The WCS is working in partnership with the London Borough of Barking andDagenham and the Fitzrovia Trust, a local community group in Camden. Thenew openings bring the number of WCS-run nurseries to 15, with two moredue to open between May and September this year.
The WCS aims to provide affordable community nurseries and education foryoung children. Gary Simpson, contracts manager, said, 'As anestablished charity and leading social enterprise, WCS has chosen toexpand its horizons by offering our services in other boroughs acrossGreater London for the first time since we started, back in 1903. As anorganisation, we would be happy to enter into partnership with anyborough that shares our commitment to high quality provision forchildren. Our main interest lay not only in expanding into newgeographical areas, but more crucially in evolving to meet the needs ofdiverse and vibrant communities wherever they can be found.'
Another expanding nursery chain is Blackpool-based Happy Days childcare,which opened its third branch in February in Thornton-Cleveleys,Lancashire. The 500,000 purpose-built nursery, called NorbreckHappy Days, caters for 60 children and plans to increase the number ofplaces to 100.
