The Family Tree Day Nursery has been named Nursery of the Year at the North East 2026 Local Awards, recognising a family-run nursery that has become far more than an early years setting. It has become a place of care, comfort, community and genuine love for children under five and the families who trust the team every day. Opened in 2018, The Family Tree Day Nursery provides a loving and nurturing environment for young children, with a strong focus on supporting not only the children in its care, but also parents, families and the wider local community. Based in Howdon, the nursery was created with the hope of giving something meaningful back to the area where the family grew up. For the team, this award means everything. Because it was voted for by the public, the recognition feels especially powerful. It reflects the trust of parents, the support of the community and the extraordinary dedication of a nursery team that has gone above and beyond in ways that reach far beyond the nursery doors.

A Family-Run Nursery Built With Love

The Family Tree Day Nursery opened in 2018 as a family-run business with a deeply personal story behind it. The owner’s parents invested money into the nursery on one condition: that it opened in their local area. They wanted the community they had grown up in to benefit from a nursery that would support local children and families. Sadly, the owner’s dad passed away before the nursery opened. Since then, everything the nursery does has been inspired by the desire to make him proud. That sense of love, legacy and purpose can be felt throughout the business. This was never just about opening a childcare setting. It was about creating something meaningful for the community and carrying forward a family dream. That personal foundation has shaped the nursery’s identity from the beginning. The Family Tree Day Nursery is built around care, warmth and connection. It supports children during some of the most important early years of their lives, while also forming close relationships with families. For parents, knowing their child is cared for in an environment created with so much heart brings a level of reassurance that is difficult to put into words.

A Loving Environment for Children Under Five

At its core, The Family Tree Day Nursery provides a loving and nurturing environment for children under five. Those early years are incredibly important. They shape confidence, communication, social skills, emotional development and the way children begin to understand the world around them. A good nursery does more than supervise children. It helps them feel safe, valued and ready to grow. The Family Tree Day Nursery understands that every child is different. Some children need encouragement to come out of their shell. Others need routine, reassurance or space to explore. The team works closely with families so they can understand each child’s needs and provide the right support. That kind of care helps children settle, develop and enjoy their time at nursery. The nursery’s loving approach also gives parents confidence. Leaving a young child in someone else’s care is one of the biggest acts of trust a parent can make. Families need to know their children are not only safe, but genuinely cared for. The Family Tree Day Nursery has built its reputation by creating that feeling of trust, comfort and belonging for both children and parents.

The Heart of the Community

One of The Family Tree Day Nursery’s proudest achievements is being known as the heart of the community. That is not a title a business can simply give itself. It is something earned through actions, relationships and showing up for people when it matters. The nursery’s commitment goes far beyond the families who attend. It supports the wider community through charity work, fundraising, practical help and emotional support. Over time, this has created a powerful sense that The Family Tree is not just located in Howdon, but truly belongs to Howdon. Being the heart of the community means noticing when people need help. It means organising events, raising money, supporting families quietly behind the scenes and creating moments of joy when times are hard. The Family Tree Day Nursery has done all of that. The award as Nursery of the Year recognises not only the quality of childcare provided, but also the huge role the nursery plays in bringing people together.

Charity Work That Has Changed Lives

The Family Tree Day Nursery stands out because of its extraordinary commitment to charity and community support. The nursery has helped raise money for causes that have made a real difference, including funding a life-saving defibrillator that has gone on to save lives. That alone shows the impact a nursery can have when it thinks beyond its own walls. The team has also funded a cuddle cot for sleeping babies and grieving families, raised over £1,400 for MND, raised money for Cancer Research and created a food bank within the nursery to support struggling families. These are not small gestures. They are practical, compassionate actions that meet real needs in the community. The nursery has also donated to homeless charities and respite centres, showing that its care reaches people in many different circumstances. During COVID, staff even ran through the streets dressed as Mario and Luigi just to keep spirits high and make the community smile. These moments show the personality and heart of the nursery: serious about support, but also willing to bring light, laughter and kindness wherever possible.

Remaining Open During COVID

COVID was the biggest challenge The Family Tree Day Nursery has faced. While many settings closed their doors, The Family Tree remained open, despite the risks. The nursery was the only local nursery to do so, and that decision became one of the team’s proudest moments. Remaining open during such an uncertain time required courage, commitment and a deep sense of responsibility. Staff had to manage changing guidance, health concerns, family worries and their own personal risks, all while continuing to provide care for children and support for parents. It was not easy, but the team’s dedication helped keep essential support available when many families needed it most. That period showed the true character of the nursery. It demonstrated that The Family Tree does not disappear when things become difficult. Instead, the team steps forward. Their willingness to remain open and continue supporting the community is one of the clearest examples of why families feel such strong loyalty towards the nursery.

