ANDREA Sutcliffe knows what she wants for a 10th birthday present… an ‘outstanding’ Ofsted inspection.
But with 12 months to go before lighting the candles on a celebration cake, manager Andrea and her team are already pleased with the progress of Hobble Wobbles private day nursery.
The Rochdale Road premises received a ‘good’ grading across all areas in February 2018.
And Andrea, herself a mum of three, says that is testimony to her 14-strong staff.
“The girls are amazing and they do such a good job,” says Andrea, who took over the nursery in 2009 with just three children. “I am so proud of them all.
“I love them to pieces and I want them to get the recognition they deserve.
“We were only a couple of things off ‘outstanding’. So, we have got the bit between our teeth because we know it’s within our grasp.
“We have the big birthday in May 2019 so we’re looking forward to that. And if Ofsted do come back then hopefully we could get ‘outstanding’.”
Amanda is also aiming to have Hobble Wobbles running at full capacity.
Even now 64 of the 69 full-time places are filled.
“We want the nursery to have a family feel to it,” she explained. “We want it to feel like it is home from home.
“My daughter Lauren works here, my auntie works in the kitchen and my mum used to work here.
“As soon as the children come through the door we see them as our own.
“We are their mums for the day. If they need a cuddle they get a cuddle.
“We are such a friendly place and the parents do feel at ease when they come in.”
Amanda, who trained as secretary and enjoyed a spell as stewardess at Crompton and Royton Golf Club, worked in the building when it was known as Twinkling Stars.
When it closed in 2008, she stepped in. “It is hard work, I am not going to lie,” she says.
“But it has its rewards because the children are so good.
“You come in and see the children doing well.
“You look at them as though they are your children.”
Hobble Wobbles look after youngsters aged from three months to five years old. For more information email hobblewobbles@outlook.com or ring 01706 848252.