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Firm but fair

It's essential to a nursery's service that staff are performing to the standards set. What do you do if they're not? Mary Evans explains A nursery's reputation sinks or swims on its ability to provide consistently good quality childcare. That, in turn, depends on the effectiveness of the manager in maintaining a motivated and high-calibre staff team. However, as a famous chef once remarked, just one bad-tempered washer-up could quickly affect the atmosphere and destroy the camaraderie and creativity of a busy restaurant kitchen.

A nursery's reputation sinks or swims on its ability to provide consistently good quality childcare. That, in turn, depends on the effectiveness of the manager in maintaining a motivated and high-calibre staff team. However, as a famous chef once remarked, just one bad-tempered washer-up could quickly affect the atmosphere and destroy the camaraderie and creativity of a busy restaurant kitchen.

How does a nursery manager deal with failing staff? A glib but accurate answer is, 'Don't employ them in the first place.' Tracy Storey, head of personnel and training with the Leapfrog nursery chain, which employs about 1,000 people, says they take great care over the recruitment process to try to avoid employing people who will not fit into the staff team.

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