Nursery News

Monday April 27, 2009

South Tyneside pre-school children attending Ashfield Court Nursery in the grounds of South Tyneside District Hospital, can now take advantage of a newly-introduced “Leaps and Bounds” programme designed to keep them fit and active, to develop their physical skills, and improve their confidence. 

Says nursery manager Leanne Howden: “The programme links well with the new Foundation Stage for Early Years.  It will benefit the children in numerous ways not only by developing their physical skills such as balance and agility, but also their vocabulary through the use of rhymes and action songs.  They will also learn to use a range of equipment, and to listen, learn, and remember instructions.”

Specifically designed by Tumble Tots (UK) Ltd for children from walking to school age, the “Leaps and Bounds” programme is delivered by the company’s fully trained and regularly assessed qualified team who provide feedback on the children’s progress to nursery managers and parents.

Parents of children attending the nursery have been quick to take advantage of the series of 10-week sessions offered by the nursery.  “This is the first time we have embarked on the programme and the positive response from parents has made it viable to introduce it,” adds Leanne.

Monday April 20th  2009

Two South Shields nursery nurses are celebrating promotion by their bosses at the town’s Stanhope Road nursery of locally-based Ashfield Nurseries and Early Learning Centres Ltd.

Karen Mattocks (34), whose home is in Widdrington Avenue, has been promoted to deputy manager of the nursery, while Nicola Calder (23), of Taylor Street, moves up to senior nursery nurse.

Both women have worked at the nursery for several years and have a number of qualifications in child care and administration.

“As we are both ambitious to make further progress up the career ladder we are studying for additional qualifications to help that along,” said Karen.

Stanhope Road nursery is one of three owned and operated by Ashfield Nurseries and ELC Ltd.  The others are at Low Fell, and in the grounds of South Tyneside District Hospital.  Promotion from within is an active company policy which recently resulted in two former nursery nurses being raised to managerial positions.

Happy smiles of nursery nurses Karen Mattocks (left) and Nicola Calder as they celebrate their promotions.

Thursday April 9, 2009

Sharon Hobbs (31), of Whiteleas, South Shields, has been appointed manager of the town’s Stanhope Road nursery, one of three on Tyneside owned and operated by South Shields-based Ashfield Nurseries and Early Learning Centres Ltd.

She succeeds former manager Angela Thomas, who has moved further up the Tyne to be manager of a sister nursery at Low Fell. 

Sharon began her career as a nursery nurse in 1996 and has a number of qualifications for child care, food hygiene, and administration.

She started at Stanhope Road nursery before moving on to the Ashfield Court nursery in the grounds of South Tyneside District Hospital where she later became deputy manager.

She made a brief but unsatisfactory attempt at a career change, and swiftly returned to her first love of nursery nursing by re-joining former colleagues at Stanhope Road.

“This is my first post as a manager and it is exciting and challenging,” says Sharon, whose husband Chris is a draughtsman.  “I have a first-class team around me and I’m looking forward to my new role with eager
anticipation.”

New manger Sharon Hobbs gets down to some administration work at Ashfield Nursery.

ANGELA MOVES ON

A well-known and popular figure at Ashfield Nursery in Stanhope Road, South Shields, 30-year-old Angela Thomas (pictured) has been appointed manager of the sister nursery at Low Fell.

Angela, mum to two youngsters aged 8 and 5 years, spent six years at Stanhope Road, the last three as manager.

She leaves South Shields with a measure of sadness tinged with pride.

“I was very happy at Stanhope Road but any regrets at leaving have been softened by the many messages of thanks and good luck from parents and others,” she says.

Monday March 16, 2009

Leanne Howden (31), of South Shields, manager of Ashfield Court Nursery and ELC in the grounds of South Tyneside District Hospital, has become the first member of the team at the company’s three nurseries to qualify as a graduate leader.

The Government stipulates that every private nursery should have one graduate in place by 2015 but Ashfield Court is exceeding that expectation with a further six of its employees also starting studies to achieve graduate leadership status.  Another member of the staff, Emma Hughes, is working towards her foundation degree.  Leanne will act as guide and mentor to those seeking to follow her example.

Leanne, who has worked at Ashfield Court nursery since it opened in 2002, studied for her degree at Sunderland University. It took three years of part-time study.

Brian Powell, a director of Ashfield Nurseries and Early Learning Centres Ltd which has two other nurseries, one at Stanhope Road, South Shields and at Low Fell, Gateshead, says: “The training of our nursery staff to graduate level is deserving of their commitment to their vocation, and it will improve even further the quality of the care of the children in our charge.”    

Thursday December 18, 2008

Toddlers at Ashfield Nursery in Stanhope Road, South Shields, had a surprise visit from Santa at their Christmas concert.

After entertaining the audience of family and friends with renditions of ‘Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer’, ‘When Santa Got Stuck Up The Chimney’, and ‘Santa Claus Is Coming To Town’… in he walked, much to their surprise and delight.

Pudsey Bear found himself admonished by toddlers at Ashfield Court nursery, South Shields, when he joined them to help bake cakes to be sold in aid of Children in Need.

Pudsey spilled the flour and chocolate contents of his mixing bowl, then mischievously spread them all over the table.  This shocked his three and four-year-old fellow “bakers” who told him off for being “very naughty”.

But when they learned the “naughtiness” was for the benefit of the BBC television cameras covering the event, the children joined in the fun.  Nursery manager Leanne Howden said afterwards:  “Keeping everything neat and tidy is a feature of activities at the nursery and the children were truly shocked when Pudsey deliberately upset his mixing bowl.  They joined in the mayhem which followed, however, and thoroughly enjoyed themselves.  Now we will have to start all over again to bake the cakes.”

The cakes will be sold to parents to raise cash for Children in Need.

Three-year-olds Joseph Hunter and Jack Turk are horrified by Pudsey Bear spilling his cake mix. Kairon McKie (right) thinks it’s funny but Gabe Miller couldn’t care less as he carries on stirring his mix.

Tuesday November 11, 2008

Three-year-old toddlers at Ashfield Nursery, South Shields, are so determined to look right for Children in Need they held an impromptu rehearsal of their Pudsey Bear outfits.

Pictured left to right are Riley Ramsey, Faith O’Hara, Mohak Dhakal, and Sophie Stephenson. Pudsey Bear didn’t need to rehearse but insisted on being photographed in the arms of Faith.

The nursery, at Stanhope Road is carrying out a number of fundraising events for the charity.