A much-loved figure at the heart of Overton’s early years education is celebrating a remarkable milestone this year, as Preschool Playgroup manager Amanda Igo marks 25 years of service with the village childcare charity.
Amanda (pictured above on the right, with colleague Angela Cowperthwaite), joined Overton Preschool Playgroup at the start of the 2000/01 academic year and has since devoted more than a quarter of a century to supporting generations of local children through some of the most important stages of their development.
Her career in childcare began even earlier, after qualifying in professional childcare in 1983 and earning the prestigious National Nursery Examination Board (NNEB) accreditation – widely regarded at the time as the gold standard in specialist training for early years professionals.
Over the past 25 years, Amanda has used her wealth of experience and deep understanding of both practical childcare and the emotional needs of young children to guide the continued growth and success of Overton Preschool Playgroup.
With the support of a dedicated team, the setting has become a trusted and cherished part of village life, maintaining its long-standing ethos of providing a caring, nurturing and supportive environment for local families.
Today, Amanda is welcoming the children of parents she once cared for herself – a testament to the lasting impact she has had on generations of Overton residents.
Speaking about the milestone, Amanda said:
“I’m so proud to be part of such a wonderful, caring and community-focused childcare organisation.
“We simply couldn’t do what we do without such a passionate and supportive team. I’m very fortunate to be surrounded by a fantastic group, some of whom have been with us almost as long as I have.
“Our approach has always been to do our best for children, parents and for Overton, and it’s lovely that we are now welcoming children of the villagers who I first looked after when they themselves were young children.”
The community will have the chance to celebrate Amanda’s achievement at Overton Preschool Playgroup’s annual May Fair on Saturday 16 May at St Luke’s Hall on Winchester Street.
The popular family event will feature activities and entertainment for all ages, with this year’s festivities expected to carry added significance as children, parents, carers and residents come together to thank Amanda for her years of commitment.
Chair of Overton Preschool Playgroup, James Giblett, paid tribute to Amanda’s contribution.
He said:
“Our preschool and playgroup settings have been at the heart of Overton for more than 40 years – and for 25 of these years Amanda has been pivotal to their sustained success.
“Thanks to Amanda’s brilliant leadership and the devotion of her team, children attending our settings enjoy a learning environment that’s fun, caring and supports their development in these crucial early stages of their educational journey.
“There’s no greater responsibility than being entrusted with looking after people’s children, so thank you Amanda for an incredible 25 years of service to both our preschool playgroup and to Overton village. We are very lucky to have you.”
Amanda’s anniversary marks not just a personal achievement, but a celebration of the lasting difference that dedicated early years care can make to a community.