Hemel Hempstead nursery celebrates Employee Ownership Day

The team at a nursery in Hemel Hemspstead marked National Employee Ownership Day with cake as they celebrated full pay, free childcare and bonus payments during the most challenging period of their company's history.

A uniform-free day and cake were just two of the treats on offer for the team at the Ofsted-rated ‘Outstanding’ Lime Grove Day Nursery on Park Road, who are all partners in the award-winning, employee owned Childbase Partnership.

EO Day gives companies an opportunity to raise awareness of the positive impact the sector has on the UK economy.

April Hughes, Lime Grove Day Nursery manager, explained that the annual celebrations for Employee Ownership Day, which included fun activities for children in protective ‘bubble groups’, were particularly important this year.

She said: “We’ve been doing ‘In it together’ for years and while social distancing requirements may keep us apart we have never been more committed to each other or the children and families in our care.

"Ensuring we have the right support and tools to be the best we can be has never been more important when you think about the impact of Covid-19 restrictions on our children.”

That support meant full pay for everyone, with a ‘top up’ applied to the 80 per cent Government grant aid for furloughed partners; a bonus and free Childbase nursery childcare for those working through the pandemic and weekly updates explaining Government directives and updating partners on how the Covid-19 challenges were being addressed at the company.

Ruby Hayden, Team Leader, who has returned from furloughed leave, said: “Throughout furlough I felt fully part of my nursery and company family with regular updates and contact.

"I am so grateful for the full pay we received on Furlough leave and proud to be a part of this company.”

The support was also extended to parents who were reimbursed for sessions lost during the coronavirus lockdown and given an extensive range of home learning and play resources to help them.

A Staying Safe at Nursery book and on-line animated version – written, illustrated, and narrated a by partners – was also provided to help prepare children for the protective bubble groups and new routines at nursery.

For more about the book visit: www.childbasepartnership.com.