Eyes on Early Years Volume 13 | страница 10

Question Nursery Leader’s Response What is your earliest ‘Early Years’ memory? I vividly recall playing with a hammer and ball, pounding on a toy bench at my preschool. How important is it, to you as a setting manager, to have qualified and experienced staff? The most effective practice in early years and quality childcare can be found in settings with qualified and experienced staff. At Basateen Preschool Center, we believe that staff with a background and qualifications in early years methodology tend to make a positive difference to children's learning. What do you feel is important for a nursery to offer? A nursery should offer a safe, warm and inviting environment. Qualified, skilled and experienced staff ensures consistent stable care of children. Clearly established policies relevant to child care, safety, security, health and hygiene should be a priority as well. A curriculum with learning goals, play facilities that reflect diversity, age appropriate resources for children and encouragement of parental involvement are the important features that a nursery should offer in order to provide quality child care. How do you ensure that, as a nursery, you have a strong relationship with parents? At Basateen Preschool Center, we invite parents to participate in decisions which affect not only their child, but the setting as a whole. We provide parents with as much information as possible about what is going on in our setting. We ensure that we know each parent by their name and invite them to share their skills, cultures and traditions in the setting to ensure they feel closely connected! What ‘top tip’ would you give someone looking to move in to a nursery leader’s role? Dedication, organisation, necessary qualifications to lead, flexibility, coaching, being a good role model and a passion for childcare are key to managing and leading an early years setting. What is the most rewarding aspect(s) of what you do? The most rewarding aspect of working in Early Years Education is the relationships I have built with children and their families.