Any working parent knows the importance of finding somewhere safe, secure, caring and happy for their children to attend during the day.
And Gwent is luck enough to be home to any number of wonderful day nurseries for the under fives.
Here Business Update focuses on a few of the nurseries out there to find out what they have to offer...
Sunnybank Day Nursery
Sunnybank Day Nursery has recently undergone an exciting phase of business expansion and improvement.
In March 2003 the nursery moved two doors down into larger premises at 3 Stow Park Avenue.
Following this, Jane Bateman, a director of Sunnybank, and Helen Powell, the manager, embarked on quality assurance accreditations from Wales Preschool Playgroups Association and Investors in People.
As if this wasn't enough, Mrs Bateman oversaw the renovation and opening of a new 89-place nursery in Chepstow in June 2005.
Mrs Bateman said: "We constantly strive to maintain the highest standards and professionalism in every aspect of our business. "Completing the WPPA Quality Standard was a truly positive experience in terms of the standards of care and education we provide for our children, and the assurance for parents that our practices and provision are of the highest standard. "Equally important are the managers and staff of both nurseries who are, without doubt, my greatest business assets. "The Investors in People Standard provided a framework for staff development through regular performance reviews and training, which has resulted in high morale, job satisfaction and low turnover."
She said: "Sunnybank, Newport, has lots of competition from other nurseries, so maintaining a high standard is our main priority. "For the year to August, before the children left for school, we were 85 per cent full, exceeding the national average of 80 per cent for the number of sessions sold annually. Attention to detail has been really important to our success."
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