Highfield Lane Day Nursery celebrates 10 years in St Albans
Seymour House’s Highfield Lane Day Nursery is celebrating its 10-year anniversary this October, marking a decade of creating joyful early years experiences for more than 600 children and their families in St Albans.
Since opening its doors in 2016, Highfield Lane has become a much-loved part of the local community, welcoming generations of children through its doors. Its wonderful team create a warm, nurturing environment where children feel secure, develop their confidence and enjoy exciting opportunities to learn, play and grow.
This was reflected in its latest Ofsted inspection in June 2024, when Highfield Lane was rated ‘Outstanding’. Inspectors praised the care children receive, describing how:
“Children form exceptionally close bonds with staff and flourish in their nurturing care.”
The report also recognised the nursery’s exceptionally high standard of partnerships with parents, highlighting the opportunities families have to be involved in their children’s learning.
A week of celebrations
To mark its 10th anniversary, Highfield Lane will enjoyed a week of celebrations with the children and team. The week included sharing 10 things the children love about nursery, planting flowers and vegetables as part of ‘10 Years of Growing’, a Seymour House-themed day and a fun Throwback Thursday, before the celebrations culminated in a special Nursery Tea Party, with games, music and plenty of fun.
A decade of brilliant people
The people at the heart of Highfield Lane have played a huge part in its 10-year story. Joanna Wallis has been part of the nursery since it opened, while Jules Person and Aimee Shoemaker have both been part of the team for nine years. Ruth Malley, Kia Jenkins and Tegan Bailey have also each been part of the Highfield Lane team for six years or more.
For Kia, who joined Highfield Lane as an apprentice and has since progressed to become Nursery Manager, the opportunities her career has brought have been a particular highlight. For Jules, it is seeing children’s confidence grow as they prepare for school, while the team share a common joy in seeing children’s personalities shine and supporting families throughout their nursery journey.
Amanda Fee, Head of Operations at Seymour House, said:
“We are so proud of Highfield Lane and everything the team has achieved over the past 10 years. Having been there when the nursery first opened, it is wonderful to look back at how much it has grown and developed, and at the many children and families who have been part of its story. Most importantly, it is lovely to see the difference our brilliant team makes every day.
Highfield Lane is a warm, joyful place where children can grow in confidence, discover their own interests and reach their full potential. We would like to thank every member of the Highfield Lane team, past and present, for their dedication and hard work, and wish the nursery a very happy 10th anniversary.”
Ten years on, Highfield Lane continues to be a place where children can be themselves, follow their curiosity and grow in confidence, surrounded by a team who care deeply about their early years journey. Here’s to the next chapter, and all the children, families and happy memories still to come.
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For further information, please contact:
Sarah Wightwick
sarah.wightwick@seymourhouse.co.uk
About Seymour House:
For over 35 magical years, Seymour House has provided a beyond brilliant nursery experience for families. We nurture children’s imagination and nourish their body and mind to help unlock their limitless potential.
Our unique early years approach draws on our expertise, creativity, and forward thinking to deliver the best outcomes for children across our 11 Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ settings in Essex and Hertfordshire.
We have over 300 passionate and inspiring Apprentices, qualified Early Years Educators, dual nursery leadership from Heads of Early Years and Nursery Managers and a wonderful support team. Our team is our superpower!
