Case Study
SCALLYWAGS DAY NURSERY, MELBOURNE, DERBYSHIRE
Now in its 8th year, Scallwags has grown from a 40 to a 111 place nursery with the sort of reputation that
guarantees a healthy waiting list.
Started by the owner, Mary Dunnicliff, the nursery is still very much a
family affair with sister, Sarah, a qualified teacher in charge of the curriculum, Uncle , Henry, responsible for the
accounts and the lovely gardens, Dad, Alan, looking after buildings and maintenance and Mum, Alice, still helping out
with the cooking when necessary.
Scallywags Day Nursery showing the lovely setting
There is clearly a strong work ethic in the family set by Mary’s Grandfather whose working life stretched from aged 15
to 91 and who would visit the nursery daily to read the children a story. He had founded a shoe factory on the premises,
but saw that foreign competition was crippling the business and encouraged Mary, who had wanted to join his business, to go
to university and pursue a different career. His memory is preserved in the company logo which includes two footprints.
Mary has always been an enthusiastic supporter of apprenticeships as she sees the value of getting to know
the learner and being closely involved in their training. She has worked with Access Training from the outset and says
that whilst she gets phone calls every week offering her "sparklies" to change allegiance, why would she change? She
has very good relationships with her current Trainer Assessors, Becky Burke and Rachel Harriman, and uses their
feedback in her reviews of staff performance. She likes our thorough approach, finds the evening sessions held at her
premises really beneficial and really appreciates that we have a Quality Manager, Duncan Hembury, because "if there’s
a problem, he sorts it straight away".
Mary playing with the Crocodile group
Staff retention is exemplary and Mary tries to employ locally. She clearly knows her staff and is keen to offer
them progression wherever possible. She gave two examples of staff who have blossomed whilst at Scallywags:
Now an Advanced Apprentice, Linzey was uncertain which career path to take since leaving school and was on Job Seekers
Allowance. As a local girl, Mary knew her and offered her a job peeling vegetables in the kitchen and helping with an after
school club. Lindsay found she really enjoyed working with the children and was offered a full time job but on the
condition she trained. She has really flourished and should be fully qualified by June.
Demi came from school at 16. She could not be included in staffing ratios until she reached 17 but she completed her Level
2 within the year and has now started Level 3 working along side a Key Worker with a deaf child. Demi herself learnt sign
language, taught other staff and continues to teach it to the other children so that they can all communicate with the child.
We wish them the best for the future
