A nursery branch in the Borough of Richmond has won a prestigious early-years prize for the third time running.

Buttercups Day Nurseries, with bases in Teddington, Isleworth and Syon Park, was voted one of the Top 20 mid-sized nursery groups in the country in October.

The annual Top 20 Nursery Awards highlight the most recommended nursery groups in the UK, which is based on over 50,000 reviews from parents or individuals with a child who attends nursery.

Carol Whitehouse, Principal of Buttercups, said:

“We are delighted to win this award for the third year! I am so proud of how hard our wonderful teams have worked throughout this pandemic, continuing to deliver on our ethos, ‘Learning through play the Buttercups way,’ despite all the changes and additional precautions.

“I would also like to extend my warmest thanks to our parents, whose glowing reviews are the biggest reward of all.”

Buttercups is a family-run group which has provided childcare in West London for nearly 40 years. Over lockdown, the nursery adapted to a new role, keeping three of its sites open for the children of key workers.

Despite the challenges the nursery sector faced in the pandemic, staff responded quickly to changing governmental guidance, balancing the needs of children, parents and staff.

Early education is offered through a mix of approaches, including Montessori, Forest School, HighScope and the EYFS.

John B, a parent from Buttercup’s Acton branch, said: “The team at Buttercups are extremely caring and loving. They have a fun, educational and caring atmosphere and our child's learning growth over the years is a testament to the planning and structure they have in place.”