When Stone Eden Nursery School opened four years ago, the decision wastaken to hire four members of staff who were all high-qualitypractitioners.
The thinking behind this move was that these senior staff could thenmodel best practice to new recruits, and this would ensure that thewhole team would develop high-quality standards.
A culture of learning and self-development was quickly established atthe nursery, and staff gained qualifications such as Early YearsProfessional Status and training in management, enabling the team tobecome one of the best qualified in the area. This empowered the staffand improved outcomes for the children.
The nursery also employs a 'grow your own approach', taking on a flow ofapprentices from which it can then pick the best ones once theyqualify.
Last year, the team expanded the nursery and created a further 20places. The new rooms were designed by the staff with the ages of thechildren in mind. The team then decided to set up a holiday club, whichhas already been a big success.
Keen to improve links with the families, the staff also now hold monthlyparents' evenings to give the parents more chance to speak to staffabout their child's learning and development.
Nursery manager Wendy Feddon says, 'Staff are always keen to improvetheir practice and the service that they provide for children and theirfamilies. The clear structure to the nursery team, coupled with theunderstanding that staff have about the roles that they play, has beencrucial to their continued success. With the luxury of having threefacets to the nursery business - the nursery itself, the training sectorand the holiday club - the staff have plenty of scope to advance ifrequired.'
HIGHLY COMMENDED
- Cowgate Under 5's, Edinburgh
The Cowgate Under 5's Centre replaced a traditional nursery school andtwo local authority workplace nurseries in Edinburgh. The conditions andtraining of staff at these three nurseries differed enormously. This wasa big challenge when it opened. The team now enjoy a shared leadershipand participate fully in self-evaluation. They can also attendappropriate lectures at Edinburgh University, where the head of thecentre, Lynn McNair, lectures part-time. She says, 'We the staff teamare on a constant journey of discovery. Our team-development ethos is a"can do" one; we "begin where the learner is" and that includesourselves.'
FINALISTS
- Imagine Co-operative Childcare, Swindon
- Little Stars Day Nursery, Grimsby
CRITERION
Open to early years and childcare services who have built a high-qualitystaff team through good practice in recruitment and retention, trainingand career development.
