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Priya is now senior nursery headteacher of Wembley Park Montessori, part of the Inspire Montessori Schools Group, having joined in January 2019 as a nursery headteacher. Priya has full responsibility for the day-to-day running of the purpose-built, 85-place setting, leading a team of 30 and prioritising interactions with children and families.
Priya is readily available to her families through her open-door policy which includes calls and emails. Priya understands the importance of strong relationships between home and nursery for children and she achieves this through a number of parent-focused events, including a termly Zoom-based webinar to give parents a forum to come together and ask questions without having to take time off work.
In Priya’s eyes, children are always the centre of everything; they influence daily decisions, and are made to feel involved, included and important. Priya regularly spends time in each classroom ensuring she builds relationships with all children.
She recently introduced a daily ‘manager’s walk around’ in the nursery to ensure environments are perfect for children. Priya uses this to hold discussions about activities, monitor staff’s understanding across a range of areas and enhance quality.
Priya is a mentor, a leader and often an agony aunt for her staff team, and understands the importance of people being happy, respected and loved.
After Covid, she recognised that staff’s emotional wellbeing needed more support, so introduced ‘Well-being Wednesdays’ where a staff member who had a hard week is bought lunch, while Priya holds a ‘drop in and talk’ session allowing staff an opportunity to unload.
Priya’s belief in her team gives them the drive to believe in themselves and this helps the team feel valued and inspired.
Priya exceeds the expectations of her job role every time she comforts a mother in tears and struggling to separate from her baby with a cup of tea and a shoulder to cry on. She does the same when a staff member is in tears because they have a personal issue.
She always makes time for children, too, even when she is about to leave the preschool room, if a child asks her to read a story, she will always pull up a cushion and get comfy for a ‘ride to storyland’.
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Katie Humphries, Tops Day Nurseries Havant
Working in a nursery in a deprived area, Katie ensures focus is put on the cultural capital of the children and families attending. She has been at the forefront of the nursery’s transformation, and the environment demonstrates the high expectations set for all.
Katie has introduced a ‘golden time’ where each child has time with their key person to read a story, implemented Lego therapy to help a high number of SEN children to engage, and introduced a ‘worry monster’ story to support emotional intelligence in the wake of the pandemic.
Katie has also renovated the staffroom so her team has a cosy, clean and organised space to relax on their breaks. She listens and is open with her team but sets clear boundaries and expectations too.
FINALISTS
Steph Mattin-Moss, Nature Den Nursery, Ipswich
Stacey McMorland, The Nursery at Whitehouse Farm, Morpeth
Nicky Willetts, Tops Day Nurseries Wareham
CRITERION
Open to any nursery manager in a full daycare or sessional setting who displays exemplary leadership and management skills in running their setting and providing the best possible service for children, families and staff.