ARC Nursery turns 20

ARC nursery was formed in 2003 when Luton Borough Councils’ Early Years Team and The Big Lottery were granted monies as part of the Neighbourhood Nurseries scheme from The Department of Education. These monies enabled the Ashcroft and Ramridge Tenants and Residents Association to provide an affordable, low-cost, nursery provision which is open 48 weeks of the year from 8am until 6pm.

The neighbourhood nursery was built on Ramridge Primary School grounds, and it was Ann McMaster, who runs the nursery, that was lucky enough to lay the first bricks before it was signed over to ARC on the 30th of June 2004.

Over the years ARC Nursery has not only enabled mothers to return to work but helped train local people to achieve a National Vocational Qualification in Early Years and Childcare.

So successful has the nursery been that Ofsted has consistently graded ARC ‘Outstanding’ in all aspects of childcare for the past three inspections. It is one of only a few in the local area that has achieved ‘Outstanding’!

‘The provision is outstanding, Children relish their time in this vibrant nursery.’ Ofsted 2022

Over the years the staff have seen the babies and children that first attended the nursery in 2004 go on to college and university.

Ann McMaster was awarded the Pride of Luton award for all her community work. The nursery has always been community minded and now runs many projects such as clothes banks for children and family housing support, Advocacy service with social care that support family long after the children move on to school. We have a toy bank and support families fleeing domestic violence. The project works with the whole community.

It is ARC’s 20th birthday this year, and we are going to celebrate with a party. There will be lots of fun and games for the whole family.

If you are a past, or present, child or family that has been a part of our journey, please contact us at ARC nursery on 01582 402812 or drop us an email at [email protected]

We would love to invite as many people as possible to celebrate with us at our Birthday fun day on 20th July at Ramridge Baptist Church Marshal Road, Luton.