Big Party For Little People Crèche Is 25 Years In The Making
Local Crèche & Montessori Little People at the top of Baldoyle Road is celebrating its 25th anniversary as its doors open for a new season and a fresh in-take of children to fill its ranks. Accidental proprietor Brendan O’Brien, who took over the running of the business when in its infancy opines, “it was never a strategic move to take over a crèche, it was just an opportunity that came up and it’s funny because it was less about business and more about providing local parents with a healthy, wholesome environment and entrusting us with the care of their most precious assets, their children.”
While the emphasis was originally on childminding, the demands on parents and the emphasis on the sector has seen it expand from care in a traditional sense to a more holistic service. “Originally it was about caring, which is at the core of what we do” says Brendan, “but once a child moves beyond infant, there is now a big focus on the child’s early years development and to make sure they are ready and able to engage and embrace real school, which for a small child, is a very big move”.
While confining himself to management and his annual role of Santa Claus, regulation has also placed significant demands on players in the sector and for someone with different business interests, the lesson is very clear. “You’re only as good as the people working with you and in this business we have been very blessed with the team we have in place. But small is beautiful, that’s the real lesson for me in childcare and I think that has really worked for us over the years, with the result that demand is at its highest and our reputation for quality care continues.”
Paying particular tribute to the staff who have worked in Little People and the hundreds of once little people, now teens, adults and (almost) the aged, Brendan O’Brien keeps upbeat, “I look at the first 25 years as a good start and looking forward to the next 25!”.
Congratulations Little People and looking forward to the balloons and the bunting!
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