We are very pleased to bring you an overview of the work being done by our client, Claremont Nursery Co-operative t/a Childsplay Nursery. Located in Newcastle, the nursery has been a client of Torgersens for nearly ten years.
Childsplay Nursery was established in 1982 as a non-profit co-operative by a group of ten parents who wanted a voice in how their nursery operated. Now employing 40 staff, Childsplay offers full-day education and care to children from birth to five years. As a co-operative, the nursery places significant value on the relationship between staff and parents. Their joint aim is to provide high-quality learning environments and experiences for children.
The Childsplay approach
Childsplay Nursery is inspired by the Reggio Emilia learning approach. This focuses on children as competent learners, always deep in enquiry and curiosity. Children lead their own learning and staff co-research and extend their learning in partnership. The Childsplay ethos is to inspire children by providing learning opportunities all around them. Unique to the nursery is the in-depth transition period when a child first arrives, based on relationship-building between the Early Years Educator, parent and child.
As well as Forest School sessions and allotment experiences, Childsplay encourages intergenerational engagement to establish partnerships with older people in the community. This ensures that children are involved in building a community from an early age and that they are supported to reach their full potential.
Award winning
Childsplay recently won the Innovation Award at the 2024 North East Business Awards.
The challenge faced by Childsplay
As with many businesses, finances have been a challenge for the nursery since the pandemic. Issues over the last 12 months have included staffing difficulties, meeting the new living wage, and changes to legislation.
Diane Gregory, nursery manager, commented; ‘The announcement in the Budget that the 30-hour funded entitlement will be extended from three- and four-year-olds to children aged nine months has caused significant financial concerns for us. The funding doesn’t meet realistic hourly rates and so does not cover the costs we incur in offering an excellent educational service. A key area of focus for us is looking at ways to make this change work within our business model’.
Plans for the next 12 months
The nursery has laid out a clear set of objectives for 2025:
- To reach their financial recovery target of breaking even again in 3 years’ time
- To maintain their position as ‘an outstanding nursery provider’
- To sustain their capacity for children’s places and a strong waiting list
- To win the Nursery world award for Nursery of the Year
Sean Blackhall, Torgersens’ senior account manager said; ‘We wish the nursery all the very best with their plans for the coming year. Working with Childsplay has been inspirational – the team are determined to offer an excellent level of service to the parents and children. We’re here to support them in achieving their goals’.
Diane Gregory commented on the relationship with Torgersens; ‘Their customer relations have always been outstanding over the last 9 years that Childsplay have required their services. We find that all the staff at Torgersens act with the same high standard of care and good relations; responding quickly to ad-hoc queries. Each staff member that we contact always strives to help and support, they are all very friendly and present with a professional manner; I always feel I can trust in the information I receive and that Torgersens will always provide what is the best outcome for us.‘
For further information about Childsplay Claremont Nursery, please visit their website: https://www.childsplaynursery.org.uk/
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