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This week  nursery children and care home residents  have shared timeless children’s stories together to celebrate National Storytelling Week.

During the twelfth annual National Storytelling week, family run businesses, Helen McArdle Care and Kids 1st Nurseries, have brought together two generations to read stories that have been popular throughout the lives of residents and their families, and that are now popular still with children.

Helen McArdle, Chairman and Founder of Helen McArdle Care and Kids 1st Nurseries, is delighted that the two are joining together to celebrate such a special week. As head of a big family  herself Helen has fond memories of storytelling: “My favourite children’s book, which I have read to many members of my family and still continue to do so, is ‘Guess How Much I Love You’ by Sam McBratney and Anita Jeram.

Storytelling is something that everyone enjoys, whatever their age, and it is lovely to see two very different generations come together and find a common interest and it is interesting that the children are still enjoying stories that the residents have enjoyed for over 60 years.”

It was lovely to meet so many prospective parents at the Kids 1st Low Fell Marketing Suite before Christmas, but if you were unable to make it please do not worry. Until the nursery opens in March, a marketing suite, onsite at Joicey Road, will be open each week at the following times:

Tuesday 10.00-12.00
Thursday 2.00-4.00

At the Marketing Suite you can meet with Allison Winship who will discuss your requirements and our policies with you and show you the plans for the nursery.

Please note that this is by appointment only and you can book your appointment with Michelle Boyd on 0191 4618877.

At the end of 2011 we asked parents to send in stories and photos of how their children have progressed since leaving Kids 1st. Over the next 12 months we will share their successes with you, starting this month with four children from Wansbeck, Hexham, Rake Lane and Quorum.

If your child is a graduate of Kids 1st, or you know somebody who is, and would like to be featured in the Kids 1st Hall of Fame please email: Rachel Todd at rachelt@hmcgl.co.uk.

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Kirstin Blake – Kids 1st Wansbeck

Before Kirstin had left Kids 1st Wansbeck she had already attended ballet, modern and Irish dancing. The time came to decide which she would prefer to specialise in and the answer was very clear, Irish dancing. She has now been Irish dancing at the McGuinness School of Irish Dance for two years and is enjoying it more every time she goes and is getting better all the time. The whole team range from five to nine years of age but Kirstin started when she was four and has proven that a young age is no barrier. In June of this year the team danced twice at the Northern Stars Variety Show in the Whitley Bay Playhouse to a packed audience of over 650 people. The applause brought the house down and the team received the loudest cheers of the night. This year the team are travelling to Northern Ireland to take part in a Festival in Derry. When Kirstin left Kids 1st she went to Ringway First School in Stakeford and is now in Year 2. She is doing very well both academically and socially, helped in part no doubt by the great start and support she received at Kids 1st Wansbeck.

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Ethan Pattinson – Kids 1st Hexham

Ethan was the first child to join Kids 1st Hexham and he was with us right up until he started school so we thought it would be great to feature him in ‘Where are they now?’.

Ethan is now six and in Year 2 at the Sele School in Hexham. He loves trampolining, racket sports, playing out on his bike and doing stunts at the play park. Ethan’s mum writes that he remembers Kids 1st fondly and he often talks about the staff and how much he misses them. She said: “If it wasn’t for sending Ethan to Kids 1st Hexham he wouldn’t have the social skills he has now.”

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Gabrielle and Jonathan Dawson – Kids 1st Rake Lane and Quorum

Gabrielle and Jonathan Dawson started their Kids 1st journeys at Rake Lane and finished them at Quorum. Since leaving Kids 1st Quorum Gabrielle and Jonathan both now attend Newcastle Preparatory School and are doing exceptionally well both in the classroom and outside it.

Gabrielle is now in Year 4 and enjoying every aspect of school life, as well as doing well academically Gabrielle is in the school’s under 9 hockey and netball teams. Her real passion though is for chess. Over the last 12 months Gabrielle has won the Northumberland under 9 girls County Cup and is the North East Girls supremo for her age group.

Her biggest achievement to date was playing internationally in the Reythmyno 2011 Tournament in Crete. Here she was playing alongside some of the current best players in the world.

