Telford nursery chain celebrates 20th anniversary
The bosses of a Shropshire nursery chain are celebrating their 20th anniversary after looking after more than 1,000 children since launching the business.
ABC Day Nursery Ltd opened its doors in Wrockwardine on January 11 1993 with more staff than children. The nursery boasted just six children and seven members of staff.
Now two decades later nursery chain bosses Penny and Richard Hustwick have opened three more branches in Hollinswood, Hadley and Lightmoor and employ 52 people across the town, including some of the children staff once looked after.
Penny Hustwick said it had been a “phenomenal” 20 years and she was now looking forward to the new year ahead.
She said: “To reach our 20 year anniversary is a fantastic milestone for Richard and I and all of the staff and parents who have supported us over that period.
“We never dreamed we would be opening our fourth nursery 20 years on when we first opened our first nursery in Wrockwardine to just six children.
“It is almost hard to believe that since then we have cared for up to 1,000 children.
“And even once children have left to go to school it is nice that families still keep in touch, even telling us how their child has gone or is about to go to university.
“We have also had quite a few children come back when they want to do work experience either at secondary school or when they go to college.
“Two staff who used to come to nursery also joined us, one is still here and the other one is at university and comes back during holidays to do supply cover.”
Mrs Hustwick said their biggest pride stood with their Outstanding Ofsted reports which showed their high standards of care whilst also offering a home from home environment.
They are currently looking for a new premises to replace Wrockwardine nursery as they were unable to renew the lease with the landlord.
“At ABC Day Nursery Ltd we lay down the foundations for children, so that when they leave to go to school, they are happy, educated, confident, and independent and have the necessary skills to equip them for the next big step,” she added.
“We think we have the best staff. They are all carefully selected by us and are highly motivated to do the best for the children in our care.
“We want to want to build on our growth over the past 20 years and make our nurseries as successful as possible.”
