Chipping Hill Pre-School celebrates 50 year anniversary

Jackie Brannan took over Chipping Hill Pre-school nursery two years ago from mother-in-law Margaret Brannan who launched the nursery in her house.

Jackie said there are currently 26 children in the nursery - aged two to four years – and it has youngsters with autism and special educational needs.

Anniversary - Chipping Hill Pre-School's 50th anniversary (Image: Jackie Brannan)

For now, there is a “75 to 25 split” between children with additional needs and those without, with Chipping Hill pre-school being wheelchair friendly - having no stairs and a disabled toilet.

Jackie explained how the nursery changed location so it could have an outside garden and allotment, with children being able to grow and eat cauliflower and chili as well as other vegetables.

Jackie said how important sense was to learn, with children being able to smell mint in the garden, and the inside nursery having appropriate lights and lava lamps to “help the children calm down.”

The Christmas meal itself was a “proper turkey dinner” with owner Jackie (who also took it over from co-owner Gill Bezant) explaining how all the meal in particular, the Yorkshire puddings, is diary-free in order to be inclusive to all the children.

Inclusive - Manager Natalie White (Image: Jackie Brannan)

Natalie White, manager of Chipping Hill Pre-School, said the nursery is popular due to its £19 a day charge which “covers everything” and added that there are few spaces available in January before “it is pretty much full again.”

Natalie also explained how the “great relationships” between parents and staff is the reason why the nursery “works so well.”

Natalie added that parents have a Facebook group for communication and said in general, long-term ties were made with “loads of children having siblings who come back”, and said:

“We treat all the children the same. We do believe every child is unique.”