In 2024, the RAF Association is celebrating the five-year anniversary of RAFAKidz. The Association created RAFAKidz in 2019 to help the RAF overcome a wide range of childcare issues that were impacting negatively on the serving RAF community.
The RAFAKidz story began with the opening of RAFAKidz Odiham in 2019. Cranwell and Digby opened in 2020, followed by Leeming in 2021 and Brize Norton in 2022. Three sites at RAF High Wycombe – High Wycombe, Medmenham and Walter's Ash – opened in 2023, along with Worthy Down. Abbey Wood opened earlier this year.
RAFAKidz was designed with the unique needs of military families in mind, and provides trusted, quality childcare that, by offering both nursery day care and wraparound care, has the flexibility needed for the unique working patterns of serving families.
This month RAFAKidz is welcoming a further three nurseries to the family: Cosford, Shawbury and Boscombe Down, bringing the total number of RAFAKidz nurseries to 14.
Every RAFAKidz nursery strives to create experiences that are special, unique and child-focused.
Miriam Haworth, whose three-year-old Theodore is at RAFAKidz Leeming, described her son a "completely different boy" since joining the nursery.
"Theo was a COVID baby, so he hadn't had much of a chance to socialise. I was anxious about leaving him at nursery, but I read the reviews of RAFAKidz Leeming, and they were really good," said Miriam.
"He loves his nursery now – he walks right in. He knows all the staff by name. He doesn't normally like to be touched, but at nursery, he hugs the staff and holds their hands – it's amazing.
"If you saw Theo a few months ago compared to what he's like now, you'd think he was a completely different boy. The social aspect for Theo has been world-changing."
RAFAKidz's fifth birthday coincides with the Month of the Military Child, an awareness event that recognises the important role that military children play in the Armed Forces family.
Service children often face unique challenges, such as parents being away on deployment for long periods or having the change home or school regularly. RAFAKidz directly supports RAF retention and operational effectiveness by providing affordable, high-quality childcare to the serving RAF and those who support them.
Theo enjoying activities at RAFAKidz Leeming
Theo has thrived socially at RAFAKidz Leeming
