The annual conference and dinner held for staff by nursery group Children 1^st @ Breedon House certainly delivered a feel-good factor. With the recent acquisition of two nurseries bringing more staff into the fold, the main hospitality room at the Hilton Sheffield Park Hotel was noticeably packed this year. It was particularly good to see the extended Mason family all in attendance, including founder Margaret Mason and her husband Hugh.

After an upbeat session with Neil Griffiths in the morning, the afternoon presented itself as something of an emotional rollercoaster. This was when numerous staff collected their awards and parents also came up on stage to share their personal stories and praise Children 1^st staff. At certain points there was hardly a dry eye in the house, not least when it came to the  Masons themselves – Margaret, Jacqui , Julia and Heather (who span three generations).

Expectations ran high for the evening dinner and both the meal and the ‘Britain’s got talent’ showcases,  provided by the group’s nursery teams,  did not disappoint. The Grange Nursery out of school club, billed as ‘Tone deaf’, won for performing a witty song they had composed and written themselves, all about Margaret Mason’s ongoing quest to locate her glasses!

The whole event was a fantastic example of team building in action and there is a real sense of vitality and warmth within the company. A great start to the year for Children 1^st @ Breedon House.