Stacey Dean submits plans for 42 children next to Twycross Zoo

Plans have been submitted to build a bilingual nursery for 42 children next to twycross zoo near Norton-Juxta-Twycross, with the site set close to the entrance. If Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council approves the proposal, the nursery would be the third bilingual site run by sisters Stacey Dean, Kerry Goodacre and Rachel Barsby-Robinson.

Dean family nursery plans

The small business already operates two other nurseries in North West Leicestershire, and Stacey Dean said the new proposal is still in the early stages. She said: "It's a family-run business and we were not planning to open any more nurseries, but with the demand we've experienced, we want to be able to serve more families."

The planned centre would take children from three months to school age. Staff would speak to them in Spanish and English, and children would be encouraged to use both languages when they are ready.

Twycross Zoo site proposal

The plans for the zoo-adjacent site include a nursery block, a home education building and a kitchen. Dean said the children would visit the zoo most days as part of the experience, tying the nursery into the day-to-day life of the site rather than using it only as an occasional trip.

A Twycross Zoo spokesperson said the zoo is always exploring new ways to connect children and families with nature, wildlife and outdoor learning. The spokesperson added: "We are currently looking at a number of potential future opportunities across our site, including early years learning, which we believe could align strongly with our wider educational and conservational mission."

Hinckley and Bosworth Council

The application now sits with Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, which will decide whether the early-stage plans can move ahead. For families seeking a place, the key practical change is straightforward: the proposal would add 42 more nursery spaces beside twycross zoo, with bilingual care built into the offer from the start.