Nursery World Awards 2020 - Nursery Operations/Regional Manager of the Year

Martha is responsible for all things Little Giggles. She checks in with the owner and managers across the group’s six sites on a daily basis, ensuring all staff are happy and that nothing needs her attention.

She began as manager of the group’s Ashton setting, and from the outset worked tirelessly to obtain an Outstanding grade from Ofsted at her first inspection.

The inspector commended her ‘high expectations’ and commented that she was ‘highly proactive’, ‘very effective in reflecting on ways to drive forward continuous improvement’ and ‘driven in her continued pursuit of excellence.’

Now, Martha manages her time effectively across all six sites, completing cohort tracking, supervisions, appraisals, peer observations, management support, training and development programmes, as well as getting to know each individual child.

She is responsible for implementing all the safeguarding for the nursery group as the designated safeguarding lead, liaising with parents and making adjustments where required. She works with Ofsted and external agencies, and welcomes outside services into the settings to ensure children receive the best quality care.

Martha was responsible for adapting a room at one of the settings to make it completely inclusive for children with SEND who require more one-to-one care, enabling them to learn and develop at their own pace.

She also created virtual tours for all six nurseries available on the group’s website and Facebook pages.

She continuously strives to learn and do more. She has a Level 3, 4, 5 and 6 in early years education and a degree, as well as first aid, designated safeguarding lead, SENCO and child protection training.

Gathering team feedback is always a priority and she gets to know the staff well, rewarding them with presents, vouchers, hampers and shout-outs, helping them with their own children and ensuring they know how appreciated they are.

Martha constantly pushes for quality assurance for each of the group’s nurseries to give parents peace of mind. She has been responsible for implementing and attaining a range of awards, including Millie’s Mark, Green Trees Award, Eco Schools Award and Meningitis Awareness Award.

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Jayne Mallett, Nina’s Nurseries

Working across all seven Nina’s Nurseries settings, Jayne keeps on top of new research and reviews practice to see how nurseries can further improve provision.

She has redesigned nursery health, wellbeing and nutrition, introducing meat-free Mondays and a green ethos of recycling, upcycling and use of sustainable resources.

She has also overhauled the settling in and transition process, introduced clear monitoring documents such as peer observation and room evaluations, reinvented the management structure by employing and promoting staff to specialise in specific areas, helped several members of staff achieve a university degree, and seen settings achieve Forest School and Montessori accreditation.

Jayne is also responsible for recruitment, with many successful applicants saying it was her passion and joyful personality that persuaded them to take the role.

FINALIST

Clare Porter, Hungry Caterpillar Day Nurseries

CRITERION

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

• Read all about our Nursery World Awards 2020 winners in our digital magazine at https://reader.exacteditions.com/issues/91928/spread/1