Knowing Families Well Enough to Offer Real Support

The Family Tree Day Nursery gives back to the community not only through organised charity work, but also through knowing its families well enough to understand when extra support is needed. This personal knowledge is one of the most important parts of the nursery’s approach. In a caring early years setting, relationships matter. When staff know families properly, they can spot when someone is struggling, when a child may need extra reassurance or when a parent could use practical help. That kind of support cannot be delivered through a checklist. It comes from genuine connection and trust. The nursery’s food bank is one example of this care in action. It recognises that some families may be facing hardship and provides support in a way that is close, accessible and understanding. The Family Tree’s approach shows that early years care is about much more than what happens during nursery hours. It is about supporting the whole family around the child.

Proud to Be Part of Howdon

The Family Tree Day Nursery is proud to be part of Howdon. The family grew up in the area, and although Howdon is often classed as deprived, the nursery sees it as a place full of great people, strength and community spirit. That perspective matters. Too often, areas are described only by statistics or challenges. The Family Tree Day Nursery sees the people behind the label: families who show up, neighbours who support each other and a community that cares deeply. That belief in the local area is one of the reasons the nursery was opened there in the first place. The nursery’s success is closely tied to the community around it. Parents trust the team, local people attend charity events and families support fundays and other activities that bring people together. The Family Tree Day Nursery is proud to serve Howdon and proud to help show the warmth, generosity and resilience that exist within the area.

Helping a Family Through Terminal Illness

One customer story that shows the heart of The Family Tree Day Nursery involves a parent attending the nursery who has terminal cancer. The team has not only supported the child and family emotionally, but has also helped in deeply practical and personal ways. Recently, the nursery helped move the family from a flat into their new home. The team also arranged the parent’s wedding, including the cake, transport and dressing the venue. Being part of such an important day was a privilege for the nursery, but it also reflects the extraordinary lengths the team will go to for families in need. The support has continued through the parent’s difficult treatment days, with the nursery remaining there for the child’s mam when things are hard. This is not standard nursery care. It is community, compassion and love in action. Stories like this explain why one parent once said, “It takes a village… and The Family Tree Nursery is that village.”

A Public Vote That Meant Everything

When The Family Tree Day Nursery found out it had won Nursery of the Year, the reaction was pure excitement. The owner ran around the nursery telling staff, and the whole team was absolutely blown away. The fact that the award was decided by public vote made it especially meaningful. It showed that parents, families and the wider community had taken the time to support the nursery. For a setting that has given so much to its local area, seeing the community show up in return was incredibly powerful. The win felt like recognition for years of care, hard work and dedication. It was not just about one moment or one achievement. It was about everything the nursery has done since opening in 2018: caring for children, supporting families, fundraising, staying open during COVID and becoming a place people turn to when they need help.

What Winning Nursery of the Year Means

Winning this award means everything to The Family Tree Day Nursery. It recognises the love, care and commitment that go into the nursery every single day. It also celebrates the staff team, whose dedication is central to the nursery’s success. For the owner, the award is deeply personal. The nursery was inspired by family and by the desire to make a late father proud. To see the business recognised by the public is therefore more than a professional achievement. It is a moment filled with emotion, gratitude and pride. The award also reflects the nursery’s relationship with the community. The Family Tree has always tried to be there for others, and this win showed that the community was there for them too. It proved that the nursery’s work has made a lasting impression on the people it serves.

A Village Built Around Families

One parent once said, “It takes a village… and The Family Tree Nursery is that village.” That comment has stayed with the team because it captures exactly what the nursery hopes to be. A village is a place of support. It is where people know each other, help each other and step in when life becomes difficult. The Family Tree Day Nursery has created that kind of environment for its families. It is somewhere parents can feel understood, children can feel loved and the wider community can come together. After the public vote, the nursery realised something powerful: the community is its village too. Families, parents, neighbours and supporters showed up for The Family Tree just as the nursery has shown up for them. That shared connection is one of the most meaningful parts of the award and one of the biggest reasons the nursery feels so special.

Hopes for the Future

Looking ahead, The Family Tree Day Nursery would love to open another nursery when the time is right. That ambition reflects the success of the current setting and the desire to bring the same loving, community-focused approach to more families. Growth would not simply be about expanding a business. It would be about extending the nursery’s values: care, kindness, community and support. Any future nursery would carry the same spirit that has made The Family Tree such an important part of Howdon. For now, the focus remains on continuing to provide the best possible care for children and families, supporting the local community and staying true to the reasons the nursery was created. The award provides encouragement for that journey and confirms that the nursery’s approach is valued deeply by the people around it.

Thanking Family, Staff and the Community

The Family Tree Day Nursery would like to thank the owner’s mam, because without her, the nursery would not exist. Thanks also go to the owner’s wife, who has always been the biggest cheerleader throughout the journey. The biggest thank you goes to the staff team. Without them, The Family Tree would not be where it is today. They go above and beyond in every possible way, and the owner is eternally grateful to each and every one of them. Their care, loyalty and dedication are the heart of the nursery. The nursery also thanks every person who voted, every parent who has trusted the team with their child and every member of the community who has supported charity events, fundays and everything else done to bring people together. As Nursery of the Year, The Family Tree Day Nursery is proud to continue serving children, families and the wider Howdon community with love, care and heart. This award belongs to the staff, families and community who have made The Family Tree what it is: a true village.