Nursery World Awards 2022 - Team Development

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Grass Roots focuses heavily on supporting staff well-being and professional development, with the understanding that when children feel safe and secure, they thrive in their environment, and exactly the same concept should apply to staff too.

The ‘Grass Roots Family’ has a strong ethos of working together and caring for one another, with the belief that investment in the staff team and keeping staff to child ratios higher than the legal requirement will ensure the flexibility to provide additional support for children and reduce pressures on the team.

Staff are involved in lots of the decisions made in the setting, are included in any changes, and feel confident in knowing what is happening and why. They are supported on an individual level through a coaching approach rather than mentoring, allowing them to take ownership of their own learning and professional development.

A book lending library of professional reading materials helps underpin staff’s knowledge, giving them a strong theoretical base on which to draw to support children’s learning

Managers encourage staff to pursue further education opportunities and CPD training, helping them find the right course to fit around their work, family and other commitments.

Learning has a direct impact on staff’s knowledge and confidence, allowing the setting to extend its outreach as a result of having more skilled practitioners to support a growing number of high-need families. Staff who have pursued qualifications up to degree level have built relationships with multi-agency professionals and local networks, which helps signpost families to the support they need and ensure much needed early help and timely interventions.

For example, the preschool manager is a SEND champion for the local authority and has just completed a Level 3 in Speech and Language Development, which has ensured the ever-increasing number of SEN children at the setting get the necessary support put in place quickly. She has disseminated what she has learned across the staff team, and, alongside another SEND lead, has forged working relationships with multi-agency professionals, helping to observe and identify six additional children to benefit from extra support and referrals to portage.

The result of this investment in staff teams can be seen in the low level of staff turnover at the setting. This ensures consistent, stable and nurturing relationships for children and families, many of whom are particularly vulnerable and depend on these trusted bonds.

The team collaborates with each other and supports one other. They are wonderful role models for children and consistently display empathy towards each other, children and families. They work tirelessly to provide effective support to the most vulnerable children and their families and are dedicated in their quest to help all children achieve and become life-long learners.

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Kilsby Preschool, Rugby

The small team of five at Kilsby Preschool is a tight-knit group, with the newest member of staff joining 10 years ago. As a qualified early years assessor with a Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector qualification, the manager is able to observe and mentor the team, pinpoint gaps in training and encourage staff to see the potential in themselves.

CPD is an ongoing process and is the focus of the setting’s business plan, with a large proportion of the budget set aside for training and the resources to support it. Most recently, the biggest focus has been closing the gap caused by the pandemic.

To support staff’s health and well-being, the setting has a health club, with running and exercise groups. The staff donate £1 a week towards a fund for a social at the end of each term, which brings everyone together and develops a strong, supportive team.

FINALISTS

Charnwood Nursery & Pre-school Group, Leicester

The Nature Den Nursery, Ipswich

CRITERION

Open to early years and childcare services that have built a high-quality staff team through good practice in recruitment and retention, training and career development.