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As an Early Years consultant and trainer with over 25 years of experience, I’ve come to understand one essential truth: a manager’s ability to stay connected with what is happening on the ground can make or break a setting.
In the whirlwind of administrative duties, paperwork, and unforeseen issues, it’s easy to lose sight of the daily activities and dynamics within the nursery. This disconnection often leads to situations where, despite your best intentions, you’re caught off guard by problems you didn’t see coming.
This is where intentional daily practices, give structured self-evaluation and reflection allowing managers to not only regain control over their settings but also maintain a clear overview of the day-to-day operations.
In a busy setting, it’s easy to get swept away by admin tasks, meetings, and emergencies without stepping foot outside the office, let alone engaging with your staff regularly. Days can fly by, and before you know it, there are issues that have escalated simply because you weren’t aware of them.
Making time for regular check-ins, whether it’s a quick walk around or just touching base with staff, can really help keep things on track.
It gives managers a chance to offer on the spot coaching and support right when it’s needed and keeps communication flowing smoothly between everyone.
When you understand what’s happening in each room and see how staff are progressing, you can give helpful coaching and identify where additional training or support might be useful.
A fundamental principle of effective leadership is the commitment to continuous improvement. Every day should build upon the last. If a particular day wasn’t as successful as you hoped—whether in terms of staff performance, child engagement, or even general operations—reflecting on why things didn’t go as planned is key.
Using a structured diary allows managers to track what went well and what didn’t, and more importantly, it prompts you to ask critical questions. Why wasn’t today better than yesterday? What were the obstacles, and how can they be removed or alleviated in the future?
By addressing these questions, you can nurture a culture of constant improvement, where staff feel supported in making every day a little bit better than the one before.
A crucial part of being an effective leader in an Early Years setting is understanding the intent behind what is happening in every room. Without this knowledge, it’s impossible to make informed decisions or guide your team effectively.
One of the most significant benefits of regular oversight is the ability to monitor not just staff performance but the curriculum as well. Is the learning environment reflecting the next steps set for the children? Are the activities planned meaningful, and are they being delivered effectively?
Daily insight into these aspects allows you to stay on top of the curriculum and ensures you can confidently own your inspections when the time comes.
Monitoring your setting’s curriculum and staff performance is crucial, but it’s not where your responsibilities end. In early years settings, managers wear many hats, and safeguarding should always be at the forefront of your mind.
Regular conversations about incidents, concerns, or messages from parents are a vital part of good management practice. Whether it’s something minor that needs attention or a significant safeguarding issue, having an open and positive attitude towards addressing these conversations is key to maintaining a safe and supportive environment.
By intentionally checking in each day and ensuring that these conversations happen, you are fostering a culture of open communication. This not only improves trust within your team but also ensures that issues are addressed before they escalate.
In any busy day, it’s easy for Health & Safety concerns and maintenance issues to slip from your radar. Yet, these daily checks are essential to maintaining a safe and welcoming environment for both children and staff. Whether it’s ensuring that all equipment is in good working order, checking that hazards are identified and addressed, or scheduling timely repairs, it’s important to stay on top of these tasks.
A daily diary can act as a great reminder for these checks, helping you stay on top of things. Without regular attention, small maintenance issues can quickly turn into bigger, disruptive problems—like fixing that wobbly gate before it becomes a bigger issue!
One of the key principles I’ve always championed is the idea that better planning leads to better outcomes. When managers actively plan their day—focusing not only on operational issues but also on interactions with staff and children—the day tends to run smoother. On the other hand, if you allow yourself to get bogged down with tasks and put off important conversations, you end up reacting to situations rather than managing them.
Imagine the benefit of having a quick morning check-in with your staff, where you discuss potential challenges for the day—such as how a particular child’s settling session might go or whether extra cover is needed for an upcoming show-around. By addressing these potential concerns ahead of time, you are better prepared, and your team is better supported.
In early years settings, being present and engaged with staff and parents is invaluable. It’s the little things that often get missed when managers are absorbed in paperwork—like a parent’s message about a dietary restriction that doesn’t get passed on until much later, or an important transition detail that slips through the cracks.
When managers make it a habit to stay visible and accessible, it reduces the chance of these miscommunications. It also builds a stronger sense of community, as staff feel supported and parents know that their concerns are being taken seriously.
Managing transitions for children is one of the more complex challenges in Early years settings. There are so many moving parts—ensuring that a child is emotionally and developmentally ready, communicating with parents, and making sure that all relevant information, such as allergies or preferences, is passed on to the new key worker.
Staffing can also be tricky. Managers need to keep a close eye on how staff are adjusting to changes and what support they may need, especially when transitions are brought forward unexpectedly. Having a daily routine of checking in with both staff and children can help smooth these transitions and ensure that the needs of everyone involved are being met.
In the fast-paced world of early years education, it’s easy to let the day run you. But by incorporating intentional daily practices—like using an “Everyday Success Diary” to track activities, interactions, and observations—you can regain control. Managers who stay connected with their staff, monitor the curriculum, and maintain open lines of communication are better equipped to handle the challenges of the day and lead their teams with confidence.
When you ensure that each day is better than the last and stay on top of crucial aspects like H&S checks and maintenance, you create an environment that is safe, supportive, and always improving.
Are you a leader or manager in an early years setting, seeking a way to streamline your daily operations and continuously improve your practice?
Look no further!
We are delighted to be offering a Curriculum and Team Success Through Self-Evaluation Webinar
This insightful webinar is designed for nursery managers and deputies ready to improve their impact through effective self-evaluation and daily monitoring.
What will be covered?
Discover how to keep a pulse on every aspect of your setting’s curriculum, from curriculum delivery and staff performance to children’s transitions and feedback from parents.
Learn to act on real-time insights to drive smarter action plans, ensuring continuous improvement with every interaction and observation.
In addition, you may want to take a look at our Everyday Success Diary — a comprehensive tool designed specifically for leaders like you who are committed to nurturing excellence in childcare.
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