2020 Love Local Award Winners: Welcome Back Award

P.S Coming next on Thursday 16th July is the “We Missed You” celebration blog.

Winners of the 2020 Harrogate Mumbler Love Local “Welcome Back” Award 

(In alphabetical order-ish)

Busy Bees (South Drive)

• They have gone above and beyond during lockdown to keep families up to date, they have made a lovely video made by the staff for the children and they have put in measures to keep children and parents safe which is very reassuring.
• For working tirelessly and always doing the best they can to keep the children feeling safe and loved.

Busy Bees nursery (Pannal Ash)

• My little one can’t wait to go back next week to meet all of her friends and teachers.

Coppice Valley Primary School

• The school has done an absolutely outstanding job throughout the lockdown period. The children’s mental health and education has been at the heart of everything they’ve done. Regular contact with parents, excellent home learning with emails to teachers and an excellent recovery curriculum on return to school. As they are well aware of their children they have worked hard at planning what is best for them. This has been done through the classroom layout (big empty space with desks around the outside of the classroom for regular circle times together, stories, drama etc.), the thorough activities focusing on their personal, social and emotional health. Their work is truly valuable and the children have come back with smiling, happy faces – what more could you want!
• So pleased that the school is open again; our children have missed the care of the wonderful teachers and friendship of their peers. This school makes learning exciting for our children and the staff are supportive of us parents. We are so glad they are open again.
• They have all worked so hard in changing the classrooms so they are suitable and safe for the children. They read stories to the children every Thursday night!
• The Head Teacher and her SLT have created a fantastic ‘returning to school handbook’ helping us as parents to understand the situations and how to come back to school safely. They have put friendly videos on the website showing where to go when entering and leaving the building as everything is so different. When coming back in, the whole staff have been so friendly, caring and very welcoming. so enthusiastic. They make you feel very happy and safe to leave your children at school in this current time!

Dacre Braithwaite

• Since my daughter has gone back to school as a key worker child Dacre Braithwaite has done everything to encourage and welcome her. They sent photos of the classroom and had super organisation of where everyone would go. Welcomed back on day 1 with their fabulous TA Mrs G at the door smiling which she does everyday! Our daughter got in the car at night beaming and screamed ‘ I love my school, I have had the best day’ Her Teacher has brought humour to their learning and used the outdoor space to allow opportunities to find toads and insects. My daughter has been the only year 5 in a class of year 6’s which is her normal class mix of year5/6. her teachers have included her in learning and stretched where appropriate. It has been wonderful to see our smiley girl again. This school is amazing and has made our daughter feel so welcome and safe. Every member of staff waving and smiling.

Grove Road Harrogate

• Have gone beyond and above daily online work and catch ups. Making sure the children do not miss out on their education.

Happy Jay’s Nursery 

• Nic, Heather and Sue went above and beyond when they had to close at the start of lock down. They kept in constant touch, phoning and emailing parents regularly with news on what\’s happening. They set to work straight away planning for the children\’s return, took photos of what the \’greeter\’ would look like in PPE and made the entrance back to nursery as fun as possible…the bubble machine worked wonders! Their positivity and hardwork has been so appreciated and when they say they were happy to be back and had missed the children we believe them! My daughter returned without a glance back and has gone from strength to strength after truggling with lock down
• The team at Happy Jays have been brilliant welcoming our Daughter back after the lock-down closure. Their professional, caring and optimistic approach to reopening alleviated any concerns we may have had. Our daughter has thrived these last few weeks.

Lauren Roberson

• Lauren runs a local beavers club, due to lockdown the club had to stop meeting. During lockdown she has set up a zoom call every week with the boys and girls in the club. They have carried out donations for the Harrogate food bank and are currently collecting items from the children for a local nursing home to cheer them up during lockdown. Every week she comes up with fun games and challenges for the children to do and has been a great support to parents also. Term payments stopped at the beginning of lockdown so she is doing this in her spare time.

