A place of life for young children
The Saint-Raphaël Nursery, located in Rocourt in Belgium, welcomes 24 children under the age of seven in a safe and stimulating environment. This Specialized Early Childhood Care Service (SASPE), part of the ACIS institutions, provides a real place to live where multidisciplinary teams ensure care, educational support, activities, and follow-up on family relationships. “The Nursery is truly a place of life for our children,” says director Anne Willequet. “The teams look after every aspect of their daily lives, from their physical and psychological well-being to their schooling and activities.”
An urgent need for safety and comfort
One of the terraces had an unstable, cracked, and too-low guardrail for the older children. In addition, two of the three exterior awnings were no longer functioning. The Foundation stepped in to meet this need. “We prioritized our objectives so that the children could move around safely without constantly needing an adult’s attention,” explains the director. “It became essential to replace the guardrail and change the awnings to ensure sun protection.”
Improvements designed for the children’s well-being
The new guardrail was raised by 40 cm and built with micro-perforated panels, allowing air and light to pass through while ensuring maximum safety. The new awnings now provide almost full coverage of the terrace. “The children can now fully use the terrace in complete safety. For institutionalized children like those at the Nursery, it is essential to have access to outdoor spaces that foster their motor development, their growth, and their exploration of different types of play, such as learning to ride a bike,” the director points out.
A valuable partnership
The director emphasizes the importance of collaboration: “The support from the Foundation has been crucial. They were present at every stage, both in terms of availability and exchanging ideas. We also received technical advice to define the right methodology and choose the right materials. This teamwork has produced a beautiful result for the children.”
She concludes: “We can only thank the John Cockerill Foundation for this wonderful collaboration in support of the children staying at our Nursery.”
Thanks to this initiative, the Saint-Raphaël Nursery now has a safe, pleasant, and stimulating outdoor space to support the development and well-being of its young residents.
