Nursery World - Nursery revives after row

New management has helped a Hampshire nursery recover 18 months after more than half the staff left their jobs during a dispute with its director.

The former Poppins Early Learning Centre became Hopscotch Day Nursery on 22 February, retaining all seven staff who had worked under the previous manager.

Founder and director of Hopscotch Day Nurseries Freya Derrick operates two other sites in Gosport. A nursery and a pre-school opened in 2006 and 2007. The new setting in a listed building remained open throughout the takeover and has since undergone major refurbishment.

In 2006, 11 members of Poppins staff handed in their notice after clashing with nursery director Richard Lewis (News, 7 December 2006). Mr Lewis's partner, Jamie Ashwanden, allegedly handed over his side of the business, and 14 members of the original 19 staff members had left by the 2007 New Year. Ms Derrick worked to buy it from July 2007.

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