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Sisters Kayleigh and Ellie Driscoll were new to the world of business when they acquired and turned around a failing day nursery in September 2022 and went on to successfully work with the local community to expand twice in the following 18 months and provide much-needed childcare places, including flexibility for shift workers.
The sisters had a long-term goal of owning a family-run nursery. Ellie has worked in childcare since she was 16, previously area managing six different settings. Kayleigh has a long history in child protection, working in various roles within the police.
With one of the directors working for the emergency services, they were acutely aware of the struggles that shift workers face when it comes to childcare. They also have the capability of opening almost 24 hours a day, allowing them to offer extremely early starts and late finishes to parents whose working patterns don’t conform to normal nursery hours. Kayleigh and Ellie acknowledge that this flexibility brings challenges of implementing shift work and constantly reviewing staffing demands throughout the month, but it is welcomed by local families.
While the flexible opening hours are a USP, a focus remains on children’s development, strong parent partnerships and staff wellbeing. The rebranded setting not only protected five employees’ jobs and 24 children’s places but was running at full capacity within 12 months and has increased to employing 19 staff with 113 children. The sisters have filled the spaces that were vacant prior to their takeover, but also doubled the nursery’s occupancy.
The area Precious Times is based in has seen the closure of a number of settings, meaning the demand for childcare has increased. They have gone on to open two more settings in the area, first by applying to run a packaway setting from the hall at their local church, which was almost at full capacity after the first term, and then by putting forward a successful business case to turn a vacant two-bedroom house in church grounds into a nursery. This opened in April 2024 with an occupancy of 93 children.
The increase to the staff team has enabled Precious Times to build strong relationships with apprenticeship schemes and further education.
Expansion into the church has also allowed them to further integrate with the community, including children participating in groups such as Knit and Chat and choir practice.
HIGHLY COMMENDED
U1R Thanet Nursery – Ramsgate, Kent
Thanet was crying out for a new nursery that would accept children younger than two, so local families were thrilled when U1R Thanet opened its doors in March 2023 to children as young as three months old, meaning siblings could also attend. Since then it has expanded to provide care for 180 families, with many more currently on the waiting list.
The nursery is based in a warehouse, transformed into a bespoke homely setting, on an industrial estate that is accessible from many local towns and with ample parking to make the morning calmer for everyone.
The owners are looking to expand the business and open more rooms, or even branch out to a new space.
FINALISTS
Canopy Children’s Nurseries – Nationwide
Male Childcare & Teaching Jobs – Nationwide
Wild at Heart – Driffield, East Yorkshire
CRITERION
For a new launch of, or significant expansion to, an early years business or service since 1 January 2023.
