Tiny Tots - looking after the children of Ballinasloe for 20 years

Tiny Tots Crèche came from humble beginnings, starting out in a converted house in Woodlands, Creagh, in January 1999, some 20 years ago.

From there,the owner and business woman Jennifer Sheridan, daughter of former
President of the Chamber of Commerce Tommy Sheridan, renovated and officially opened Tiny Tots Educational Preschool and Crèche in the Ballinasloe Enterprise Centre on the Roscommon Road, in August 2003.

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The Creche moved into a section of the old hospital building that originally was the kitchen and dining room for the facility. It was hoped that it would add to the attractiveness of the Enterprise Centre and adjacent IDA Business park for the anticipated workforce.

Jennifer said she couldn't have succeeded without the help and constant support of her parents, Tommy and Eilish. “Dad, who is a self made entrepreneur, encouraged me to start out on my own and gave me great support and advice along each step of the way, ” states Jennifer.“An opportunity arose for me to renovate part of the Enterprise Centre which had been set up to provide an affordable and high-quality enterprise space for businesses wishing to set up in town” she added.

Jennifer began her enterprise by minding four small children on her own. Twenty years on and her first clients still keep in contact. Katie Conlon is in her final year of psychiatric nursing in NUI Galway, Daniel Dent now works and lives in Galway City, Nathan Waring went on to play Rugby with the Leeds Rhinos and now works in the family flooring business in Leeds.  Rafeek Khan went onto Maynooth College to study law where he played Rugby and Wrestling, before his untimely death.
 
From those modest beginnings, Tiny Tots went from strength to strength and now caters for 50 children on a daily basis. The Crèche has 5 groups: babies, toddlers, junior and senior preschool and afterschool, as well as offering a pickup service from Creagh National School.

As well as the free preschool scheme, Tiny Tots also offers government schemes for parents on low incomes, and with this Jennifer welcomes the introduction of the Affordable Childcare Scheme this year, which brings with it a historic new era for childcare funding in Ireland. Jennifer also works alongside her husband Erol, who is originally from Tullamore. He came to Ballinasloe to work as the Meat Manager in the local Tesco and is now the Crèche Chef, as food and nutrition is a vital part of the service.

The School now has a team of 8 qualified childcare staff. The crèche would not be as successful as it is without the dedicated team. “I am fortunate as a proprietor and the parents are really fortunate that we have the staff we have; they go above and beyond every single day to make Tiny Tots the place it is. And also a special mention for Erol’s parents, Roy and Doris, who offer Erol and I help and support whenever needed”, states Jennifer.

Finally as one of the longest clients of the Enterprise Centre who has seen some five managers come and go over the years she singles out Lyn Donnelly for being such an excellent resource and supporter for all the businesses in the centre. “Everyone in the building loves coming in here to work – she has really got a wonderful vibe going and we are lucky to have her in a key management role."

For further information contact Jennifer at 090 964 4480 or visit their website ​​