Dunky’s Day Nurseries and Forest Schools are celebrating two decades of delivering childcare and education.
The award-winning family-run business, which is committed to providing high quality childcare, inspiring learning, and nurturing environments for children and families across Runcorn, Widnes, Frodsham, and Warrington, has grown to seven nurseries.
Over the past 20 years, Dunky’s has expanded to multiple locations, the two most recent ones opening in Hapsford, Frodsham, and a Forest School at Gulliver’s World, Warrington.
Dunky’s founder and director Siobhan McCarroll started her career as a nursery nurse before working up to become a manager, and she always dreamed of opening her own group of nurseries.
She said: “When I opened my first nursery 20 years ago, I never imagined it would grow into a company employing over 150 people across seven sites and caring for nearly 700 children and families.
“Building a business alone as a woman came with challenges, but it also gave me the strength to lead with empathy, resilience and purpose.
“What makes me most proud is the family we’ve built along the way. Our teams have supported one another through challenges, celebrated milestones together, and grown both professionally and personally.
“Watching people develop, stay with us, and help shape the next generation has been one of the most rewarding parts of this journey.
“Every day, you walk through our doors ready to do one of the most important jobs in the world: shaping early lives. You soothe worries, spark curiosity, wipe tears, tie shoelaces, share laughter, and create the kind of safety and joy that children remember for a lifetime. That is extraordinary work – and it deserves extraordinary recognition.”
Siobhan added that one of her biggest highlights was winning Businesswoman of the Year and Business of the Year at the Warrington Business Awards in 2018 and being nominated and reaching the final three in 2016 and again in 2022.
Today Dunky’s has nurseries in Culcheth, Farnworth, Great Sankey, Hapsford, Runcorn, Warrington and at Gulliver’s World.
All the nurseries have gained either ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Good’ in Ofsted inspections.
Each nursery has strong connections with its local community, and together all seven fundraise for The Children’s Adventure Farm Trust (CAFT) in Millington. Over the last five years Dunky’s has raised over £26k for the charity.
www.dunkysdaynursery.co.uk
