, especially by the efforts on one councillor, Bram Longstaffe, who was a former Mayor and Alderman of Barrow. He was a councillor for 23 years and Chair of the Education Committee for eight years until his sudden and untimely death in 1942. The school was named after him because he was the instigator of nursery education in the town, and envisaged a nursery place available for every child in Barrow from the age of three years.
At the time, the Barrow Island site was chosen, there was very little open space left in an area which was already surrounded by Vickers and the docks, and had busy rail traffic along Island Road. Many children were living in overcrowded conditions in the local flats with nowhere to play. The Nursery and its grounds provided a safe, healthy haven wherein the children could play in intellectually stimulating surroundings, eat nourishing food, and get plenty of rest and exercise in the fresh air.
For a short time during the 2nd World War, prolonged air raids prompted the School and its pupils to evacuate to Duddon hall, but the eventually returned to Barrow Island.
In February 1999, the Department of Education and Employment designated Bram Longstaffe Nursery School a Centre of Excellence for Early Years. This was in recognition of the good service the School has offered the community of Barrow and the surrounding district for many years. In 2003 we expanded, offering care for children 3 months to 8 years through our Neighbourhood Nursery. In April 2005 we were designated as a Children’s Centre.
Early Excellence was a unique programme that provides high quality integrated early education, care, health and family services for children 0 to 5 and their families, and adult training for staff and others who work with young children.
Our Children’s Centre combines Nursery School, Neighbourhood Nursery and Early Excellence.
We work closely with Sure Start and The National Childminding Association.
The past few years have been exciting and rewarding for staff, parents and children and we are looking forward to the future