Little Crickets

• The nursery stayed open for key workers and then they worked tirelessly to get the doors open again for the children. Lots have been done behind the scenes to ensure social distancing etc but in a way that the children don’t even know it is happening. They have been great.
• The staff go above and beyond for all the kids and work so hard.
• Little Crickets have been AMAZING before and throughout the COVID pandemic. They have kept parents and children safe, informed and educated. They honestly couldn’t have done more. They’ve dropped packs at houses with goodies and things to do for their children, they’ve been in consistent contact, they’ve uploaded ideas and classes to youtube and other social media. Great work from a fab team.
• Little Crickets have gone above and beyond during lockdown. They remained open throughout for key workers but continued to work hard posting useful videos, phonics lessons, stories, activity suggestions etc online for the children at home. They delivered Easter eggs and activity packs to the children at home (socially distanced and within hour exercise at that time). They have now welcomed back the children with clear measures and precautions in place to ensure the safety of all. Such a wonderful pre-school with brilliant staff. Thanks all!
• They went above and beyond to put me and my son at ease about returning to nursery after it had been closed. They did everything possible to make it a positive experience to return to given the changes that have had to be made. They also provided constant communication during the time they were closed not just about reopening but also with activity suggestions we could do at home and they also dropped off resources for my son at home. They are just the most wonderful team and my son has the best time when he is there. Thanks to all of them.

Little Explorers

• They are finally open! The way how they are organized an exciting opening just a really special. It’s been considering all government rules and regulations, they created the way how to keep kids Happy from the moment of entrance to the territory of our great nursery. Many people, who saw the posts where it’s been explained how kids will enter and what they will get in, were very surprised and shared their experience with other nurseries and schools.
• they’ve gone above and beyond throughout lockdown, There really is too much to list. They’ve been with us the whole way through
• They did amazingly well tru all lock down… And they managed so well to get kids back in to the nursery
• Even during lockdown all the team of this great nursery been keeping in touch with all of is through the social media. Everyday they updated us with a new ideas how to intertain a child, every evening each member of the team been posting a video where they have been reading to kids a wonderful stories. They encouraged all of us to do many exciting things with kids and exchange with our experiences. We are really lucky to be a part of this great team!
• Berny and Steph and all at little explorers have helped my little boy settle in so well during the pandemic as I’ve continued to work as a key worker.
• It’s not just a simple nursery. It’s a part of our family, it’s a part of our life. They teach me how to raise my child, they inspire us all and give us a hope for a great future generations.
• Because they are and always will be fantastic!
• They have been fantastic and took my little boy in when his nursery closed and he’s settled so well!
• They have been simply amazing throughout the lockdown and since reopening. They maintained contact with our family throughout and posted lovely stories, activities and videos. They lent out resources and even organised nature treasure hunts and left seeds out for the children to plant. They communicated clearly and consistently throughout and were available to answer any concerns and questions from parents. Reopening to the children was simply brilliant. Lizzie and the team put so much thought and effort into how they could support the children to come back in happily and without any fear. Our son breezed in without looking back and is thriving and loving being back playing and learning with his friends and the lovely staff team. Quick simply this nursery is outstanding and is an excellent example of true commitment, Professionalism, dedication, love and care for the job that they do. Harrogate families are very licky to have such an amazing place
• The team have worked really hard throughout lockdown to ensure our children and families feel connected in these unsettled times by creating a brilliant online service through the private parent page and also through tapestry (children’s online journals) they provided daily activities, story’s read by different staff each night (including weekends) we even provided personal video’s to our children and families so they could still feel connected to us as a nursery. Go Little Explorers Team!!!!
• Always have time for you and your child and you feel like a part of one big family x
• Provided so much support and entertainment to the children while in lockdown from posting stories and activities online but even taking the time to lend out and post out resources to families (particularly ours who are shielding a vulnerable child). They have been in constant contact to help us through this difficult time whilst keeping us up to date on developments while ensuring a safe and friendly environment for the children to return

Manda Paver

• Missed at nursery by all of her friends

Manor Early Years preschool staff

• My son has missed preschool during lockdown, Both the staff and setting are brilliant.

Miss Taylor

• My son was so excited to see his teacher at st Mary’s primary in Knaresborough. She gave him the best welcome back smile.

Mrs Bassitt

• Mrs Bassitt is the head teacher at Killinghall Primary school, she has provided no end of communication about the closing and then slow reopening of school. She has kept in touch with the children providing little challenges for them to complete and send into school. However her greatest achievement is to ensure that every child in school has the opportunity to have a face to face session with their current and next school year teacher. This has also bern thanks to Glawning who have provided tents and marquees to place on the outside school land due to internal school rooms being used for Reception, Yr 1 and yr6. Along with all the changes associated with the Covid-19 pandemic she has also managed to oversee the building of a new classroom. We cannot thank her ongoing endeavours enough.

