A children's nursery has become the first to open in Highams Park for 20 years.

Prior to the opening of Bright Futures, in Highams Green, on January 7, there were only two other day nurseries providing day care for children aged three months to five years.

Highams Park Day Nursery in Handsworth Avenue and Handsworth Pre-School in Malvern Avenue have been established in the area for more than 20 years.

Nursery manager Jessica Chierichetti, from Enfield, has been working in the childcare industry for 10 years.

The new establishment in Highams Park is purpose-built and based in the heart of the town.

The 30 year-old manager says there was a need to provide an additional day nursery in the area.

She said: "Our research showed that Highams Park was the perfect location for opening a new nursery.

"The nurseries in Highams Park have been established for many years and no doubt have long waiting lists.

"We felt there was an increasing need in the community to provide a new nursery space and hopefully we can satisfy the overwhelming demand."

"We’ve had many parents telling us there are not any nurseries providing space for babies and that is something we feel is quite unique to us.

"I feel there are a lot of young families living in the borough and the new estate has attracted many young families to our doorstep."

The nursery has two rooms, one of which is specially designed for babies aged three months to two years and the second space caters for pre-school children. 

At an additional cost, the nursery, which is open for 51 weeks of the year, provides an early start of 7am and late finish of 6pm to cater for working parents.

According to Ofsted measurements, the nursery can facilitate up to 28 children, and already has 16 children registered at the day nursery.

An official opening of Bright Futures Nursery will be held at the Highams Green nursery on March 1 from 10am to 2pm.