ROCKING HORSE NURSERY AT NEWBURY RACECOURSE CELEBRATES 30^TH ANNIVERSARY

FEATURING A VERY SPECIAL VISIT FROM FORMER RACEHORSE AND MULTIPLE NEWBURY WINNER, NATIVE RIVER

This week, children and staff are celebrating the 30^th anniversary of the Rocking Horse Nursery at Newbury Racecourse, with a host of special events happening throughout the week including a tea party and activity sessions with a variety of specialists for the children to enjoy. To mark this important anniversary, honouree guest in the form of retired racehorse and multiple Newbury winner, Native River visited the Nursery staff and children to kick-start the celebrations. The children were so excited to meet Native River.

Established in 1992 and based in the unique setting of Newbury Racecourse, this early-learning centre currently has 45 children under 2yrs old and up to 27 children between 2 and 3yrs and 58 preschool children all of whom are looked after by 36 brilliant staff members.

Originally based in a small portacabin on the racecourse site and originally open as a raceday creche and nursery, the Rocking Horse Nursery moved into an upgraded development back in 2000 before it was relocated again into a brand-new purpose-built building in August 2015.

The new building design was meticulously thought through with experts, to create a bespoke nursery designed to meet the modern demands of childhood and it provides larger than average indoor room spaces for all age groups. The children have access to lovely outside areas and sometimes  walks on the racecourse.

Mel Godliman, who has been involved with the Rocking Horse Nursery since July 2016 said: “Today marks a very special moment in the history of The Rocking Horse Nursery. Our vision is to consistently provide the highest possible quality of care for the children who are entrusted to us and we are very lucky to have such supportive parents.

Ellie who attended the Rocking Horse Nursery as a child in 1997 is now a practitioner looking after the children added: “I remember being at Rocking Horse and it was so special, I couldn’t think of anywhere else I wanted to work.”

Julian Thick, Chief Executive of Newbury Racecourse added: “The Rocking Horse Nursery is a very important and special part of our business at Newbury Racecourse run by a wonderful team of early-learning practitioners, and we are delighted to celebrate its thirtieth year.

“The nursery continues go from strength to strength and we look to the opening of the extension in 2023.”

Caption: Chief Executive of Newbury Racecourse, Julian Thick with Native River and Rocking Horse Nursery Manager, Mel Godliman.

All the classrooms are named after racehorses who have previously won at Newbury including, Suny Bay who was present for the re-opening of the nursery back in 2000, Many Clouds, Tidal Bay, Rocky Creek and with a new classroom currently being built and scheduled to be open in 2023, it is deemed appropriate that with a visit from Native River today, it will be named after this very special racehorse.