Mrs Lynne Croome at Lynton Academy

• Mrs Croome has embraced technology to provide a full range of dance Zoom classes weekly from the very beginning. She has accommodated school lessons, children changing classes and much more. She has been continually at the forefront of the pandemic in ensuring her dance school continued to provide quality classes. As we near the time that the dancers ca go back to the school she has done training, revised schedules, considered dance classes both in and out of the studios from September. She has a small family team and a few teachers but has continued to successfully teach the dance curriculums. She is certainly made parents and carers feel comfortable to send children back to dance whenever that time is. Her communication has been fabulous.

Mud & Puddles

• They are fab, ran online story time which my little girl loved.
• Best childcare in the area. They have made a safe, but fun environment for the children to still enjoy their days there. 3 of my grandchildren are loving their days there
• Because they have been closed.
• They have gone above and beyond to make their returning children feel welcome, happy and safe in their new outdoor-based provision. They kept in touch throughout lockdown and have shown touching dedication to the children, families and staff. We are so indebted to them and their care for our son.
• We’ve been back at nursery for six weeks now and life is starting to feel normal. Our children are loving seeing their friends again and Mud and Puddles are keeping them all outside all day to reassure us that they’ll be completely safe in their care.
• Wonderful childcare setting who even in lockdown made sure the children still had a story over Zoom
• Our nursery is the best and we’re so glad they’re open again. My son finally had friends to play with and he comes home with sparkling eyes and grubby knees – what more can a parent want.
• We have missed the adventures of nursery we are glad they are back open!
• My little boy is happy to be back, seeing his friends and all the staff.
• Always go above and beyond in everything they do to make parents and children feel safe and cared for.
• Welcomed back children gradually and safely so happy to be back children so happy and embrace been outdoors 🙂
• Our nursery deserves some recognition for always doing so much more than they need to do. When they reopened we were the first through the doors and we’re so glad they’re back, keeping our children entertained and happy.
• Ruby has recently been able to go back to Mud and Puddles and she couldn’t be happier. Steph goes above and beyond in everything she does to keep the kids healthy and happy. Ruby adores her and I trust her implicitly.
• Because through all of lockdown they’ve kept us informed about what is going on and since reopening have done an amazing job of making it seem “normal” for the children all the time whilst playing outdoors.
• Valued care provider.
• Such a wonderful Childcare service. Loving, caring and professional staff who invest so much time in both the children and the parents. We can’t wait for our little boy to start back when it’s safe
• Provides an outdoor touch hence the name.
•  Our son has missed his sessions here during the school holidays
• The girls missed coming to nursery and having lots of fun and adventures
• We missed seeing everyone and having all the fun and laughter.
• For nearly 4 years you’ve been part of our lives, we all missed you and missed all of you during this long lockdown! We are so glad Maddie can spend her last few months before school with you all! Thank you 💕
• Excellent childcare, miss my daughter going there
• They have always been fantastic with my daughter and feels like she had a second family going there 3 times a week from 7 months old and now she is 4. My daughter loves going and its obvious to see they are very children centred. During lockdown they kept the children and us adults too informed and stayed in contact through zoom,story time and preschool amongst other things. Mud and puddles will be part of the memory of lockdown in a positive way.
• Mud and puddles childcare My gorgeous great nieces have missed mud and puddles so much from the amazing staff to all there little friends
• Now based fully outdoors to keep our children safe – welcome back nursery!
• Like all parents we were very glad to have our nursery back! Working from home with young children had been a huge challenge, and now that nursery has returned we can not only get all of our work done each day but we have happy, exhausted children from a busy day at nursery. Mud and Puddles are amazing, keeping our children safe and putting in so much time and effort to make sure the return to nursery was a smooth one.
• Mud and Puddles have thought of everything to keep the children safe and make the return to nursery fun. They’ve moved the nursery completely outdoors where it’s safest and provided so many new things for the children to enjoy.
• So glad mud and puddles is back my great nieces are so excited to come back to see all there little friends and amazing staff
• For being so flexible and adaptable. An outstanding team
• Oh how we struggled without our nursery! We have never been more grateful than when we got the email saying they were reopening.

