No labour of love for some

By Marie Donegan, a former pre-school leader who lives in Marlow, Buckinghamshire I gained my NNEB as a mature student and left college thinking I could make a difference. Soon I secured a position as a pre-school leader in a setting which had operated for some time without any qualified staff and had a poor reputation and a tiny waiting list. My brief was to turn it into a professional and stimulating unit. Despite poor pay, I was confident I could provide a setting that would stimulate children and staff. I persuaded staff of the necessity of training (they went on to gain Level 2 qualifications), implemented a manageable routine, and introduced regular planning meetings to provide activities the children would find stimulating and exciting. I introduced a key worker system and supported staff in building professional relationships with parents. I invited other professionals to advise us on how best to support children with special needs and their families. Within six months we were full and had an extensive waiting list.