Operating from the centre of Dromore since 2001, Jolly Jesters, a registered private daycare provider and fully funded pre-school, has unveiled its revamped facilities following a £130,000 investment.
The well-established day nursery was acquired by business partners Sean Larkin and Peter Savage in 2022 following the retirement of founders Noel and Carol Thompson, and upon purchase the new owners were keen to update both the physical elements and teaching ethos of the facility.
Commenting on where the investment has been allocated Sean said: “In both the baby and toddler and pre-school areas of the building we have completely overhauled the outside play spaces, introducing brand new sensory play equipment for our babies and toddlers and a modern, bespoke climbing frame for the latter.
“To further enhance high quality outdoor learning and nourish a sense of adventure among the children, we have also replaced the old bark used as ground cover with new safety surfacing.”
Sean continued: “As well as addressing the aesthetics of the building, by both painting and installing new flooring, we were keen to focus on sustainable measures that we could implement, strengthening the overall energy efficiency of the property.
“To date we have installed temperature and thermostat controls, replaced boilers and updated the electrical systems.”
The well-established day nursery was acquired by business partners Sean Larkin and Peter Savage in 2022 following the retirement of founders Noel and Carol Thompson, and upon purchase the new owners were keen to update both the physical elements and teaching ethos of the facility.
Commenting on where the investment has been allocated Sean said: “In both the baby and toddler and pre-school areas of the building we have completely overhauled the outside play spaces, introducing brand new sensory play equipment for our babies and toddlers and a modern, bespoke climbing frame for the latter.
“To further enhance high quality outdoor learning and nourish a sense of adventure among the children, we have also replaced the old bark used as ground cover with new safety surfacing.”
Sean continued: “As well as addressing the aesthetics of the building, by both painting and installing new flooring, we were keen to focus on sustainable measures that we could implement, strengthening the overall energy efficiency of the property.
“To date we have installed temperature and thermostat controls, replaced boilers and updated the electrical systems.”
Category
🛠️
LifestyleTranscript
00:00Jolly Gestures is a registered private daycare provider and a fully funded preschool located in the heart of Drummoor.
00:08We first opened our doors in 2001 and we are well established and provide a home from home environment for children and parents.
00:16We encourage all of our children to express themselves through movement, art, music and storytelling.
00:23We currently care for 91 children and employ 18 full time members of staff.
00:29So how long have you worked at Jolly Gestures?
00:31So I've been here 14 years now this year, at the end of this year.
00:34My name is Leanne Hutchinson and I have worked in Jolly Gestures for 18 years.
00:38My name is Heather and in total I've worked at Jolly's for about five and a half years.
00:43Can you describe your overall experience working here?
00:46My experience in working here has been really good.
00:49I started here as a student and have grown alongside the children and it's a real positive place to work.
00:55So can you tell us about the most rewarding part of your job?
00:59The most rewarding part would definitely be seeing the kids grow up throughout the years and meeting their milestones.
01:06Just watching their wee personalities come through.
01:09We work with kids from their babies and then come right through the nursery and you see them as they get older and how they progress.
01:16It's definitely the most rewarding part.
01:18How has your role involved since you first started?
01:22So I started here as a student and I then took on the supervisor role and then I worked my way up to Deputy Manager.
01:30So I did my Level 5, Jolly Gestures put me through my Level 5 and now I'm Deputy Manager so I've worked my way up.
01:37So can you tell us about the new room approach?
01:39So the new approach that's happening throughout the nursery is the Curiosity approach, the Regio.
01:45So we're trying to bring the outdoor nature aspect of things into the classroom environment.
01:51Everything's all natural and all scentry and it's lovely for the kids to learn new things using this approach.
01:59And what would you say to a parent who's considering joining Jolly Gestures for their children?
02:04Well I think it would be really good for them to come for the socialisation of it as well as it's a family environment here.
02:12We like to make everyone feel welcome and they'll be more than welcome to come in and join the team.
02:17Can you describe a really special memory or milestone at the nursery that you can remember?
02:22You build such strong bonds with the children and with the parents as well.
02:27There's parents that came through here that I would now class as really good friends.
02:32Friendships have come from it and it's just really rewarding to see the change in the children as well.
02:39It's a really nice place to work.
02:42So can you tell us how long the children have been attending Jolly Gestures?
02:46So my children started at six months and they're now six years of age so five and a half years living in Jolly Gestures.
02:52Ben is seven and Lucy is two.
02:56So Ben's been attending Jolly Gestures for about six years and Lucy's been here for around about a year and a half.
03:04Jack Armstrong has been here for six years now. He's in senior after school.
03:08Eli has been coming here from, he was just over two, which is two and a half years now and he's in pre-school.
03:16What made you choose Jolly Gestures Nursery for your child?
03:20We chose Jolly Gestures because we visited a lot of places around Drumore and we felt this was just the nicest atmosphere.
03:27Rebecca had a lot to do with it. When she came in she was very friendly and she just liked her nature and things.
03:34Can you describe your children's experience at the nursery in a few lines?
03:38So my children have had an amazing time at the nursery. They love coming into Jolly Gestures every day.
03:43They love all the girls and some of the girls have been with them since they were six months old.
03:49So they've grown with the rooms and the girls have moved with them. It's been absolutely amazing for them.
03:55They love the outdoor activities. They love their days out. They love the trips on the bus.
04:00They love the activities, the movie days. It's just an amazing place for children.
04:06Can you tell us about some positive changes that you've noticed in Jack being at Jolly Gestures?
04:10Yeah, some really positive changes I've noticed in Jack over the years would be his increased independence.
04:16He's a lot more curious and a lot more playful as well as I would imagine he's developed really high empathy for other children.
04:26So can you tell us about a time where you felt really reassured about Eli's time here at nursery?
04:31Well I was really reassured whenever the girls said that they would take Eli on a school trip out to the soft play
04:39which I was surprised about because Eli was not mobile and it would have been hard work for him to go
04:46but if they said no they would take him and he had a ball.
04:51And can you describe a moment when you felt really happy and reassured with the staff supporting your children?
04:57Well what stands out the most is when my son Ben was asked to speak a poem at Christmas time.
05:04It's just lovely how he can do that and he felt comfortable and they felt that they could ask him.
05:09If you had to describe the nursery in three words what would they be?
05:13I would describe the nursery as a caring, safe, nurturing place.
05:18Welcoming, nurturing and creative.
05:21Fun, happiness and content.
05:24Family environment, it's so friendly and there's such a nurturing and caring team.
05:35They look after all the children that they have in the nursery and every child as an individual they know each child individually.
05:45It's such an amazing place for children.
05:47We hope you enjoyed a look around our nursery. To book a tour please visit our website.