Buffer Bear to open 25 nurseries
The nursery chain Buffer Bear is set to double in size this year, with the opening of 20 more Neighbourhood Nurseries and five more on-site nurseries with the National Health Service across England. This makes an increase of 1,591 new places for the group, which was ranked 11th in size in the UK in the winter 2003 issue of Nursery Chains.
This makes an increase of 1,591 new places for the group, which was ranked 11th in size in the UK in the winter 2003 issue of Nursery Chains.
Last month saw the official opening of Moulsecoomb Neighbourhood Nursery in Brighton, East Sussex, with local basketball players the Brighton Bears joining in the celebrations. The 43-place nursery offers full daycare and stay-and-play sessions for two-year-olds and also wraparound care for nursery and reception class pupils at Moulsecoomb Primary School next door.
Whitehawk Neighbourhood Nursery, based in Brighton's Valley Social Centre, celebrated its first anniversary last month. It offers 27 places plus wraparound care for the nursery class at nearby Whitehawk Infant School. The centre's other facilities include a community cafe and after-school club.
Both nurseries are run in partnership with Brighton and Hove Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership and eb4U, which supports places for children with special needs by funding the additional posts needed for one-to-one support.
Buffer Bear managing director Dr Kay Turner said, 'Our plans are still concentrating almost entirely on Neighbourhood Nurseries and the NHS.
'It's obvious to me after talking to parents that the nurseries are meeting the needs of the community. It's very different from a purely commercial venture.'
