Parents, children, friends and staff gathered at Mount Esk Nursery in Bonnyrigg recently to celebrate a decade of Wrap Around Care service and Positive Steps.
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The Lasswade High School jazz band played, the sun shone and the guests enjoyed an afternoon of fun to mark this important milestone in Midlothian childcare and Midlothian Sure Start .
Wrap around care at the council's Mount Esk nursery offers childcare outwith the normal nursery hours.
For example, children can come along for breakfast and stay after nursery until 6 o'clock, offering a lifeline for many parents allowing them to go back into work, education or training.
The wrap around service shares a room in Mount Esk Nursery School building with Positive Steps, the Bonnyrigg branch of Midlothian Sure Start. Milothian Sure Start is a quality, support service for families with young children.
Susan Kerr Co-ordinator outlined some of the types of support on offer such as individual to peer group support. Parents and children work together on building their resilience and self-esteem, decreasing isolation and widening opportunities.
Head teacher Susan Smith thanked everyone for coming along to mark the occasion. She said: "It's fantastic to see so many people here today from parternship agencies to children and parents we've supported in the past."
The cake was cut by the lead partners involved in setting up the services, Anne Rooney, Cheryl Brown and former head teacher Christine McQueen.
Among the guests was Lydia Shiell who came along with her son Austin, 3, and daughters Jasmine, 8 and Bella, 6. She described the support from Positive Steps as "a total life saver".
Also enjoying the sunshine were Finlay Daraj, 8, and his mum Laura. Finlay, who is now at Hawthornden Primary, said he loved coming to Wrap around Care at Mount Esk. He made lots of new friends and thoroughly enjoyed the crafts.
Those involved are looking forward to many more years of effective partnership working between the three services based at Mount Esk Nursery School, offering childcare and support for families in this area.
Pic caption: Among the guests was Lydia Shiell and daughters Jasmine, 8 and Bella, 6.
