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Childbase celebrates ‘Best of the Best’ Award winners

Pictured: Childbase Founder and Chairman, Mike Thompson (Left) TV personality Stephen Mulhern and Childbase Chief Executive Officer, Emma Rooney (far right) with Award Winners.

‘We believe in you, and you always deliver’ was the message for employee-owners as Childbase Partnership celebrated another record year and their ‘Best of the Best’ annual award winners.

At the largest turnout ever for a Childbase Partnership conference and awards evening, over 1,000 employee owners from 44 award winning day nurseries in England celebrated a year in which they were named a top UK Best Workplace in two major awards.

At the Rainforest-themed events in Coventry, Emma Rooney, Childbase Partnership Chief Executive Officer said:

“Our success does not happen by chance – YOU make it possible. We don’t stand still at Childbase – we want more for the children in our care and more for each other.

Our ‘People first – No compromises’ approach delivers results and each of us as employee owners has a role to play in building on these achievements. There is no limit to what we can achieve by working together.”

She said the current focus at the company remains on providing targeted support to help colleagues meet ‘cost of living’ challenges this year.

The results include high levels of customer satisfaction – parent 10/10 reviews earned the company a Daynurseries ‘Top 20’ nursery group in the UK award – and eight Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ ratings in the latest round of inspections.

Nursery World ‘Working with Parents’ Award winner, Childbase was also the only early years provider named a Top 10 Sunday Times Best Place to Work 2023. It was highly commended in the ‘Best Places to work for 16-34 years olds’ category and ‘Excellent’ in all six areas of areas of assessment.

Childbase Partnership was also rated number 14 in the UK Great Place to Work Awards 2023.

TV personality Stephen Mulhern performed magic tricks and involved conference goers in a number of fun games and presented ‘Best of the Best’ Trophies to annual award winners at the evening gala event.

The Rainforest themed events were described as a perfect expression of the decade’s long commitment by Childbase Partnership, an Eco-Schools’ Early Years Provider of the Year 2023, to achieving best environmental practice.

Both events were designed to be as ‘carbon neutral’ as possible with the small amount of carbon that couldn’t be addressed, because they were indoor events, offset with contributions to certified climate projects.

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Childbase Partnership named a ‘Top 20’ nursery group in the UK

Childbase Partnership has scooped a major award after parent praise for its 44-day nurseries in England ensured a top spot amongst the very best Early Years providers in the UK.

Thousands of parent recommendations for the best Ofsted rated ‘Outstanding’ and ‘Good’ early years settings, were scrutinised to create the league tables for Daynurseries, the leading online Early Years directory and industry website, Annual Awards.

Childbase Partnership has five day nurseries with perfect 10/10 scores – Seabrook in Luton, Crescent in Birmingham, Pennypot in Surrey, Greengables in Berkshire, and Rowan Tree in Hertfordshire – and over half the group is currently on 9.9/10 based on parent recommendations and praise.

Celebrating the Daynurseries Award, Amie Draper, Deputy Manager of the Ofsted-rated ‘Outstanding’ Crescent Day Nursery in Calthorpe Road, Edgbaston, said:

“We really couldn’t be more delighted or proud because it is our very busy parents who made this award possible. They are incredibly supportive of Crescent and instrumental in helping us ensure that every child gets the best possible nursery experience. That is why their praise and recommendations mean so much.”

The award is based on the nursery’s online recommendations from parents, relatives and guardians of children in day nurseries in the employee owned Childbase Partnership which topped both the Sunday Times Best Places to Work and UK Great Place to work Awards this year.

Amanda Hopkins, Daynurseries.co.uk Reviews Manager said:

“Childbase has shown that its nurseries are having a huge impact on the wellbeing and development of children. We would like to congratulate them on being a top nursery group, as rated by parents! We feel it is a real achievement to be recognised for being in the Top 20 nursery groups by children’s families and carers.”

Daynurseries.co.uk rated nurseries – there are over 14,000 in the UK – based on customer reviews on overall standard, facilities and outside space, learning, resources and equipment and ICT, care, activities, staff, food and nutrition, management, cleanliness, safeguarding as well as value for money.

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Woodlands Day Nursery Kitchen Team awarded ‘Elite’ hygiene status

There was cause for celebration at Woodlands Day Nursery in Milton Keynes as the setting received the ‘Elite Award’ from the Food Standards Agency, the highest ranking in the scheme, following another five star rating and inspection of the premises.

After reviewing key areas such as food handling, storage and preparation, the Ofsted-rated ‘Outstanding’ Day Nursery on Byerly Place was awarded the ‘Elite’ status, having received three consecutive five star ratings, with praise going to Nursery Chef, Tracy Miller and Kitchen Assistant, Emily Snook for their attention to detail and rigorous processes in place.

Whilst the ‘Elite Award’ was newly introduced by ‘Scores on the Doors’ in 2021, Tracy boasts a record of nine successive five-star inspections at Woodlands, dating back to May 2011.

Woodlands Day Nursery Chef, Tracy Miller explained;

“We are thrilled to receive the Elite Award as we are hugely passionate about the food we serve in nursery and pride ourselves on the high standards we maintain. It’s incredibly rewarding to hear the feedback from the staff, parents and most importantly the children, as to how much they enjoy the meals that are being provided.”

