Work Matters: Management Focus - To school and back

Springfield Lodge, a thriving nursery business with two 'outstanding' nurseries in Kent, is meeting local demand with its new operation, Schools Out! This out-of-school club and wraparound care provider caters for children up to the age of 11 with a service that has been lacking in the area.

Linda Berriman, manager at the Dartford nursery, says, 'Schools Out! embraces our established breakfast and after-school clubs held at both nurseries and additionally delivers holiday care. Up to 80 children can benefit from this.'

The breakfast and after-school club serves nine local schools and the nursery uses its own fleet of minibuses to collect and drop off children. It has entered into an agreement with a local school to provide a holiday club venue that is suitable for a wide age range of children.

'We have worked closely with the local communities and other professionals to identify the needs of children and families when it comes to wraparound care,' says Ms Berriman. 'Our after-school club provides a well-resourced and stimulating environment for younger and older children. One of our main aims is to fit in with families' lifestyles and remove some of the pressures they are under.'

Working with families and being responsive to their needs has been a primary focus for both the nurseries. The Dartford nursery was revamped with a brand new building in 2005. It subsequently increased its daycare registration to 175 children, with 50 for its out-of-school club. A year later the second nursery was launched in Swanscombe. It is currently registered for 104 children and has an after-school club which can accommodate 40.

Ms Berriman says, 'We took all the good bits of the design from Dartford and added some new ideas at Swanscombe. We are now building a discovery garden to complete the facilities we have there.'

Springfield Lodge also operates its own training centre, Springfield Education Training (SET), now based at the Swanscombe nursery with a satellite centre in Thanet. 'SET is accredited by EDI, CACHE and Edexcel to deliver training and we have an established partnership arrangement with West Kent College,' says Ms Berriman. 'We are very proud of the fact the centre has attained Investor in People status.'

Springfield Lodge has undoubtedly come a long way since it launched in 1989. With an overall team of 90 people covering areas including administration, accounts, housekeeping, caretaking and human resources, it says it has had to move with the times.

Ms Berriman says, 'It has been a great year for us and we have seen many changes, in terms of our practice and in the scope of our services. Both nurseries have gained the Kent Quality Mark and Ofsted outstandings, and we are now confirmed to be one of two nurseries in Kent to receive the Investors in People Silver award.'