The Learning Tree Day Nursery, which provides childcare for Penarth pupils around the town, celebrates its one-year anniversary this week. 

The nursery that opened in February 2019 has doubled its number of children, seen an increase in revenue and made six staff appointments after its first successful year of business. 

The Learning Tree has rapidly grown after its founder, Chris Baker, decided to secure the future of the nursery following the closure of Busy Bees before Christmas in 2018.

The nursery now provides dedicated childcare to more than 60 children and has seventeen excellent and highly experienced staff members, some of whom have worked at the nursery premises for over ten years. 

In less than a year the nursery has been awarded a Capital Grant for the purpose of re-landscaping their large garden with work commencing in March 2020, the Childcare Grant for refurbishing the interior of the nursery, and a further grant to help launch a dedicated Wrap-around Service.  

They launched a Wrap-around Service in September with a new, fully branded and bespoke vehicle, that provides vital support for parents whose workday exceeds core school hours, by taking children to and from school for them. 

Nub News recently wrote an article about this service and the positive impact it would have for Penarth parents who required lengthier childcare provision.

Currently, the service provides pick-up and drop-off services for pupils of Victoria Primary School and St Joseph's RC Primary School.

Beyond this, the nursery has successfully achieved the Cardiff and Vale Gold Standard Healthy Snack Award and received a Level 5 Food Hygiene Rating and has received great support from local politicians such as Vaughan Gething (Penarth and Cardiff South's AM), local Councillors and numerous parents throughout the year. 

To celebrate a successful first year of business, the nursery will hold a special garden party in April 2020 to thank parents and staff, both past and present, for a fantastic year, whilst opening the newly landscaped garden.

Founder, Chris Baker says "It has been a challenging but deeply rewarding year for everyone involved with The Learning Tree's story. We can't quite believe that a year has passed since saving the nursery from closure and launching as 'The Learning Tree Day Nursery'. 

He adds: "I have been overwhelmed by the positive feedback that we've received from parents during our first year of trading and can't commend our staff enough for their dedication and hard work over the past 12 months.

I'd like to sincerely thank everyone who has played their part in supporting The Learning Tree. As we look forward to our second year of trading, we are as determined as ever to provide the very best environment possible for children to thrive in, during those all-important and crucial first years of their development.

''With that in mind, we hope that the brand-new makeover of our extremely spacious garden will put a smile on the faces of all the children at the nursery, and provide a delightful outdoor environment for them to extend their learning in."