A nursery proprietor from Hove has received national recognition for her contributions to early years education.
Susan Thomas, founder of Teddy Bears Day Nursery, was honoured as Nursery Manager of the Year 2026 at the Nursery World Awards ceremony held in London.
The recognition comes as the establishment prepares to commemorate its 35th anniversary this November.
Teddy Bears Day Nursery, established in 1991, has earned an outstanding rating from Ofsted across all inspection areas.
The setting has served multiple generations of families within the local community, with some former pupils now enrolling their own children at the facility.
Thomas launched the nursery with support from the Princes Youth Business Trust, which provided a grant of £5,000 following initial reluctance from banks to finance the venture.
Promotion efforts in the early stages included distributing leaflets throughout local parks and arranging for volunteers in teddy bear costumes to attract public attention.
The nursery officially opened its doors on November 4, 1991, with Thomas aged 25 at the time.
The launch received coverage in The Evening Argus newspaper.
Now 60 years old, Thomas continues to work at the nursery on a full-time basis.
She has attributed the establishment’s sustained success to her team of long-serving staff members, whom she considers central to delivering high-quality care and educational experiences for children.
Over the years, the nursery has provided care for thousands of children, including some whose parents had previously attended the setting as young children themselves.