Developing leadership and supportive relationships to enhance staff wellbeing and children's outcomes

Little Ferns Ferndale Nursery is part of The Fern partnership established in 2014. It has been providing high quality childcare at several Little Ferns childcare settings around Rhondda Cynon Taf, consisting of day nurseries, holiday schemes, wrap around and Welsh Government initiatives including flying start and 30-hour childcare.

The setting provides potential leaders with appropriate skills to enable them to undertake leadership roles successfully, which maintains a highly motivated and skilled workforce. Developing leaders at all levels ensures the sustained improvement of the organisation.

The setting has robust procedures in place to manage the performance of all practitioners and leaders. Leaders ensure that all staff have suitable opportunities for effective professional development and training. The setting encourages staff to feel empowered to take responsibility for their own practice, for example when leading different initiatives. 

Leaders place a high priority on developing the whole team. This builds a culture of shared ownership that inspires practitioners and motivates them exceptionally well. As a result, staff are fulfilled in their roles and there is very little turnover of staff. Leaders review practitioners’ performance and job progress effectively and regularly. This allows staff to prioritise areas for improvement and keep a record of progress in personal development and career plans. Leaders believe that this has led to highly effective team work and job satisfaction, whilst addressing the setting’s development needs successfully. 

The setting provides access to appropriate support for practitioners facing different challenges, and leaders are always available to discuss things with them. Regular meetings allow leaders to support practitioners with a range of aspects such as debt management and flexible working patterns. Many of the staff have children of their own and they work together with them to support their childcare needs including discounted rates at the nurseries. Leaders adapt their work patterns and provide time off in lieu in addition to paid annual leave. They work hard to support staff well-being and show appreciation of their hard work. For example, the setting celebrates the employee of the month, for which parents and practitioners are able to vote. Practitioners who receive the award also receive a small incentive. Throughout the year, leaders provide well-being surveys that encourage practitioners to share their views about different elements of the provision. Leaders responded to practitioners’ views by providing a staffroom with a range of facilities and a variety of different fruit. They also provide a food cupboard, which staff can access anonymously if required. 

Leaders encourage practitioners to take part in regular well-being events. For example, a staff member cooks for the team using the kitchen facilities and food from the well-being budget. The setting has been awarded the gold standard for Healthy Working Wales as a result of the work to support practitioners’ physical and emotional well-being. 

The setting has established a well-being box within the practitioners’ room, and a bathroom which includes access to sanitary products. Following inspections, leaders reward practitioners with incentives to show appreciation of all their hard work. They carry out lots of activities to ensure that practitioners are well informed of the importance of well-being. At Christmas time, leaders reward staff with supermarket vouchers to maintain morale at a time that has become increasingly challenging due to the cost of living crisis.

The practice has had a significant impact on all the provision at the nursery. All practitioners are skilled professionals and feel highly valued. As a result, the setting sees very little turnover of staff. They are keen to develop their skills and want to achieve the best possible outcomes for the children. Leaders support practitioners to access different professional learning opportunities, which have a positive impact on their skills and provision for children.

The setting welcomes practitioners from other nurseries within the local authority to share practice in empowering the well-being of practitioners.