ONE of the North East’s top-rated nurseries is expanding with the appointment of three new members of staff.

Little Ladybirds Day Nursery has announced that Hollie Trowsdale, Jess Willett, and Amy Oliver have all been recruited as Early Years Educators.

Little Ladybirds, which is based at Preston Farm Industrial Estate in Stockton, is rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted, and is listed as one of the top 20 nurseries in the North of England for five years running.

The team, which is now 30-strong, looks after over 100 children from just weeks old through to pre-school age.

Hollie, 18, from Thornaby has joined Little Ladybirds, looking after pre-school little ones aged three and four. She said: “I am loving working here and am so lucky that I have the nicest bunch of children to look after. It makes every day so much fun.”

Jess, 17, from Stockton is undertaking a Level 3 Early Years apprenticeship which she will complete in the summer of 2025. She said: “Everyone is so lovely and have been very supportive since I started in October. I look after the toddlers and they’re lovely, they make me smile and laugh every day.”

Amy, 25, from Stockton joined the Little Ladybirds team after seeing the opportunity advertised and feeling ready for a new challenge. She said: “I just started in December, so I’ve not been here long, but I am really enjoying it and feel very lucky to work with such a nice team of people and children.”

Little Ladybirds Day Nursery is part of Clever Clogs Nursery Group, which is owned by County Durham entrepreneur Andrea Townsley. The group also includes the Clever Clogs nurseries at Bowburn and Belmont.

Claire Harrison-Jones, Manager of Little Ladybirds Day Nursery, said: “As we prepare for the introduction of the 15 hours of supported childcare for children aged two from April, it’s vitally important that we have the right level, and quality, of resources in places and that means recruiting more people like Hollie, Jess and Amy.”