SME News Q4 2022/ 38 Day Nursery of the Year 2026 – Lincolnshire & Early Years Education Excellence Award 2026 – Lincolnshire Alice Anders launched Tingers Childcare (Tingers) in April 2022, with the vision to create a thriving and outstanding destination for quality care and education, warmly welcoming all children and families with a variety of needs and coming from a variety of backgrounds. Starting out with only two staff, Tingers today employs 16 people and is at capacity until September 2027. We spoke to Alice to learn more about the award-winning Tingers Childcare. Tingers Childcare exists with a real uniqueness in how inclusive it is, championing enrolling children with additional needs way before the government decided it should be done, and transforming children’s lives through consistent curriculum, the most valuable and meaningful interactions, and building the foundations for the next stages of their learning. At present, a high proportion of the children who attend Tingers have additional needs, and these are fully integrated into its daily routine. There isn’t any segregation or taking them into separate rooms; every child is fully included in everything. This is something Alice feels deeply that so many other nurseries and schools can achieve. Data shows more children with additional needs are being identified earlier – yet there is still a long way to go nationally in terms of developing an inclusive culture to make sure children are supported. “It takes dedication, commitment, and a whole lot of adapting – constantly,” Alice said of Tingers nurturing an inclusive environment. “This threads through everything at Tingers, from recruitment of staff and their training to enable them to feel confident and fully support children with varying needs, to adjusting routines, activities, and experiences, so every child can be included.” Alice and the team do understand that children and families go through different circumstances that can have an effect on progression – but they don’t accept this as an excuse. “We reflect and it is about breaking those barriers down to adapt and introduce alternate paths so children can learn whilst building resilience,” said Alice. “This is the common value that is instilled through the whole of Tingers.” “Our passion for supporting children and their families is the driving force behind everything we do. We break barriers that some think are not possible. We help transform lives through consistent curriculum, and the highest quality interactions, building the foundations for their next stages of learning.” Of course, Tingers’ biggest asset is its staff, who go above and beyond to ensure every child feels safe, happy, and included. Alice truly believes that when you value your team and support them to develop as much as they want to, the outcomes are incredible. Staff go through a rigorous induction training package to ensure consistent approaches to learning across the nursery, with this supplemented by at least three supervisions a year, alongside ongoing professional targets tri-weekly. Alice noted how Lincolnshire is a fantastic local authority to be based in, with so much support for nursery providers and other educational settings, too. Training and ongoing support are all available at a click of a button or by picking up the phone – something that isn’t readily available in other counties. When it comes to recruitment, Alice looks for a can-do attitude, saying, “Adults have difficulties in life, changes in circumstances. It’s how we choose to deal with those circumstances that matter, our view on turning up for the children even when things are tough in our own lives. Of course, wellbeing is of utmost importance across the setting, which we value and ensure all staff feel themselves, able to be at work. We have programmes of support for staff when they need it, to ensure they get suitable and with appropriate help to build their own resilience.” With all of this in mind, what does the future hold for Tingers Childcare? Alice tells us that it’s all about growth. “We want to be able to offer all the families that enquire a space,” she shared. “We just need a space to grow into or another premises to develop a new provision. But let’s get one thing straight – we will never be a chain nursery. Each setting, if we ever open another, will be fully tailored, fully accessible, and have the same core values at the heart of being fully inclusive and breaking down barriers to support children to make excellent progress.” If you would like to learn more about Tingers Childcare, visit the website, call 07306800663, or email office@ tingerschildcare.co.uk. Contact: Alice Anders Company: Tingers Childcare Web Address: www.tingerschildcare.co.uk Tingers Childcare
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