One year on from its launch, Rainbow Smiles nursery in West Dulwich, London, is thriving. The large Victorian house has undergone a spectacular make-over, with a total refurbishment amounting to £550,000. This includes £400,000 on the building revamp and £150,000 on the nursery itself, including furniture, equipment and resources.
Owner Tariq Ayyub says that initially he had to fight opposition from local residents to redevelop the property as a nursery, and their influence has resulted in the local authority limiting its capacity to 32 children, although it is registered with Ofsted for 45.
He says, 'We identified that there was a significant shortage of provision in this area, particularly for under-twos. Parents who originally signed up to the nursery stuck with us, although the opening was delayed in 2008. We are delighted they were able to see its potential when they originally viewed it, when it was little more than a building site.'
The refurbishment has maintained the original features of the house to keep a homely feel throughout. At the same time there is a big emphasis on modern technology. Both the ground floor baby and toddler area, and the first floor pre-school area, have network-linked interactive Smart Boards.
'These can be used as either whiteboards, or computer or DVD screens,' says Mr Ayyub. 'In the toddler area the screens can be used just like the two computers in the pre-school, without the use of the mouse. This is a big advantage for children under three, as mouse control is a limiting factor for them and it is easier to touch the screen.'
The outdoor area of the nursery is scheduled to be completed by mid-May, and is divided into four areas. This includes space for open play which has been designed with a road, zebra crossing and parking bays, while the lawn area features a large ornamental cherry tree. The vegetable garden is being developed to include a digging patch, while a sand and water play area will be combined with the classroom.
Rainbow Smiles currently employs 13 full-time and six part-time staff. Mr Ayyub says, 'Potential employees go through a three-stage interview process, and we aim to gauge not only experience but how passionate they really are about the job. With the need to meet Ofsted ratios, recruitment is one of our biggest challenges. As the number of children grows we want to ensure that we employ the right calibre of staff and not be rushed into making quick decisions.'
He adds, 'Ultimately the success of the nursery will depend on the support we receive from parents. Word of mouth has travelled far about the nursery since we opened, and on this basis we intend to go from strength to strength.'
www.rainbowsmilesltd.co.uk
