There was cause for celebration at Field House Day Nursery in Buckingham as colleagues honoured beloved Nursery Practitioner, Sallyann Grantham, as she marked her milestone 30 year anniversary at the award-winning setting.
Having started in 1991, a decade before the Tingewick Road nursery was acquired by Childbase Partnership, Sallyann is Field House’s longest serving member of staff and has helped to positively shape the lives of hundreds of children in her care throughout her career, whilst witnessing the transformation of the original 15 space setting to 131 spaces with upcoming barn conversion and new outdoor play area.
To mark the special occasion, proud colleagues organised a ‘30 cards for 30 years’ initiative, where each day through November Sallyann receives a card from a colleague, past or present, penning memories and offering their congratulations, whilst Field House are also planning a celebration outside of nursery with team members from over the years, and planting a special tree outside in her honour.
From taking part in traditions and events including the annual Buckingham Christmas Parades with the children to helping local people in need with Field House food bank drives, the surrounding community has been hugely important to Sallyann, who has gone on to marry and have two children of her own, and is often stopped around town by former families from the setting who remember her fondly.
Raising money for worthy causes has also been integral to Sallyann’s time at Field House, from making her famous rocky road for nursery bake sales to taking part in team fundraisers including go-kart days, these efforts have helped contribute to the £3million and counting that Childbase Partnership have raised for charities including ‘Mind’, ‘Alzheimer’s Society’ and ‘Cancer Research UK’ over the past 30 years.
Field House Deputy Manager, Lucy Piosek explained;
“Everyone that works with or knows Sallyann knows how much Field House means to her and how much she means to all us here. She is far more than just a colleague and over the years has become a good friend to many people, including the parents.”
Speaking of the achievement, Sallyann said;
“I started working at Field House when it first opened as a nursery in 1991. 30 years later, I am still here and feel part of the brickwork. I have looked after so many children who I still see now, and their parents. Some of the children are now parents themselves. I have got so many happy memories of the children and the people I have worked with over the years. It has been amazing to watch the small nursery grow and change but still have the same Field House family feel. I can’t see myself being anywhere else, here’s to the next 30 years”.
We prioritise the importance of outdoor play at Cedars Day Nursery in Leighton Buzzard. All children at our Ofsted-rated ‘Outstanding’ nursery have access to our large, natural garden area on a daily basis as we recognise the impact that being outdoors has on a child’s social, emotional and physical development. The children enjoy planting vegetables and tasting their produce, served by our dedicated Nursery Chef.
Cedars Day Nursery, Mentmore Rd, Leighton Buzzard LU7 2PA
Tel: 01525 850200
Email: cedars.nursery@childbase.com
