“I WOULDN’T change my career in childcare for all the world.”

Those were the words of Christine Webb, who, on Friday, will step down from the day-to-day running of the two Swindon pre-schools she co-owns.

But the 60-year-old, who left an office job to start working with children at Haydon Meadow Pre-school 24 years ago, has decided now is the time to hand over the workload to someone new and to focus on enjoying her retirement.

Christine first decided to go into childcare after discovering an affinity with children.

She said: “Someone always said I had a good rapport with children, even before I had my own.

“When mine did come along I realised working in childcare was something I really wanted to do.

“I just love children. You have to, in this job. Even though I am retiring I do still want to do some work in childcare, so I will be hopefully volunteering with Butterflies Children’s Centre one day a week or so.

“I also love my gardening, so I’ll be doing that.

“I’m just looking forward to having my life back. When you own a pre-school you don’t just go home at 3pm and that’s it for the day, it’s a 24-hour job.”

Christine said she never regretted ditching her office job in order to work with toddlers.

“I first came to the preschool in 1992 and I worked part time as a playgroup assistant,” she said.

“And then I was asked if I would like to take a qualification so I went to college and I studied for my diploma for a year and then I became a full-time member of staff. And it went from there really.

“I had an opportunity to become supervisor, which I did, and then manager.

“Then in 2002 I had an opportunity to buy the pre-school, because the owners were selling it, and I asked Debbie Waldron if she would co-own it with me and run it as a partnership.

“We took it on and that was it.

“Then about four years ago we also took on the Barn Owl Pre-school as well.”

Although Christine hasn’t any concrete plans for Friday, she suspects her team is plotting to do something to bid her farewell.

“There’s been a lot of whispering going on and it all stops when I come into view,” she said.

“So I don’t know exactly what they’re planning, but I suspect there will be something.”

While Debbie and Christine will continue to co-own both pre-schools, the day-to-day management of the provisions will pass to their staff.

“We’re now in a position where we have a very skilled team and we have an excellent relationship with he parents, so it seemed the best time,” she said.

“I’ll continue to be bank staff, so if they need staff to come in temporarily I will do that.”

Barn Owl Pre-School’s recent Ofsted inspection saw it retain its previous rating of good, and the personal and social skills instilled in youngsters by the caring staff were particularly praised.