Shropshire nursery planning training academy
Plans are being developed for what is believed to be Shropshire's first training academy for apprentice nursery assistants.
The idea is being developed by ABC Day Nursery, which already has four sites in Telford.
The company currently provides placements for apprentice childcare workers, but owner Penny Hustwick now wants to develop a training academy, which could open in the summer.
"We already have some apprentices working at our nursery sites but we want to develop this further and become an official training academy for nursery assistants," said Mrs Hustwick.
"At the moment any apprentices undertaking an NVQ in childcare with ABC have to be assessed by external assessors.
"It is our goal to become a registered assessor so we can train apprentices on site and then, once qualified, we can work with other local childcare providers in the area to provide employment opportunities.
"There is a lot to put in place but we hope to have the ABC training academy up and running by summer. It's really exciting times."
ABC Day Nursery first opened its doors in Wrockwardine 22 years ago with eight members of staff providing childcare for 40 children.
The company has since grown to employ 54 members of staff looking after 600 children aged six months to five years across its four sites, all of which are rated outstanding by Ofsted.
Mrs Hustwick, said: "The company has grown so much in the last 22 years and it has been a really challenging and exciting journey for me along the way.
"Last year was a very busy year for us and we now have a record number of children on our books and a record number of employees, which is just fantastic.
"We have opened two new nurseries in the last two years so it has been a really exciting and busy time. But now Lightmoor and Hoo are up and running and doing extremely well it feels like the right time to focus on the training academy.
"We have so many skilled employees working at all four of our sites. Their skills and experience will be invaluable when it comes to being able to mentor and train new apprentices."
She added: "We think the academy will prove extremely popular and we are expecting a flood of applications from potential trainees once we are up and running."
For more information about the ABC Day Nursery contact (01952) 245257 or visit the new website at www.abc-daynursery.co.uk
