SHE DID her best to make it a happy party for her tots, but it was a sad day for nursery owner Rachel Goodchild.

Her Jubilee Nursery in Steep, set up by her mother, Janet, and her friend Edna Dodd in 1977, closed its doors last Thursday, but threw a party lunch with crackers for its 17 two to three year olds first.

“It’s a wrench, a real wrench,” admitted Rachel, who has been running the nursery in Steep village hall for 11 years.

“It’s a happy party but very sad too.

“The children know the nursery is closing but they are very resilient.”

Rachel used to help her mum out before taking on the nursery herself, so it has been part of family life for a long time.

Rachel relunctantly decided to close the Jubilee as Government regulations brought in several years ago, giving free nursery hours to children per week, made it unsustainable as a business.

She was missing out on £660 annually per child, which meant the loss of thousands of pounds a year.

Rachel posted a goodbye on Facebook and had many thank you messages from parents and supporters.

All were sad to see the nursery close.

Some of the children’s parents had been children themselves at the nursery, so it has been very much part of village life too.

She also had to say goodbye to her manager Sharon Kates, deputy Vanessa Topps, and Jemma Barnett, who started at the nursery on a work experience placement and has trained while enjoying working there.

The children have been found places at other nurseries.

After she packed up the nursery at the end of last week, and held a toy sale, Rachel was taking a much-needed break over the festive period before deciding what to do next.