Celebrating 35 Years: Maria’s Journey and the Growth of Tops Parkstone

Today marks an incredible milestone—35 years since the opening of our very first Nursery, Tops Parkstone. From humble beginnings, we’ve grown into a trusted name in early childhood education with now 33 nurseries in the Tops Day Nurseries chain, providing children with exceptional care and learning opportunities.

As we celebrate this remarkable journey, we reflect on the legacy of those who helped build the foundation of what we are today. One of those people, Maria, who started as a Nursery assistant at Tops Parkstone and is now Director of Central and Customer Services. Her dedication played a pivotal role in shaping the nursery’s success. Looking back, it’s inspiring to see how far we’ve come and how our commitment to nurturing and educating young minds has continued to grow and evolve over the years. Read on to hear all about Maria’s journey at Tops Parkstone…

When did you join Tops Parkstone and what was your job role?

13^th August 1990 Nursery Assistant.

What was the nursery like when you first started, and how does it compare to today?

It was so bright and colourful! The tables were covered with red and green plastic covering, the curtains were white with safari animals all over them, and there red sliding door to get into the nursery, the children had jelly on their birthdays and squash and a rich tea biscuit at snack time. We didn’t have one computer in the building! When the walls needed painting the whole team would come in at the weekend and we painted the nursery together as we couldn’t afford to get decorators. My time at Parkstone was wonderful and we had so much fun. I was so lucky to work with such amazing caring people.

Fast forward to today, and while the nursery still holds that same warmth and energy, we’ve evolved with a focus on sustainability and real resources. Instead of plastic coverings, we now use more sustainable materials and real resources that children can explore and learn from, such as natural wood toys, sensory play items, and eco-friendly educational tools. Our approach to sustainability is an important part of our values, ensuring that we not only care for the children but also the environment around us. It’s exciting to see how our commitment to providing a nurturing environment has grown.

Do you have a favourite memory from your time at Tops Parkstone?

So many wonderful memories. One significant memory was reading stories. I loved picking up a book and sitting with all the children and simply just reading to them. I remember one day reading a story and the children were all so engrossed, and it was so quiet. A few parents had arrived to collect their children and were waiting until I had finished the story before taking their children home.

We had pet gerbils in the early days and the nursery had a stage area with storage underneath, the stage floor had to be lifted up to gain access, one day a gerbil went missing, and it took hours to find it, it was underneath the stage floor! Getting the gerbil out was even harder!

We took cash, cheques, and credit cards (we even had one of those credit card machines with duplicate slips!) and I had to balance a paper cash book daily. Cheryl would have to go shopping for the nursery most weeks and would pop in and take the cash she needed and if I wasn’t there, I’d ask people to not let Cheryl take any money unless she told them how much she was taking as I could never get the books the balance when I got back! But really, who was going to stop Cheryl from taking money from her cashbox!

What was the most rewarding part of working at Tops Parkstone?

Watching children grow, being a part of their early lives and remaining a part of their parent’s memories, even now, 35 years later, still seeing parents when I’m out and stopping me to tell me how their 4 year old is now 30 and has children of their own.

I remember on my 1^st Day on 13^th August 1990 a little boy called Alex started on the same day as me, his mum was so worried about leaving him but we both made it through that first day together. Alex is now 36 years old, he lives in Australia and is a foreman in a mining company and we’re friends on Facebook!

What traditions or values have remained the same over the years? 

It’s about the children and the care we provide, parents trust us with the most precious thing in their world.  

What’s one thing you’re most proud of from your time at Tops Parkstone?

The responsibility of caring for what parents hold closest to their hearts.

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As we celebrate 35 years of success, we are proud of how far we’ve come. From the early days at Tops Parkstone to now, we’ve expanded, adapted, and evolved while maintaining our core values of providing high-quality care and education. This journey has been one of continuous improvement, driven by passionate individuals who believe in the difference we can make in children’s lives. This milestone wouldn’t have been possible without the vision and hard work of those like Maria. As we look forward to the next 35 years, we know we will continue to grow and inspire future generations of learners. Here’s to the journey that started with a single nursery and has grown into a chain of 33 nurseries, flourishing into something truly special!