Bishy Barnabees Day Nursery in Mattishall helping parents

Julie Beasley, manager of Bishy Barnabees Day Nursery in Mattishall, said it is taking on more children in the wake of The Magic Tree Nursery closing in Dereham just before the turn of the new year.

In late December, Alpha Nurseries confirmed it had closed all of its sites including The Magic Tree Nursery in Dereham, Safe Hands Day Nursery in Diss and The Willows Day Nursery in Downham Market.

On January 2, Little Footsteps in Dereham announced it was seeing more children joining and looking at the possibility of extending the site.

Bishy Barnabees Day Nursery in Mattishall (Image: Julie Beasley)

Now, Mrs Beasley has announced that the nursery staff started back early from the Christmas break to help parents who faced no childcare ahead of returning to work.

“As a parent myself I feel that supporting people in this position is something we needed to do for the families,” she said.

“Families need to work and have reliable childcare which they can access, we had more spaces, as we had just taken on two new apprentices before Christmas and have a full staff force.

“The main thing is that parents get a sense that we can help them and do what we can, most of them are working and need to be able to go back in the new year.”

Bishy Barnabees Day Nursery in Mattishall (Image: Julie Beasley)

“It feels good that we can help.”

If you’re having difficulty finding childcare, contact Norfolk County Council’s Family Information Service outreach team on 0344 800 8020, email fis@norfolk.gov.uk or visit www.norfolk.gov.uk/fis.

Families who have been affected by these closures are invited to attend one of the council’s free community drop-in events, with one taking place at Dereham Library today between 9.30am to 12:30pm.