Performatots

• They are reopening 1st July and we have missed the childcare they provide which is second to none.
• Amazing online classes and reopening. Contact during lockdown has been great.
• Excellent online support during lockdown
• Been amazing and creating an amazing online platform for the children in record time. For going above and beyond for my daughter whilst in lock down.
• Performatots Been amazing and creating an amazing online platform for the children in record time. For going above and beyond for my daughter whilst in lock down.

Play Away Day Nursery and Pre-School

• They have stayed open and looked after all the key workers children, and now welcomed back all the children and families.

Red Kite Nursery

• Red Kite Nursery My boys have been so lost without all of their amazing teachers and leaders! We can’t wait to be back! X

Rossett Acre

• This setting never closed, remaining open as a hub school, but has more recently welcomed back many of their own pupils. Communication has been constant and clearly explained and a fun, educational, safe setting is in place for our youngsters.
• School has reopened for pupils in reception, year 1 and year 6 as well as keyworker children. Staff have worked creatively to use the space available whilst providing the most classes possible.

Safehands Day Nursery

• Even though I am still on furlough I have received weekly updates and information about what is happening and on the children. They have done so well in changing the nursery to fit in with the new rules and always have a positive attitude when caring for the children. Miss you guys!

St John’s Playgroup

• You have helped keep the children entertained from home throughout lockdown with videos of dance routines, storybook reading etc. And you’ve kept us all up to date with the ongoing developments. Now you are opening up your doors again and I want to say thank you to all the St Johns Team for being fabulous.

St Joseph’s School

• St Josephs have welcomed children back in Reception, year 1 and 6 over the last few weeks. Head teacher, Mrs Rouse, has been in the playground speaking to children and parents creating a supportive environment to return to. We have been kept well informed during the weeks in lockdown including weekly newsletters with pictures of homeschooling work from different year groups .

Sunflowers Day Nursery Pateley Bridge

• The staff at Sunflowers have been posting daily stories or activities for the children to do each day during lockdown. They reopened at the beginning of June and my children have been so happy to be back there. The staff have managed to create a warm and welcoming environment despite the new rules and they’ve been really accommodating with my working hours which had made being back at work so much easier.

Tiny Teapots

• Tracey and the team has been working hard supporting children and staff during this difficult time. Now that more staff and children are going back. They work tirelessly to make sure everyone is safe. Going out of there way to reassure people who are anxious. Presents were also given to staff as a thanks.
• For staying open during the lockdown and continuing to provide first class care and fun activities day in and day out for key workers children with beaming smiles on their faces. Also for ensuring a safe & welcoming environment for staff & families returning to nursery after lockdown. Tiny Teapots team really have been amazing throughout!!!
• Have stayed open and interactive during lockdown. We loved the card they sent us

Western Primary school

• The school reopened on 1st June for reception children/year 1 and then year 6. They were open throughout for keyworker children, adapting to work at a hub based at a different school. They have gone over and above to make the transition back flawless. From the logistical organisation of staggered drop offs and separate bubbles, to the way they’ve welcomed the children back with open arms. The teachers were keen to ensure the children had emotional support and put their well-being first after what has been a challenging few months for small people, some more so than others. They’ve kept safety paramount, but ensured quality of care is not compromised. A quote which stuck out from the return to school letter from reception was that as parents we should not worry that the staff would be physically distant from the children and they would “continue to comfort them as they would normally do”. Mr Broad (headmaster) has been a constant reassurance through lockdown with regular updates and explanations as to how things would be managed. The school also continue to provide care and support to those who haven’t returned to school, and the keyworker children. I have spoken to several friends with children at other schools and Western have been far more open, reassuring and positive about reopening than any other.

Woodlands Day Nursery

• Once lockdown was relaxed and they moved back to their permanent premises they helped our children settle into what was a new (post refurbishment too) covid-19 safe setting. welcoming us with their smiles and confidence.
• for providing the best childcare throughout the lockdown.
• During the lockdown they maintained their wonderful care of children, quickly settling them in when they were amalgamated with other Just childcare nurseries at a different setting.