Ruskin House School, a family-run childcare business in Herne Hill, hashad men on the staff for the past ten years.
For Howard Blackman, age 25, who started at the nursery earlier thismonth, it is his first job in childcare. He said, 'I love interactingwith the children. They never fail to make me smile.'
Manager Kandice Keenan, daughter of owner Dawn Green, who set up thenursery in 1985 when Kandice was a baby, said, 'I think you would belucky to find such a diverse setting as ours. I feel it is of realimportance for the children to have the opportunity of interacting withboth male and female nursery nurses.'
Chris Parker, 37, has been working at the nursery nearly a year and isgraduating with an NVQ level 2 this week.
He said, 'I'd worked in retail and liked the interaction with people.Then an opportunity came up in childcare - my wife knew someone whoworked at the nursery. I thought I'd give it a go and I love it!'
He said he now wants to go on to study child development and psychology.'I find it fascinating how children learn, how they develop friendships.I don't see myself becoming a manager; I want to stay in the hands-onclassroom environment. I like the fact that you get the chance to becreative, that children are constantly asking questions, and that youlearn something new from them and from your colleagues every day.'
Anthony O'Callaghan, 18, started at the nursery in February. He said,'The children are an inspiration and make it a joy for me to come towork.'
The longest-serving male worker, Lewis Moore, 27, who has been at RuskinHouse for ten years, said that was like 'a home from home'.