Food plays a key role in daily activities at the setting, from celebrating diversity in marking multicultural festivals with traditional ingredients, to growing herbs and vegetables in the garden outside, where children also learn key maths, science and conservation skills.

The nursery is also accredited with the sought-after ‘Food for Life Served Here’ award, which acknowledges the use of ethically sourced ingredients in home cooked meals; including the children’s home-grown produce, in addition to use of suppliers committed to environmentally friendly and ethical production.

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Childbase Partnership wins top customer service award

Pictured L-R: Awards host and children’s TV presenter, Emma-Louise Amanshia, Melissa Parisi, Quality Manager at Green Park Day Nursery, Katie Rose, Childbase Partnership Marketing Executive and awards judge.

‘Going above and beyond’ in supporting parents with children in the company’s 44-day nurseries in the South of England, has won Childbase Partnership a prestigious award in the Nursery World Annual Awards 2022.

Already rated ‘World Class’ and a top UK workplace for over 13 years, the Newport Pagnell-based, employee-owned Childbase Partnership picked up the ‘Working with Parents’ trophy at a gala event in London.

Particular praise was given to the company’s exclusive parent portal giving parents access to ‘out of hours’ expert support, resources, and on-line events designed to address a range of issues arising from the Covid-19 lockdowns impacting children’s communication and language, physical, social and emotional development.

Childbase Partnership Operations Director, Louise Hill, said:

“We couldn’t be more delighted with this recognition. Strong, collaborative parent partnerships are vital to our efforts to successfully meet the needs of every child in our care and ensure they not only thrive but reach their full potential.”

Since its launch in 2021, all sessions offered via the parent portal are fully booked each month with over 1,500 parents so far accessing webinars and workshops with an external specialist teacher and educational therapist.

These sessions provide training and strategies on, for example, managing behaviour, Autistic Spectrum Disorder and former and current front line emergency responders provide First Aid training.

The library has over 21 original books, to view on-line or download, detailing the approach in nursery and offering guidance on milestone events like the introduction of a new sibling, bereavement, and moving house as well as behaviour related to toilet training, biting, fussy eating, and sleep routines.

Bespoke story books, illustrated by a nursery practitioner, and fun events and activities promote environmental awareness.

“The Childbase@home website is a fantastic perk, so much information available at the click of a button,” is just one of the many parent reviews of the site.

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Top environmental award for Lavenders Day Nursery pre-schoolers

After receiving a prestigious ‘Green Flag’ award in 2020 as part of the international Eco-Schools scheme, children and practitioners from Lavenders Day Nursery in Bedford were delighted to learn they had gained the esteemed accreditation once more, with a distinction.

The accolade, which is the highest achievement in the programme, has been awarded to the Ofsted-rated ‘Outstanding’ setting on Bushmead Avenue, following a sustained environmental project which involves children of all ages, from babies using recycled shredder paper for sensory activities, to older children creating bug hotels for insect observations and growing vegetables which are then used in meals by Nursery Chefs.

Activities, which also include crafting with natural and recycled materials, are designed to promote the development of personal, social and emotional life skills as well as introducing the children to basic maths, science and environmental messages.

Following their submission, Lavenders were commended by assessors who praised their passionate eco-committee, consisting of children who drive forward ideas for change, as well as colleagues Karolina Rajkowska, Angie O’Boyle, Rachel Strangwick and Heather Bull.

Delighted Lavenders Quality Manager, Oli Baucutt, said the award was the result of years of continuous dedication by staff and children, working together in the programme, which involves millions of children across 70 countries.

“We aim to give children the best possible future here at Lavenders and looking after the environment plays a huge part in that. The respect and care the children have for the nature around them is inspiring to see and bodes well for their adult lives”, he explained.

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Top environmental award for Devonshire Day Nursery pre-schoolers

After receiving a prestigious ‘Green Flag’ award in 2020 as part of the international Eco-Schools scheme, children and practitioners from Devonshire Day Nursery in Chiswick were delighted to learn they had gained the esteemed accreditation once more, with a distinction.

The accolade, which is the highest achievement in the programme, has been awarded to the Ofsted-rated ‘Outstanding’ setting on Bennett Street, following a sustained environmental awareness project which involves children of all ages, from babies using recycled shredder paper for sensory activities, to older children creating bug hotels for insect observations and growing vegetables which are then picked and used in meals by talented Nursery Chefs.

Following their submission, Devonshire were commended by assessors who praised their passionate eco-committee, consisting of children who drive forward ideas for change, as well as initiatives that embed environmental messages into everyday routines.

An overjoyed Devonshire Manager, Emmy Avery, said the award was the result of years of continuous dedication by staff and children, working together in the programme, which involves millions of children across 70 countries.

“We aim to give children the best possible future here at Devonshire and looking after the environment plays a huge part in that. The respect and care the children have for the nature around them is lovely to see and bodes well for their adult lives”, she explained.

In a letter to Devonshire, an Eco-Schools representative said;

“We are sure that the wonderful work you have done to empower your young people to make healthy food choices must be an immense source of pride for you all. Your incredible efforts this year and the excellent application you have submitted are to be commended and we congratulate you on earning a thoroughly-deserved Green Flag with Distinction.”

Category: Awards

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