Working with children is a busy and demanding role – few parents have to deal with three babies at a time – so it’s important for staff to have somewhere comfortable and calm to retreat to on their breaks.
‘It’s vital to have somewhere for staff to recharge their batteries and take a few minutes to have a break in a quiet, calm area,’ says National Day Nurseries Association lead early years adviser Jo Meakin. ‘It’s for their well-being and also for the children’s – so somewhere separate is essential.’
Yet in reality, there is no legal requirement for a nursery to have a staffroom, and with squeezed budgets and limited space, settings are finding it hard to provide a comfortable space for staff use.
Dr Kathy Goouch, reader at Canterbury Christ Church University, who did research into conditions faced by baby room practitioners, heard how staffrooms frequently double as store cupboards, and spaces are cluttered, messy and not conducive to quiet relaxation. Some practitioners make do with the toilets as their only option for a recovery moment.
In schools there are similar problems. Some are being built now without any staffrooms at all. The head of one free school, Michaela Community School in London, Katharine Birbalsingh, had to fight with the designers redeveloping the building to ensure that a prospective staffroom did not become the sixth-form common room.
Yet in both the early years and schools workforce, anxiety and stress are now rife. The Early Years Alliance last year found 57 per cent of early years workers are anxious as a result of work. More than a quarter of respondents to the Minds Mattersurvey had experienced depression. Having the time and space to relax does not solve the problems of high workload and low pay, but it surely can help to combat stress and re-energise staff, and thus improve performance and productivity.
Ms Meakin says the staffroom should be away from where staff complete paperwork, take sensitive phone calls or hold meetings so that employees can unwind without work interruptions. Of course, business rates are often higher for larger buildings so this needs to be considered when planning staff areas. Some pack-away settings manage this by using the kitchen counter as a boundary.
And while space and money are a luxury in every setting, some nurseries are managing to build or redesign staff rooms on a budget, with the result that their employees feeling valued and refreshed.
Kidzrus
Extending Kidzrus The Lodge gave director Nicola Fleury the opportunity to build a ‘beautiful’ new staffroom, and the group of five nurseries, based in Manchester and Salford, is now improving its provision for staff at its other settings. ‘We plan enabling environments to nurture children so we should do that to nurture our staff too,’ she explains. ‘Environment has a big impact on our mood so, rather than having a canteen feel, we want our staff rooms to be homely and comfortable. If our staff feel relaxed then it knocks on to their performance, which ultimately impacts positively on the children.’
Staff have been given ‘ownership’ for their staffrooms by having input into the design and colour scheme. ‘They have chosen to go for light, airy and contemporary,’ says Ms Fleury. Special touches include vases, plants, mirrors and comfy seating with cushions.
Sometimes staff also find special surprises in the staff room, including essential oils, pamper packs or fruit baskets. Care has been taken to provide plug sockets for charging mobile phones and quiet spaces to read. Magazines are provided and there is a ‘library’ where they can exchange books. Each staff room cost around £750 to update using stores such as Ikea.
Some staff members like the new staffrooms so much that, as well as using them on their 45-minute lunch breaks, they arrive early to have breakfast and chat before starting their shift. There is also the flexibility to take extra time out when needed as long as they are within ratio.
‘If they are comfortable to remain on site during this time they can then make friends, which enables them to help and support each other. This is good for teambuilding and well-being,’ says Ms Fleury.
Portico Nursery Group
Staffrooms at the group’s seven North West of England nurseries were revamped recently in order to promote positive mental health and well-being among employees.
‘Working with children is hard so it’s so important for our team members to have a place where they can get away and chill,’ says director Nicole Politis. ‘We looked at our staffrooms and saw that they were simply places to eat – covered in food and notes from staff meetings, safeguarding boards and staff notices – so we brought them back to a blank canvas.’
Now instead of noticeboards littered with out-of-date messages there are ‘kindness charts’ on the wall where team members can leave positive messages. If someone feels in need of a treat they can go to the ‘kindness basket’ where staff share chocolates, chewing gum, hand cream or perfume.
The staffrooms are seen as a haven where staff can enjoy some calm time during their breaks – often 15 minutes in the morning and afternoon, with half an hour for lunch. In one setting they can even turn off the lights and relax with battery-operated candles, and in others there are aromatherapy oils. Staff have lockers to keep their personal possessions safe and they have a rota for keeping the communal area tidy.
‘We took over one nursery where the staffroom was a corridor with the emergency exit in it so we quickly changed that,’ says Ms Politis. ‘We also don’t allow work phones in the staffrooms because there needs to be a calm and quiet atmosphere where team members can switch off, read magazines, check their own phones, drink tea and coffee and laugh with friends.’
Honey Pot Nurseries
‘Our staff work very hard with the children in busy environments so we feel that it’s important for them to spend at least an hour a day in an adult environment to unwind. We deliberately position the staffrooms as far away from the playrooms as possible so staff aren’t distracted by excess noise and can switch off, rather than feel obliged to stop their break and check everything is OK,’ says area manager Jenna Geggie.
The Liverpool-based group is rebuilding one of its four nurseries following a fire and has designed a mezzanine level as an ‘adult zone’ with offices and a staffroom.
The staffrooms were updated last year as part of a group-wide initiative to focus on staff well-being and mental health, with employees consulted on what they would like.
‘Staff have chosen to go for a homely feel with muted greys and pinks along with inspirational quotes on the walls in rose gold and marble effect. They wanted the staffrooms to feel like a home from home,’ Ms Geggie says.
Along with what Ms Geggie regards as ‘necessities’ – such as fridge, toaster and kettle – staff have also requested Bluetooth speakers so they can play their own choices of music, aromatherapy diffusers to help them to ‘chill out’, reading areas with cosy cushions, plants and team photographs.
‘We encourage healthy eating so we provide baskets of fresh fruit,’ she adds. ‘Providing good staffrooms, rather than them being stuck in a cupboard, is all part of helping staff to feel valued, reducing workplace stress and showing that we care.’
Tips
- Test your staff room by questioning: Would you be happy to show it to prospective employees? Do you enjoy using it yourself? Is there adequate seating and furniture? Gather your team’s opinions.
- If possible, site your staff room away from the noise and bustle of the nursery so that employees can escape from work.
- Essentials should include drinking water, kettle, fridge and microwave and a place to securely store belongings. Ensure mugs aren’t chipped and there are teaspoons.
- Consider what staff would like to do on breaks and provide comfortable seating, tables to eat at, music, charging points for their mobiles, Wi-Fi, book swap shelves and magazines – not just professional titles; one nursery subscribes to The Happy Newspaper, which shares positive news.
- Make your staff room relaxing by adding plants – which have positive psychological effects – and soft furnishings such as rugs and cushions. Replace cluttered noticeboards and corporate logos with framed photographs and pictures. Arrange seating so people can chat in cosy groups.
- Have a tidying rota – ensure everyone is on it, even the manager! Wash mugs or fill and empty the dishwasher regularly, throw away out-of-date food weekly, ensure tea, coffee and milk is kept stocked up and replenish magazines monthly.
MORE INFORMATION
Minds Matter report, https://www.eyalliance.org.uk/sites/default/files/minds_matter_report_pre-school_learning_alliance.pdf