One nursery group has embedded theory into its everyday practice by co-locating early years consultant Alice Sharp on the premises of one of its settings to work on staff development. By Gemma Goldenberg

Kirktonholme Childcare comprises ten nurseries and two Forest Schools operating across the central belt of Scotland. Running for over 25 years, the organisation has won awards and worked in partnership with the Scottish government to develop outdoor learning guidelines.

More recently, it formed a partnership with Alice Sharp, an early years consultant and 2022 Nursery World Business Development award winner for her digital training programme ‘Adventures with Alice’, which translates child development research into practice.

Sharp has worked with Kirktonholme for 20 years and now has an office situated in the group's new Broomhill nursery where she works on action research and staff development, having sold her training business, ‘experiential play’ to the company. Karen Flynn, area manager, says they felt that Sharp's child-centred approach fitted well with the group's values.

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