There was cause for celebration at Lavenders Day Nursery in Bedford as the team of Early Years professionals came together to honour their beloved colleague and Nursery Practitioner, Asha Banghard, who marked an incredible 25-year milestone at the setting.
Asha began her journey at the Bushmead Avenue setting in 2001 and has since played a vital role in positively shaping the lives of hundreds of children, supporting their learning, development and wellbeing across generations of families in the local community.
Widely admired by colleagues and families, Asha’s dedication extends far beyond the nursery doors. In 2024, she was proudly presented with a Community Champion Award in front of thousands at Childbase Partnership’s annual awards ceremony, recognising her outstanding commitment to charitable causes and ‘giving back’ within the local area.
Within the nursery, Asha is renowned for her highly anticipated cooking masterclasses. Each month, she invites children to choose inspiring recipes linked to cultural celebrations and seasonal events. With her expert guidance, children learn important kitchen skills and safety practices while creating delicious dishes such as vegetable pakoras and gingerbread biscuits, bringing learning to life through hands-on experiences.
To celebrate Asha’s remarkable quarter-century career in childcare, colleagues presented her with gifts and bouquets of flowers, alongside a tax-free bonus reward payment and an extra paid week of annual leave. The celebrations also included a special lunch treat hosted by her team, followed by a moment of reflection as everyone enjoyed Asha’s favourite dessert, pavlova, while sharing treasured memories from the past 25 years at Lavenders.
Lavenders Day Nursery Manager, Dizzie Newberry, said:
“Asha is truly the heart of Lavenders. Her warmth, passion and unwavering dedication to the children and families we support is inspirational. She has touched so many lives over the past 25 years, and we are incredibly proud to celebrate this milestone with her. Asha’s commitment to nurturing children and giving back to the community perfectly reflects our values, and we feel very lucky to have her as part of our team.”
