Our Nursery
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Our Story
Pine Rivers began in 1971 when Violet 'Penny' Camus started a family run Day Nursery and her legacy is continued by her family to this
day. The wonderful consequence of running for so many decades is that we now have the children (even grandchildren) of those first nursery children coming through the door which is very special.
'Miss Penny' always believed that children should feel like nursery was just an extension of being at home and this ethos still oozes out of Pine Rivers today. Each room in our beautiful Victorian house has been designed to allow children to ignite their curiosity and facilitate learning in a environment which respects all the big feelings they may encounter in the years they are with us.
Our Garden
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Our beautiful nursery sits on approx. 0.25 acre in West Reading and we a have magical garden that all the children spend time in (rain or shine!) . We have a huge sandpit, slide, mud kitchen, all weather area, toys galore and a very old tortoise called Toby who we adore and the children relish in feeding him each day. The garden enables us to continue the children's learning journey each day both indoor and outdoor and the space allows them to experience nature at it's purest form. From our mini-beast den to our growing beds our learning can be very hands on!
Meet Our Management Team
Director
Lesley Delecia
Lesley has been part of the nursery for over 40 years, becoming Director in 2006 and continuing the family legacy with dedication, warmth and vision. Having grown up within the setting herself, she has supported generations of families — including her own children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and now their children — creating a truly multi-generational community.
Known for her creativity, organisation and genuine care for both children and staff, Lesley brings a nurturing yet driven leadership style to the nursery. She is passionate about providing a safe, joyful environment where children can thrive and practitioners feel supported to do their best work.
Her steady leadership guided the nursery through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring continuity, reassurance and stability for families during an uncertain time. Today, she remains deeply committed to maintaining the warm, family-centred ethos that has defined the nursery for decades.
Manager
Rutendo Tembo
Rutendo is an experienced and dedicated Early Years professional with a passion for creating engaging, joyful environments where children and staff can thrive. Having progressed through leadership roles within early years education, she brings strong experience in team leadership, safeguarding and delivering high-quality practice.
Known for her enthusiastic and positive approach, Rutendo excels at mentoring practitioners and supporting teams to grow in confidence and capability. She is always looking for imaginative ways to make learning meaningful and fun, fostering a nursery environment that is both inspiring for children and supportive for staff.
Rutendo is committed to building strong partnerships with families and maintaining a happy, well-organised setting where every child feels secure, valued and excited to learn.
