Question
Nursery Leader’s Response
What do you look for when you are
recruiting a new member of staff, to join
your team? I look for someone who has a genuine passion for
working with children as opposed to someone who
just needs a job! Candidates need to have experience
working with young children and of course the
relevant qualifications. A key skill that I look for is
someone who has the ability to actively listen and
respond to children.
The person also needs to be someone who I think
would fit well into the Team. At Little Wonders we are
like a family, and we support each other both in the
nursery and outside too.
Which Early Years theorist would you most
like to have dinner with? If they were alive, I would say Jean Piaget, or Emmi
Pikler, or both at dinner together would be great!
I think that if they could have worked together it could
have led to great things! Piaget’s Cognitive theories
combined with Pikler’s theories on relationships and
an unhurried agenda, would have really influenced
practice at that time.
What is your earliest ‘Early Years’ memory? I don’t remember much from my early years! But I do
remember moving schools, and being over the moon
to find out that my favourite teacher had also moved
to my new school!
What do you feel is important for a nursery
to offer? Obviously any nursery needs to offer a safe and secure
environment for the children. For me, cleanliness is
extremely important and I pride myself on the level of
cleanliness at Little Wonders.
I feel that it is important for a Nursery to cater to
working parents, by offering lots of flexibility in terms
of hours and fees.
For example we open at 06:30 as this helps parents
who have to travel a big distance to get to work, or if
they start work super early (such as school teachers).
What ‘top tip’ would you give someone
looking to move in to a nursery leader’s role? Be sure that you are ready to leave the classroom!
Initially I found the transition from Teacher to Manager
quite difficult as I couldn’t spend so much time with the
children.
What is the most rewarding aspect(s)
of what you do? I am passionate about children’s learning and
development. As a manager you become responsible
for all of the children in the nursery, not just your own
class, so I find it really rewarding to see all of the
children grow and develop.
I feel lucky that I get a chance to get to know each of
them, and I enjoy getting to know the parents too.
I find graduation very emotional each year, as it’s so
hard to say goodbye!