Brenda Dearsley is one of a small but growing number of private nurseryproprietors taking the lead in children's centres. But she admits it hasnot been straightforward.
At first she feared her Clacton-on-Sea nursery, which has been going for18 years, would be left out of Essex County Council's plans forchildren's centre provision. "Initially it looked like we wouldn't beincluded. But at a later date we were approached to get involved," shesays. Dearsley was planning to expand anyway but becoming a children'scentre made this easier.
The Willow Tree Day Nursery and Children's Centre opened in April afteran extension was built to allow it to offer more childcare, anafter-school club and a range of services from a baby clinic toparenting support.
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