Little Treasures Nursery is celebrating after their efforts to be environmentally friendly have been recognised with a place in the final of the prestigious national NMT Nursery Awards. They hope to be a winner of the Green Nursery Award at next month’s award ceremony, presented by TV personality Keith Duffy in front of an audience of 600 guests.
As one of finalists in their category, the decision will rest with a panel of three independent judges.
They are also a finalist in the Regional Green Business Award with north east press, also in October.
Owner Deborah Troup opened Little Treasures Nursery in 2000. She now has more than 55 children, from babies to eight year olds, registered at the nursery and cared for by a team of nursery nurses and early years practitioners.
“Everyone is thrilled to be a finalist,” she said. “We have worked very hard to make the nursery environmentally friendly and the children, parents and staff all contribute to our efforts.
“We used part of our car park to create an architect-designed garden where the children can grow vegetables, flowers and herbs, learn about birds and insects as well as enjoying sound sculptures and outdoor activities.
“Everyone brings materials for recycling into the nursery from cardboard boxes and tubes to plastic bottles and even bus tickets and wooden spoons. The children love using the boxes and materials to make models or play houses before they help to sort them into the right recycling bag.
“The vegetables they help to grow are used in our kitchen for their meals; they collect leaves for the compost bag and have created their own wormery. Some even walk to nursery to reduce our carbon footprint and we use only recycled paper and energy saving light bulbs whenever possible. It is all a lot of fun for them but is also a really valuable learning experience,” she added.
Little Treasures aims to provide cost effective, quality child care in a home-from-home environment. They include yoga and basic French and sign language in their activities. Demand for places is increasing especially as 2-4 year olds are now eligible for 15 hours of free care every week.
Little Treasures already holds a number of accreditations and a Healthy Early Years award.
“Our fingers are crossed,” said Deborah Troup,
The NMT Nursery Awards is an annual event with 15 categories, organised by Nursery Management Today to promote excellence in UK nurseries and give staff the recognition that they deserve.
To find out more about Little Treasures Nursery, visit www.littletreasuresdaysnursery.co.uk.
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