Staff at an independent nursery in West Bridgford are celebrating to mark its 35th anniversary. The White House Day Nursery, on Bridgford Road, has been described by parents as like ‘one big family’ with ‘wonderful’ staff.
Married couple Dawn, 55, and Ian Wharrad, 61, first opened the nursery in 1988 with 40 children at the site and since then it has grown. “It’s been quite a journey," said Dawn.
"We started off registering for 40 children, we were the second private day nursery in West Bridgford. We are one of the last remaining independents. A lot of them have been taken over by chains now. We’re quite fiercely proud of our independent [status].
Do you think all residential roads should have a 20mph speed limit? Let us know
“We’ve just grown over the years and some of our team have been with us for over 20 years now. We have a really good blend and a real family feel, it’s lovely, so proud of it. We’ve been here for 35 years and we just thought it would be a great time to have a party."
On Saturday, July 1, they were celebrating the 35th anniversary and joined by Nottingham Forest footballer Alex Mighten, a former nursery pupil, as well as the Mayor of Rushcliffe, Councillor Debbie Mason.
Dawn continued: “Everybody’s come out of lockdown and the sector has found it a struggle, like a lot of businesses have, especially small independents. We just think let's celebrate."
The nursery has recently had some improvements, an urban forest school has been added on what used to be their car park. The new addition adds another dimension of play for the children, and Dawn says ‘you learn as much outside as you do inside’.
Dawn added: “We’ve got babies, little ones in our baby room and we’ve got an under-three's area where our lovely children are emerging with their walking and language skills. Then we’ve got a preschool area where we’re getting them all independent and ready to go off on to their next stage of learning school.
“We also run an out of school club that we set up 22 years ago. We do before and after school and we also do holiday care, really if you want, up until they go to senior school.”
She then praised her wonderful staff members, adding: “We’ve got a lovely chef, we do all of our own fresh food - it’s a really happy, lovely nursery. I am really proud of my team because they make the nursery at the end of the day. They are brilliant.
“It’s just a lovely happy atmosphere. It’s a wonderful achievement and I couldn’t do without the wonderful team we have got.”
Suzanne Wright, a parent of a child who is in the preschool at the nursery, has praised Dawn, Ian and the staff members for the family atmosphere they bring to the nursery. She said: “I know this sounds like a cliché but they genuinely feel like an extension of our family. It always feels like everyone there, you don’t just know the pre-school staff, you know everybody in the building.
"They move the staff around sometimes so that your children get to know other caregivers there. They’re just so super friendly. Quite a few members of staff have been there more than 10 years, some have been there 20 years.
“You have that consistency of people who have been there a long time, but you also have younger members of staff as well, who come in and they bring something new and they're all learning. It feels like you're all just a part of one big family.
“Not just the people who are looking after your children, but the chef, chef Callum, I’ve actually never met him but my son comes home and talks about him and talks about what chef Callum has made for them. The kids get to talk to chef Callum and tell them what they want.
"And handyman Tim, again he’s not someone I’ve ever met but he’s someone that goes in and does some odd jobs and handy work there. Again, all of the children talk about him as he is brought in and is a part of the family as well."
Suzanne continued: “Everyone just really cares from Dawn and Ian as owners to the individuals looking after your children, to the chef and handyman, everyone just really cares about giving your child the best experience.
“At the end of the day as a parent you just want your kids to be happy and both of my children have been to the White House, they’re much happier there then they are at home - they have a blast.”
