Lisa Snell is a driving force for developing Early Years Professional Status for the Busy Bees Group. As childcare and curriculum manager, her role is all about empowering staff and overseeing quality in the group, and she believes that EYPS has a vital contribution to make.
Lisa achieved the status on the Validation pathway in 2007. While she had already studied for a foundation degree and gained a BA in Early Childhood Studies, she feels that EYPS has enriched her underpinning knowledge.
'The 39 standards are very rigorous and cover a broad spectrum,' she says. 'I now have a whole view when I look at practice. This means I can advise my staff with a variety of hats on - whether it is talking about how they interact with parents or work as a team, or how they deliver best quality practice for the children.
'The aim is to eventually have an EYP in every setting, and they will then keep practice moving forward. We encourage our EYPs to come together and pool their good ideas. We have 130 settings in the group and they all need to respond to their local communities, but at the same time be consistent in practice.'
Lisa believes that an EYP has to have a passion for work with young children and be determined to act as a change agent.
'Individuals will vary in their aspirations and talents, but the desire to reflect and improve is something they all share,' she says. 'It is still early days for the status but I am personally impressed by the difference they can make. In some children's centres I have visited I have seen EYPs working together, and the result has been some fantastic practice.'
As far as Busy Bees as a business is concerned, it wants as many members as possible to be inspired by the idea of EYPS.
'They have to be the right person to embark on one of the pathways, with lots of motivation,' says Lisa. 'When it comes to encouraging individuals, we tend to focus on those who are hands-on with children, and in positions where they can model good practice for others in the team and raise standards. Some managers can do both - but it is not necessarily managers who need EYPS.'
Lisa's typical day is spent travelling around Busy Bees' 130 settings and she has a team of ten working with her to oversee quality in the group. 'Two individuals in that team are currently on their way to BA degrees and will then embark on EYPS,' she says. 'They will combine the experience with the status, which is absolutely fundamental.'
She adds, 'If EYPS is championed in the right way, it will work and everyone will engage with it. We want to offer the highest quality service in every one of our settings, and EYPS is a part of that. We owe it to the children. It's all about a child having the best day ever, whichever one of our settings they attend.'
WORK HISTORY
- Lisa started her career as a nursery assistant at one of Busy Bees' Leapfrog Day Nurseries in August 1999 before progressing to nursery manager in August 2003
- Lisa gained a BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Studies in 2007
- After gaining EYPS, Lisa was promoted to regional operations manager in June 2007
- Lisa undertook the role of childcare curriculum manager in August 2008 and is currently working towards her Masters of Art in Education
