Councillor Ryan Holloway Visits Tops Wareham for World Book Day!

Tops Wareham was excited to host Councillor Ryan Holloway for a special visit in celebration of World Book Day. As part of the festivities, Cllr Holloway joined the children in their love of storytelling.

Following the story time session in which he read to the Investigators. He took the opportunity to chat with staff over refreshments, where he spoke with Ryan, about his journey into the early years sector and his aspirations for the future.

During his visit, Cllr Holloway engaged with the nursery team to discuss key topics affecting early years education/ local families. A key point of discussion was the Family Hub, which opened in Wareham last year. He was keen to understand whether families at Tops Wareham are accessing its services. Although uptake is unknown, the nursery promotes the Family Hub on its notice board to ensure families are aware of all support.

Nursery occupancy and funding changes were also on the agenda. The Explorers room has seen a significant increase in demand. Largely due to the introduction of funding for 9-month-olds, highlighting the growing need for high-quality childcare in the area.

Feedback from the Us and Ryan Holloway:

Jessica Beach, Regional Director at Tops, provided further insight into the recent changes from the Department for Education. She also discussed their potential impact on early years settings.

Speaking about the visit, Danielle Hewitt, Nursery Manager at Tops Wareham, said: “It was fantastic to welcome Councillor Holloway to our nursery, especially on such a fun occasion like World Book Day. The children loved having a special guest read to them, and it was great to have meaningful conversations about the challenges and opportunities in early years education. We’re excited to continue working with local leaders to ensure the best outcomes for our children and families.”

Councillor Ryan Holloway said: “It’s always a pleasure and privilege to return to Tops for World Book Day. I thoroughly enjoy reading stories with the children, as early reading is incredibly important for their development and transition into mainstream education. It was great to see Danielle, the Nursery Manager, again and to speak with the wonderful staff at Tops Wareham. I appreciate them taking the time to give me a tour and share their views and experiences.

I’m pleased to see the nursery thriving and full of happiness. However, with the new Employer’s National Insurance tax changes coming into effect in April 2025, I understand from the Managing Director of Tops that this could significantly increase costs and potentially impact vacancies across the Tops group. This is a concern, and I will be raising these issues with Dorset Council and our MPs. I look forward to returning later this year and visiting the nursery again this summer.”

Tops Wareham enjoyed hosting Ryan Holloway for World Book Day. They would love to continue discussions on how to best support families and children in the community.