Nursery World - Taking the knocks

A children's centre with the humblest of beginnings is profiled by Judith Napier Six years ago, Alex Appleby identified a derelict property she thought might be suitable for her Sheffield-based Tiddlywinks childcare group. She recalls, 'We thought, paint it and put down a carpet, make it habitable. I had no idea about business plans and money and leases.'

Six years ago, Alex Appleby identified a derelict property she thought might be suitable for her Sheffield-based Tiddlywinks childcare group. She recalls, 'We thought, paint it and put down a carpet, make it habitable. I had no idea about business plans and money and leases.'

Now, after a hard-won battle for 1.2m funding, she can hardly believe the transformation. 'I walk around the building, touching the walls. I could write a book about the journey we've been on, getting the building and the pitfalls on the way.'

The efforts of Alex, her friend and Tiddlywinks co-founder Lauretta Ledger, and the entire Arbourthorne community have been recognised in the Daycare Trust's Partners in Excellence awards. Earlier this year Arbourthorne Community Primary School and Arbourthorne Tiddlywinks scooped an award in the Integrating Care and Early Learning category.

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