Since joining Kaleidoscope 11 years ago, Alison has worked her way up from assistant childcare practitioner to room leader, deputy manager and nursery manager - now holding a key senior management role overseeing two nurseries and an out-of-school club in Leeds. She is also Ofsted's nominated person for the group and co-ordinates the company's compliance manual.
Alison's boundless energy, passion for childcare and outstanding work ethic enable her to excel in multi-tasking, and this is evident by the fact that she has recently returned from maternity leave and has already updated all the company's policies and procedures.
She is able to not only assess the needs of the business but, having started as a childcare assistant, has the ability to empathise with staff at all levels, displaying a sensitivity, objectivity and understanding rare in someone operating at a strategic level.
In the time that Alison has been in the senior manager's role the company has been able to rebrand the nursery, create a new website, produce new marketing literature, improve quality across all sites, get re-assessed as an Investor in People, reduce overheads and staff turnover and increase turnover and profits.
Alison completed her Early Years Professional Status in 2010, so is able to support both the Leeds nurseries in the Learning and Development aspects of the Early Years Foundation Stage as well as with aspects of leadership and management.
Alison leads by example, so when the company decided to initiate a development programme for senior staff she was the first to volunteer to undertake a BA Honours degree in Early Childhood Studies.
Her success encouraged others and she has been instrumental in ensuring the success of the programme through ongoing support for other undergraduates from the company. Her fairness and thoroughness in dealing with management issues has gained her the utmost respect from her colleagues and the families she has supported over the years.
Finalists
Kerry Eccles, Kids Academy Day Nursery and Pre-schools
Karen Turner, Treetops Nurseries
Criterion
Open to senior employees of nursery groups working across some or all of the company's settings.