Jonathan, Gabrielle’s younger brother, is now in Year 3 and as well as embracing day to day school life he is also enjoying a wide range of extracurricular activities. His two favourite sports are football and rugby which he plays every week. He is currently a member of the under 8s Northern Rugby team.

Wow, it looks like Gabrielle and Jonathan have been very busy since leaving Kids 1st and it’s great to see that they are doing so well.

This week Kids 1st has been named the highest quality provider of childcare in the UK by Nursery World.

Kids 1st Nurseries has topped a quality league table (High Fliers) which has been published by Nursery Chains, a supplement from Nursery World. The league table has been compiled with points based on their latest published Ofsted inspection reports and it shows that 62.5% of Kids 1st’s nurseries are outstanding.

Mark McArdle, Managing Director said: “I am so proud that we are at the top of this league table. Kids 1st has been in business for over seven years and in that time all of our nurseries have gone from strength to strength; it is fantastic that our hard work and dedication has been recognised by such a well respected publication in the childcare field.”

“As the managing director of Kids 1st I recognise that we wouldn’t be able to offer such a high level of childcare without the passion and support of all of our staff, especially our Head of Childcare, Allison Winship and Area Manager, Kelly Walsh. This quality rating is very much testament to the work of everyone in the Kids 1st team.”

This is the latest in a long line of achievements by Kids 1st; in 2011 alone they have achieved three outstanding Ofsted reports at their Wynyard, Gosforth and Quorum nurseries. In 2009 Kids 1st was named Nursery Chain of the Year by Nursery World.

On 1 November lots of little fairies and elves visited Kids 1st Hexham to celebrate the launch of The Fairies of Northumberland.

All of the guests at the event enjoyed a book reading and signing by Kristy Giblin, the author of The Fairies of Northumberland, face painting, a fancy dress competition and lots of magical treats.

The Fairies of Northumberland is a collection of enchanting children’s stories to tickle the literary taste buds of your children and enthuse and inspire them into reading. With magical illustrations and hidden Northumbrian landmarks throughout the books they are sure to be a hit with girls and boys alike.

Take a look below at some of the photographs from the event:

If you’re anything like Kids 1st you will already be getting excited for Christmas. So why not come along to the Kids 1st Durham Christmas Fair on 19 November 2011 to pick up some gifts for your loved ones and to get into the festive spirit.

The fair will be held between 11am and 2pm and stalls include: Christmas decorations, cakes, jewellery, a raffle and so much more. There will even be a special visit from Father Christmas.

The event is in support of Small Steps Seize the Day, a  group that raises awareness of epilepsy and supports  families in the local area who have babies and toddlers with epilepsy.

For further information about the fair please call 0191 461 8877 and ask to speak to Nancy.

Kids 1st are currently recruiting for a Peripatetic Music and Movement/PE Teacher to work across all nine nurseries in the North East of England. The successful candidate must have experience of working with under 5′s and knowledge of EYFS is essential.

Salary: Negotiable based on experience. Car and petrol included.
Hours: 30 hours per week. Monday to Friday, term time only.

To apply for this position please download an Application Form doc 2012 and send it to:

Allison Winship
Head of Childcare
Kids 1st Nurseries
HMC House
Keel Row 12
The Watermark
Gateshead
NE11 9SZ

Tel: 0191 461 8877

This position is subject to an Enhanced CRB Disclosure, the cost of which will be covered by the company.

Kids 1st are an Equal Opportunities employer.

Kids 1st are currently recruiting for a Peripatetic Languages Teacher to work across all nine nurseries in the North East of England. The successful candidate must have experience of working with under 5′s, knowledge of EYFS is essential and own transport.

Salary: Negotiable based on experience. Mileage is included.
Hours: 30 hours per week. Monday to Friday, term time only.

To apply for this position please download an Application Form and send it to:

Allison Winship
Head of Childcare
Kids 1st Nurseries
HMC House
Keel Row 12
The Watermark
Gateshead
NE11 9SZ

Tel: 0191 461 8877

This position is subject to an Enhanced CRB Disclosure, the cost of which will be covered by the company.

Kids 1st are an Equal Opportunities employer.