Spotlight on...Emma Astle

What has your career path been so far?

I’ve been qualified for 16 years and worked in a variety of nurseries before coming to Hallfieldfirst as a senior nursery nurse 11 years ago. I spent four years as deputy manager before becoming manager in November. I have been very fortunate here to have good role models in management and techniques, so I have been able to follow their lead.

How has Hallfieldfirst been adapting, with a new manager, room leader and five nursery nurses hired in the past few months?
While it’s always a shame to lose people, change is good and sometimes people need to grow and move on. It can be good to get young, fresh blood into the nursery and not get too locked into old ideas. I’m delighted to be leading such a dedicated team at Hallfieldfirst. I’ve worked here a long time so I know how hard our staff work and our new starters fit right in.

How have you put your stamp on the nursery?

I want to be there for staff. We have an open-door policy and hold regular meetings. I focus a lot on mental health as I think it is important for all of us, especially women. This is a demanding job and can take its toll on people. We want to ensure there is always someone around to listen. Even if we don’t have the answers, we will always have an ear open, and hopefully that will encourage staff to talk. We also hold review meetings to share ideas. The nursery becomes your second home when you are working here 40 hours a week, so it’s important that everyone feels included in how things are run.