Following on from last month’s article on vision, Annette Rawstrone sets out how it is more important than ever under Ofsted’s new inspection framework to define and lead a positive workplace culture

Workplace culture is the environment that you create for your staff. In turn, this directly impacts the children in your care. A positive workplace culture can lead to greater employee engagement and retention, increased employee satisfaction and, ultimately, make your nursery business more successful. The culture of your nursery should stem from your values and vision. By regularly returning to these overarching principles, you can use them to guide your practice and change your culture for the better.

‘Our Montessori ethos underpins our whole reach from the way we work with the children to our respect for each other,’ says Helen Gration, owner of Yorkshire Montessori Nursery, which operates four settings. ‘We believe wholeheartedly that we have to model in the team how we behave with the children and one another. It is incredibly important that, while I am the owner of the nursery and have the final say, everyone in the team has a voice and is allowed to utilise their voice. The idea of respect is that it gives everyone the ability to speak and to contribute.’

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