AFTER ending the year by celebrating its silver anniversary, a borough pre-school says it is looking forward to the new year with optimism, even though it will start under the strictest of conditions.

Acorns pre-school operates from the Scouts Hall in Waterstone Road, Chadwell St Mary, where it can look after up to 26 children per session and was looking to end the year with big celebrations to mark its 25th anniversary.

However, Covid restrictions put paid to that.

Owner Denise Schofield takes up the tale, saying: "We couldn't do the big celebration we had planned so we combined it with Christmas, therefore we turned an area of the pre-school into a Christmas grotto, where the children were able to celebrate in their own bubbles each day so no child was left out. Each child received a present.

"Acorns pre-school has been opened since 1995 and I took over in over in 1998. Children are now returning as parents bringing their own children to the pre-school which has become a big part of the community.

"I would like to thank the parents and children for fully supporting the rules put in place for Covid. Everyone has been brilliant conforming to the rules and the children have been brilliant in doing so

"We will be remaining open but we have strict guidelines for the parents to follow, as we have done since we reopened, to keep everyone as safe as possible.

"I would just like to thank my wonderful staff for all the support, passion and commitment over the past 25 years and as a decade ends I am looking forward to another 25 years."