Some of Santa’s most important helpers have dropped by a nursery near Fakenham for a very special festive celebration.

Fakenham & Wells Times: Nursery children at Blossoms Childcare get a visit from some reindeer during their Christmas party.Byline: Sonya DuncanCopyright: Archant 2017Nursery children at Blossoms Childcare get a visit from some reindeer during their Christmas party.Byline: Sonya DuncanCopyright: Archant 2017 (Image: Archant 2017)

Blossoms Childcare Nursery celebrated their first Christmas with a Winter Wonderland event on Friday and the children were given the opportunity to spend time meeting some real reindeer who were being looked after by Santa’s elves.

The festive event was organised by nursery owners Nicky Gilkes and Katie Conway.

“We’ve been planning our Winter Wonderland for months now and being able to introduce the children to real reindeer is definitely one of the highlights,” said Ms Conway.

The reindeer were supplied by N and J Heavy Horses and the children had the chance to spend time with them in the nursery’s outdoor space.

Fakenham & Wells Times: Nursery children at Blossoms Childcare get a visit from some reindeer during their Christmas party. Nicky Gilkes and Katie Conway who started the business with Gina Hackling of N and J heavy horses who supplied the reindeer. Byline: Sonya Duncan Copyright: Archant 2017Nursery children at Blossoms Childcare get a visit from some reindeer during their Christmas party. Nicky Gilkes and Katie Conway who started the business with Gina Hackling of N and J heavy horses who supplied the reindeer. Byline: Sonya Duncan Copyright: Archant 2017 (Image: ARCHANT EASTERN DAILY PRESS (01603) 772434)

The nursery was able to hold the event because of its location in Kipton Wood, on the former RAF West Raynham site.

“We have so much space here at Kipton Wood so we’re able to organise lots of outdoor, environmentally focused events for children who come to play and learn with us,” Ms Conway added.

The nursery was established in April 2017 and Mr Gilkes said that part of the reason for picking the location was his personal connection to the area. “Katie sent the details of a refurbished house near Fakenham and I realised it was next door to the home I’d lived in as a boy, when my father was stationed at RAF West Raynham,” he said.

“We moved in to the house and then found out that space was available at Kipton Wood for a nursery setting. The rest, as they say, is history.”

Fakenham & Wells Times: Nursery children at Blossoms Childcare get a visit from some reindeer during their Christmas party.Byline: Sonya DuncanCopyright: Archant 2017Nursery children at Blossoms Childcare get a visit from some reindeer during their Christmas party.Byline: Sonya DuncanCopyright: Archant 2017 (Image: Archant 2017)

Blossoms had been a popular choice for parents because of a business model which makes supporting working parents a priority. To achieve this, the two owners have centred the business on the idea of flexibility, which means opening for more hours than conventional nurseries, including opening on weekends, and allowing parents to take their child in at a times that are most convenient for them.

“Our aim is to be nothing less than outstanding,” Ms Conway added. “From the quality of toys we buy to the exceptional staff we employ, we want the children we care for to feel happy, safe and stimulated and for their parents to feel reassured that their children look forward to the time they spend with us.”

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