A BASINGSTOKE nursery has celebrated its first year of being open with a big birthday party for all the children in its care.

Shooting Stars Nursery at Old Down Hall, Kempshott Lane, opened in January 2020 with just two children - and now has a register of 45 little ones aged between 11 months and four years old.

Former teacher Clare Wilkins launched the business after the previous Snapdragons Nursery was forced to close due to operating at a loss.

However, Clare employed the former manager of Snapdragons, Marika Groce, as her deputy, and says it’s a partnership that’s working well.

“We are a good team, with our different skills,” Clare told the Gazette.

“We opened last January with just two children, and now we have 45. Considering the year we have had, it’s amazing.

“It was a challenge when we were only open for eight weeks and we had to close. To keep our presence going, and our advertising.”

Shooting Stars didn't have any key-worker children at the time of the first lockdown, but reopened on June 1 when they were allowed to.

“Building the parents’ trust was another challenge. Letting their children come back to us when there was still this new, weird thing going on.”

Clare says that just four children have temporarily not returned to nursery this month, which she views as a reflection of the safe and welcoming environment they have created, which is flexible around parents’ childcare needs.

To mark their major milestone on January 14, the Shooting Stars team held a party for the children.

Clare said: “We hired a big bouncy castle with a ball pit and a slide, which was great because they can’t do that sort of thing anywhere else at the moment. They are growing up completely unable to experience in that way.

“Even the children that don’t normally come on a Thursday were invited along for free for a two-hour session. They all absolutely loved it. We had a big cake as well.”

Moving forwards, Clare hopes for an easier second year, and plans to expand the nursery’s presence in the local community.

The team has already made a start with this, by participating in St Mark’s Church 'Remembering Stones’ project, holding a Christmas jumper day for Save the Children, and linking up with fellow local business Rosario’s coffee to have a coffee cart outside the nursery for parents once a week.

“We want to be a presence in the community and an asset to the community,” said Clare.

“We have also already thought about what we can do online to help parents. It is hard for children of that age because they can’t do school work. We work really closely with families and we don’t ever use a one size fits all approach.”

The Shooting Stars team are very happy to now be allowed to open under government guidance.

Clare said: “We are really relieved - we want to be open for our shooting stars. This stage in their lives can’t be replaced. You can’t replace it by being at home and it’s difficult for them to catch up.

“Reach for the stars and shine is our motto. We talk with the children about what it means to be resilient and never give up.”

For more information about Shooting Stars Nursery, visit: shootingstarsnurseryschool.co.uk