In our series showcasing the sector’s incredible nursery managers, we find out about Samantha Warburton, HR and finance manager at Portland Nurseries, who has been working at Portland for 25 years.

What was your route to becoming a manager?

I joined Portland House nursery in Lindley as a nursery educator in 1998, having completed my National Nursery Examination Board qualification. In 2007 I did an early years management degree at Liverpool Hope University. In the middle of studying I had a baby, so I worked part time for a few years then went back to full time. I was manager of Portland’s Oakwood House & Forest School for 10 years, and then took on the management of Harlequin nursery, so I was managing two settings. I have now moved to head office, where I am supporting other managers as HR and finance manager.

What are you most proud of achieving as a manager?

Taking both Oakwood House & Forest School and Harlequin nurseries to an Outstanding rating.

What is the best thing about working for Portland House?

It is a relatively small and family-run organisation, with a focus on quality, and children always come first. There are around 130 members of staff and having worked here for 25 years I know everybody.  

What is the best training you’ve been on?

Forest School training was amazing and magical. I think it should be included as part of the curriculum in core early years training. It was very hands-on, we did a week’s training, put together a portfolio and ran our own sessions, then came back six months later to be assessed.

What is the most challenging part of being a nursery manager?

Staff are the most challenging part of management. Not in a bad way, but people come to work with their own issues, and it is difficult to support everyone in the way they need while still running a nursery. Recruitment is also extremely challenging; you have new starters who come in for one or two days and then leave. If you were running a nursery years ago, there were lots of Level 3 qualified staff around, but a lot of people have left the sector now especially since Covid.

Which three people would you invite to a dinner party?

Morgan Freeman – I love listening to his voice, he has had an interesting life, is a great storyteller and is funny. Leonardo da Vinci – as an artist, sculptor, architect and inventor I think he would be fascinating. Finally, Peter Kay, he is hilarious and a fabulous storyteller.

What do you do to look after yourself when things get stressful?

All the managers took part in wellbeing sessions recently and that really helped. When there’s a lot going on it’s like a snow globe going off in your head, so I just let it settle. I am quite laid-back and I try not to worry about things that are going to happen a week on Thursday, I just think about today.

What is the one thing you would change about the early years sector?

I would change the way the government talks about “free” nursery education; it isn’t free. They should call it “subsidised”. The number of conversations I have with parents who have been led to believe they can just bring their child to nursery for free, that is what causes us the most problems. Nurseries need to be funded at the correct level, otherwise settings will just have to close.

What three things would you take to a desert island?

A fire steel to cook and make fires to keep warm, a knife to build shelter, make and carve things, to hunt, and Alexa (assuming it would work) for music, to read me books and keep me up to date with world news.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Don’t dwell on things, live in the moment and do not take life so seriously