Nursery chain taking over as children's centre moves out
Katy Morton
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
A nursery is to open in the premises of a Sure Start Children's Centre that is due to move.
The Magic Rocket Day Nursery and Pre-school will take over the lease from Footsteps Children's Centre, based at the Park centre in Knowle, Bristol, when it relocates to become part of an expanded service in September.
The Park centre, the former site of Merrywood School, also contains a sports centre, conference and IT suites. Courses are offered for adults and young people.
This will be the second setting for owner Janice Dewdney, who runs a successful nursery in Kingswood, South Gloucestershire, and said she would ensure the same standards are met at Knowle.
Ms Dewdney said she was approached by Bristol City Council, which owns the centre, to run a nursery from the premises on the basis of glowing reports about the Kingswood Nursery.
She said, 'I already had plans to open a new nursery before being approached by the owners of the Park.'
Her existing setting, Magic Rocket Day Nursery and Pre-School in Kingswood, opened in April 2009. It has received five stars for food hygiene, the Healthy Lifestyle through Childcare 2009 and 2010 awards, and the Eco Schools bronze and silver awards for recycling.
'In the future I hope to have a small chain of nurseries throughout Gloucestershire and Bristol,' said Mrs Dewdney.
The new nursery in Knowle will offer full daycare for 60 children and a creche, and create 30 jobs in a deprived area.
Jenna Wood has been appointed nursery manager.
To create continuity between the two settings the new nursery will use the same caterers and have the same meal times and staff will wear the same uniforms. It will also work towards achieving Eco Schools awards.
Mrs Dewdney, who is also on the board of trustees for the charity 4Children, has been invited to attend the Queen's garden party on 20 July in recognition of her lifetime work with children.
Her work includes founding the Bakers Ground Play Area Action Group in 2003, raising £100,000 for a fully inclusive children's play area in Stoke Gifford, Bristol.
She was also awarded an Outstanding rating by Ofsted in 2005 while working as a childminder and featured in its list of leading childcare providers in England.
She is currently studying for an early years degree and intends to work towards EYP status.
