FAMILY & YOUTH WORK CELEBRATING A DECADE OF OUTSTANDING CHILDCARE SERVICES A Gruffalo Party to Remember The year started with a delightful celebration at YMCA Childcare St. Margaret’s Road as we marked 10 years of serving children and families in Lowestoft. Our Gruffalo-themed garden party brought together past and present families for a joyous day of fun and reflection. It was also the perfect opportunity to honour our incredible childcare team, whose dedication has positively impacted so many lives over the past decade. Challenges and Growth While 2024 was filled with its share of challenges, including staffing and recruitment hurdles, we worked tirelessly to adapt and thrive. Changes at our Grundisburgh and Ipswich settings led to the closure of YMCA Childcare Grundisburgh in December, but we ensured that staff transitions were handled smoothly, retaining two team members in positions at Ipswich. In Lowestoft, we expanded childcare spaces for under-2s, adding six new spots at St. Margaret’s Road and creating three at Water Lane. Starting in April 2025, Water Lane will welcome an additional three under-2 spaces, thanks to a £5,411 grant from Suffolk County Council. These expansions align with new working parent funding for babies, helping us meet growing demand—attendance for under-2s has already increased 38% compared to the previous year! Investing in Excellence Professional development remains a cornerstone of our commitment to quality childcare. This year, 49 staff members completed internal Safeguarding Training sessions, and bespoke courses were introduced to support curriculum development. We also celebrated the achievements of four childcare apprentices who successfully completed their programmes, while mentoring one practitioner toward their Early Years Initial Teacher Status (EYITT).
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