FORMER primary school teacher and mother-of-four Jenny Robinson wanted to spend more time with her young children, while building upon her successful career. The result is a new day care nursery for pre-school children in Appleby.

She and her family made the dream come true by converting their new home into a day nursery, which is due to open in October.

When Jenny and Sean Robinson moved into the old vets house in Battlebarrow, from their home in Clifford Street, they realised the potential of the adjoining barn and set about making the necessary alterations to change it into a purpose-built two-storey children's day care centre Jenny Wren's Day Care Nursery.

The couple have been supported by a grant from the North West Development agency.

The upstairs nursery, for under-twos, has been designed to look more like a living room than a classroom, with a large sofa and toys displayed in baskets for the children to explore.

Downstairs is the over-twos' playroom, with areas and displays to stimulate play and promote learning from the foundation stage curriculum. An outside area will include a playhouse, a ride on toys and container gardening.

Jenny was brought up on her parents, June and Bill Sowerby's farm at Drybeck, just outside Appleby. She went to Appleby Grammar School and then, after completing a teacher training course at York, taught at Ivegill Primary School for five years. She was then appointed by the local education authority as a numeracy consultant, advising teachers throughout the county on the teaching of mathematics to young children.

Her last appointment was as senior teacher at Lowther Endowed School, Hackthorpe, where she taught the reception class and year one, only leaving to have a baby, Patrick.

Jenny said: "I really wanted to spend more time with Patrick and William before they started school and running our own nursery seemed to be the ideal solution. There is a demand for a day care nursery in Appleby and the building has lent itself to the conversion.

"It is an exciting challenge to set up and run a nursery. It is not a school and, although we will have a detailed curriculum to help develop pre- school skills, what I really want is for the children in our care to feel as secure and valued as they would at home.

"We will be in close contact with the parents at all times and will respond to their wishes for their child's care."

Sean Robinson hails from the North East and served in the Royal Navy for six years before moving to Penrith to work for Cumbria Constabulary.

The couple have four children. Jamie who is 14, and Hannah, aged 13, both attend Appleby Grammar School, William, who is three, will this month start at Appleby Primary School's foundation unit, joining his mum in the afternoons. Patrick, who is just 14 weeks old and was born in the middle of developing the business, will have a full-time place.

Jenny Wren's Day Care will cater for children from three months to four years, from Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm all-year-round and Jenny can be contacted on 017683-52575.