Deb Wright and Candice Hewitson, who launched Puddleducks Childcare childminding service in Stockton-on-Tees in May last year, decided to move from running a childminding business to setting up their own nursery in response to a rising demand for nursery places.
‘We decided the need was there in the area for a nursery. We looked for a day nursery and it took us six months to find somewhere suitable,’ said co-owner Ms Hewitson. The pair have turned a three-storey flat into a day nursery after gaining planning permission.
Ms Wright and Ms Hewitson asked parents to choose between staying with the childminding setting and going to the new nursery. ‘Everybody decided to come with us. Within six weeks, all the 12 children transferred over,’ said Ms Hewitson.
The pair closed the childminding service to focus on the nursery, which has 30 registered places and ten members of staff, compared to 12 children and two staff members in the childminding setting. The number of staff has expanded in the space of three months.
Ms Hewitson said, ‘The nursery is in a listed building on a village high street and has three floors. Downstairs there is a baby room and the upstairs area is for two- to five-year-olds. The nursery has a sensory room, separate sleep rooms and a play room.’
Puddleducks Childcare also offers a breakfast and after-school holiday club to 26 three- to 11-year-olds within a nearby school.
Both Ms Hewitson and Ms Wright, who have degrees in childcare, have both worked in different jobs, including managerial roles in the childcare sector. They have more than 36 years’ combined experience working with children, and spent seven years working together in a nursery.
The owners are considering opening another nursery next year.