Features

Nursery Chains 2024: Overview – Wave of Success

What does quality provision look like on the ground for thriving nursery groups? Nicole Weinstein talks to some key players to find out
Little Adventures Nurseries Group says one of its biggest challenges is finding high-quality leaders PHOTO Little Adventures Nurseries
Little Adventures Nurseries Group says one of its biggest challenges is finding high-quality leaders PHOTO Little Adventures Nurseries

Maintaining high standards of care and education against a backdrop of severe staff shortages, inadequate funding rates, changes to ratio requirements and lack of confidence in Ofsted has been one of the biggest challenges facing nursery providers in the past decade. High levels of experienced and qualified staff are leaving the profession, which Ofsted warns could have a ‘detrimental effect on quality in the future’.

Ofsted data published in November shows the number of nurseries has fallen from 22,691 to 22,538, resulting in a loss of 1,682 early years places.

‘Recruitment, onboarding, upskilling and engagement is a big focus which we have to manage,’ explains Sarah Mackenzie, CEO of Storal. ‘Some qualified team members are not joining us with that full understanding of child development,’ she adds.

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