Nursery World Awards 14: Individuals - Nursery Operations/Regional Manager of theYear

Less than a year after joining the Co-operative Childcare as an area manager, Sarah was promoted to head of nurseries in the South, a varied role with a focus on improving outcomes.

She is responsible for the quality, training and recruitment of the childcare group and directly responsible for the 26 nurseries in the Southern division. She also manages the group's area managers and other senior members.

Last year, Sarah took on the role of a Midcounties 'Future Leader' after she was selected from a number of colleagues from across the Midcounties business. On the scheme, she managed a project to revolutionise the way performance of staff is reviewed and introduced a new process to support staff at every stage of their career. Following her participation in the scheme, Sarah joined the Midcounties Leadership Team.

Sarah has developed a number of initiatives, which have directly improved the quality of experiences and environments for children, leading to improved Ofsted grades across the region's nurseries. She was also instrumental in the appointment and creation of the Quality Development Leader (QDL) role. Every region now has a dedicated QDL who visits nurseries in the area to provide role modelling, inspiration and bespoke training.

Parent councils within all of the Co-operative's nurseries, and a national parent panel, were developed with Sarah's help.

She also negotiated and established a partnership with Oxford Brookes University for the delivery of the Early Years Teacher (EYT) qualification to graduates across the childcare group.

She is also mentoring a group of managers across the business and helping them through the Management Development Programme.

Outside of Midcounties and Co-operative Childcare, Sarah is a trustee of the charity Mad4Africa and contributes to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on a Fit and Healthy Childhood.

She was also instrumental in the Ofsted Big Conversation, chairing the South-East meetings, and will co-chair the NEYTCO (National Early Years Trainers' and Consultants' Organisation) group for London and the South-East when it launches.

Currently, half of Sarah's regional management team are on maternity leave and have been replaced by nursery managers.

However, Sarah's excellent line management, and the heavy focus she places on developing each individual, have meant these managers have been able to step up to the role.

Her colleagues say she is an inspiration and the most organised person you could ever imagine working with.

Finalists

Lucy Hoban, Kids Planet

Louise Rupchand, Fennies

Criterion

Open to senior employees of nursery groups working across some or all of the company's settings.

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