Children at Farm View day nursery in Spencers Wood got ready for Spring with help from Shinfield and Spencers Wood councillors Jackie Rance and Stuart Munro last week.
Owned by Wise Owls Childcare, the nursery provides a setting where children are able to explore their natural surroundings, and develop a respect for the world around them.
During their visit, councillors Rance and Munro met with nursery manager Nina Hollier and her team, they engaged in activities with the children and learned about the challenges nurseries expect to face due to the increasing demand with the Government’s childcare funding scheme for children as young as nine months old.
Councillor Rance said: “Looking back, I realised that for the whole hour I was there, not a single child was mithering, crying or being irritable which shows, to my mind, how happy and comfortable each one is.
“That is a huge credit to the team, and an impressive asset.”
Wise Owls owner Tanya Galitzine was delighted to host the councillors, and discuss the pressing issues confronting the childcare sector.
She said: “As a working parent, I fully endorse initiatives that enable both parents to pursue their careers.
“However, we do expect that the growing need for childcare will place additional pressure on the industry due to a shortage in qualified childcare practitioners.
“We are making significant investments in our employees by introducing progressive sick pay benefits, launching a loyalty program, and implementing a qualification program to continuously advance and retain our exceptional teams.”
Councillor Rance encouraged the staff at the nursery.
She said: “Keep on doing the magical work for all those children who will be secure and happy in their childhood which will set them up for the move to school, and for life.”
