GFTU BGCM Minutes 2017

views about the investment we need to make into future generations and in our

case particularly about having a financial investment that will plough finances

back into the movement, into the GFTU, into the ET so that yet another

generation can keep on learning about trade unionism etc. The two are so

interlinked we cannot separate them, even though on the one hand I talk about

separating from the hotel. So in January 2017 the nursery was at last

separated from the hotel and a separate trading company was established.

Quorn Grange Nursery is rated by OFSTED as good. The focus of the

directors is to maintain and improve that rating, but also to serve the local

community, because that is what trade unionists do as well. We are

determined to continue to embed the good child practice principles and on top

of all that also be a good employer. It is vital that any trade union movement

that employs people can stand up and say, “We too are good employers”.

Quorn Grange Nursery has a highly skilled and qualified group of directors,

plus a staff who are taking up opportunities for continuous professional

development. Overall on site leadership from Ian Richards means day to day

issues which crop up are dealt with speedily and with outright professionalism.

Our short term tasks are to establish a self-evaluation process, look carefully at

the governance and plan and implement the outcome of the new build which

will increase the numbers of children from 30 to 60 and see them nurtured in a

purpose built building which is so vitally important to make sure that the

pedagogy I spoke of is implemented properly. We will also increase

significantly the nursery’s contribution to the Educational Trust. Colleagues, I

am proud to be associated with Quorn Nursery. After 45 years in education

sometimes I am a pessimist, but when I look at Quorn Grange Nursery I know

that there is a great deal to be optimistic about.

I too did not get the thing from Doug about the quote from Shakespeare, but

that is probably because I did not arrange to come until quite late on, but I am

probably the only person in the room that is wearing Shakespeare around my

wrist, something I wear every day of my life. My Shakespeare is: “We are

48