Feb 18 – Thumbs Up For MOD Nursery Relocation
It was a big thumbs up from the children of Sunflower Early Years Nursery when the Commander British Forces, Commodore Ian McGhie visited them at their new location within St Christopher’s School.
The nursery, formerly known as Little Learners, was previously based in Rooke and has been relocated to Europa as part of the MOD’s decant from the site.
Although there has been a change of name, the nursery retains its OFSTED ‘Outstanding’ rating. The nursery has also modified how it is governed and now comes under the wider Service Children’s Education (SCE) umbrella.
SCE provides schools and educational support for children of the UK armed forces, MOD personnel and MOD sponsored organisations who are stationed overseas.
SCE Early Years Strategic Manager, Jane O’Hare, who is based in Germany, visited the nursery and explained what being part of SCE will mean for the nursery, she said:
“SCE and the Directorate of Children and Young People are committed to ensuring that all service children have access to the best education that they can in worldwide locations overseas. As an SCE School, Sunflowers Nursery now has a funding mechanism in place and access to our training facilities. The Command have always been extremely supportive and committed to the nursery but this change of governance makes the nursery much more secure in the long term.”
For the children themselves, the location helps to maintain a smooth transition to the next phase of their education, the familiar surroundings help to build a secure attachment easing them into Foundation Stage One.
The move to St Christopher’s School has been welcomed by staff and parents, Nursery Manager Brigitte Shute explains:
“The reaction from the parents has been brilliant, everyone is so pleased, it is especially ideal for parents with children in both the Nursery and FS1 and 2 because they are able to drop them off at the same time. For us this location has the added benefit of being a much bigger open plan area which makes safeguarding so much easier. It is essential that we provide a safe environment and simply being able to see everybody at the same time really helps us to deliver that key criteria.”
Photos
- Front Row CBF with the Children and Brigitte front row, back row L to R Project Manager Sy Todd, Jane O’Hare, Trudi, Megan and Maribel.
- Children at play in Sunflowers Nursery with Zenaida.
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