Today is the 4th anniversary of the nursery being open. Thank you to my team for the wonderful flowers and birthday card.

Four years have flown by and it's nice to see so many siblings of children who joined when we opened now with us. A little while ago we arranged for some children who left us for school to return to meet up again for a few hours of games, entertainment and lunch. It was great to see them again and see how well they have settled into school. 

At our new year staff meeting I had the pleasure to award 100% attendance certificates and gift vouchers to Maria, Hayley and Agata for 2008. 

Last year we joined Thurrock's Learning and Teaching Quality Assurance Scheme which requires us to complete a number of modules looking at 10 areas of quality and customer service being delivered now and for the future. The scheme is voluntary and opens the nursery practices to independent professional bodies. 

We have just been awarded a credit level pass in the module that looks into our teaching and learning practices towards the children. We now have 5 modules passed at credit and distinction level. We are now working towards our 6th which deals with Inclusion and Equal Opportunities. 

Together with Michelle and Maria I am looking at new and fresh ways we can improve the level of care and educate the children for 2009 and ways we can support our parents. If you are a parent or have a view on early years childcare, we would like to hear from you. What can we do better ?. 

The current financial recession will be on many people's minds just now. I am looking hard at our business expenditure this year to find ways to suspend the annual nursery fee costs for as long as possible to help parents plan their finances. 

If you are a parent and feel you have difficulties in meeting the nursery fees, please let us know. 

I'd like to thank those parents who have commented that this blog is a helpful way of keeping in touch. It's still new, but I think it's a great way of giving you information. 

Thank you for logging on to the Play 2 Learn blog.   

Jacky