With the festive season upon us, maintaining the health and wellbeing of early years practitioners remains as important as ever. 

Imogen Clegg, social media and content executive from Connect Childcare, discusses the benefits of positive practices on the sector, and strategies that can assist in creating an environment which nurtures and empowers staff to deliver outstanding levels of care.

Among the myriad of responsibilities that a nursery manager has to balance — admin, finances, compliance, and parent relationships — the wellbeing of team members can sometimes slip under the radar. This is especially evident during the festive season, when leaders are making end-of-year preparations, while simultaneously planning for a brand-new one.

Meanwhile, practitioners are focused on creating an extra sprinkling of magic for the children, organising parties, photoshoots, and orchestrating Christmas surprises for parents — all in addition to their usual responsibilities which, by their very nature, can shift and change at short notice.

And with children coming and going at staggered times, practitioners can find themselves pulled in every which direction, meaning that time for regular check-ins often proves difficult to schedule. 

This is why taking proactive steps to keep wellbeing front of mind is essential. Here are a few areas for consideration…

Plan ahead

It wouldn’t be realistic to expect things to run like clockwork all the time. The reality is there will be bumps in the road, and problems that arise when we least expect them — but by planning effectively in the interim, it’s possible to limit the repercussions of those issues. 

With a solid plan in place, practitioners will feel reassured that any challenges will be dealt with effectively. Whether that’s staff absence, a parent raising a concern, or any personal troubles that impact upon the workplace – feeling supported in their employment will have positive ramifications amongst the team and, ultimately, the wider setting.

Lighten the admin load

The early years sector has become notoriously laden with administrative duties which, while important, put pressure on the precious time that practitioners can spend nurturing and developing the children in their care. 

Not only is this an additional burden, but it’s a task that is likely to reduce job satisfaction for practitioners – after all, these individuals entered the industry because of a desire to create an impact in the lives of children, not to spend their lives filling in spreadsheets and filing. 

Not only does it impact the enjoyment of the job, but it also takes up a great deal of valuable time which could be better utilised elsewhere. Therefore, putting in place strategies – such as shifting from paper-based to digital operations – which minimise the impact of admin upon practitioners, could prove a wise investment. 

Improve practitioner-parent communication 

There’s nothing more rewarding than receiving positive feedback, and to hear how a child’s time at nursery is benefiting them in their home life, or to share in a parent’s pride about a little one’s latest achievement. 

But with time at the beginning and end of the day often limited, practitioners find themselves facilitating a swift handover so that they can see the next child safely home – leaving more detailed feedback to be shared via scribbles in a notebook. 

Not only can this feel impersonal for parents and practitioners alike, but it limits the engagement between both parties, stifling the opportunity for instantaneous feedback and the relationship-building opportunity that this offers. 

Prioritising this key element will provide an instant boost for practitioners and families, improving a business’s future prospects in the process. 

Make investing in wellbeing a resolution for the New Year

As we embark upon a brand-new year, by putting the wellbeing of team members at the top of the list of resolutions — and considering how these processes can be improved moving forward – nursery managers will experience countless benefits for their business. 

And the good news is that each of these areas can be enhanced effortlessly, with the implementation of nursery management software. It’s a great solution for streamlining admin tasks, increasing parental engagement – with the ability to connect via pictures and notes – and introducing planning tools that help with the allocation of staff resource. As a result, this not only ensures that ratios are strictly adhered to, but it significantly decreases time spent on paperwork – meaning practitioners can feel happier in their roles and deliver their very best selves for the children in their care. 

To learn how Connect Childcare’s nursery management software can help deliver improved staff wellbeing in your setting, contact the team by calling 01282 507 945, or book a demo today.