HOW DID YOU FIRST BECOME INTERESTED IN WORKING IN EARLY YEARS – HAVE YOU ALWAYS WORKED IN THE SECTOR?
Childcare wasn’t my first job! I’ve had a few, starting off in catering in a pub, moving onto McDonald’s, then into retail, before a period of unemployment. The seed was sown when I met my previous partner’s niece and nephew who were nervous around new people – but with me it was a whole different story! They instantly wanted to be around me, and their mum commented ‘you should do this for a living’. So when the Job Centre asked what I wanted to do, I said early years childcare. The next thing I knew they had booked an interview with a nursery where I used to go to school in Essex. Twelve years later I’m at The Oaks as an acting deputy manager.
DESCRIBE A TYPICAL WORKING DAY (IF SUCH A THING EXISTS…)
No working day is ever the same and that is what I love about working in childcare: thinking on your feet and being ready to adapt your plans for your day. The importance of every day I’m in is to beable to have quality time with the children in the room I’m working in and to help my key children to enjoy their day and continue to have an impact on their learning and development. I love thinking of new ways to implement learning forthe children using their own interests to support their needs.
WHAT CHALLENGES HAVE YOU FACED WORKING IN THE SECTOR, AND HOW HAVE YOU OVERCOME THESE?
The main challenge I’ve faced working in the sector is being a man. I’ve been asked not to interact with the children, and was once told that my voice was too deep. It is hard at the time to not take it personally and get upset and think ‘why me’, but it’s important to role-model and break that stereotype. I’ve had amazing support from my current setting, The Oaks Day Nursery, which has provided me with many opportunities to shine, supported me with policies and procedures and always championed me for who I am.
WHAT DOES YOUR ROLE AS THE NURSERY’S WELLBEING CHAMPION INVOLVE?
It’s a role where I get to be there for the staff team, be a person to talk to, find ways to support them and guide them to the right support within the University of Birmingham or externally. I enjoy promoting activities for staff wellbeing, e.g., conversation starters to promote staff getting to know each other, creatinga staff web showing how when everyone comes together, they make something strong. It’s a very important role to me as someone who has suffered from mental health issues in the past, because it is nice to be able to help others who are maybe struggling or having a difficult time.
TELL US ABOUT THE NURSERY SOUNDTRACK YOU CAME UP WITH?
I spent a lot of time off last year after having emergency spinal surgery. Music really helped my mental health a lot during that period. A book, The Positivity Kit by Lisa Currie, contains an activity about creating your own happy playlist and taking a lyric from a song. It gave me the idea to create something for The Oaks as a whole, to create a playlist of everyone’s one go-to song, their song that makes them instantly happy! It was a real fun activity talking to all the staff about their songs and reasons behind them. I then made it on Spotify and YouTube and shared out to the team to enjoy. It came at the perfect time just before our Ofsted inspection.
WHAT ARE YOUR AMBITIONS FOR THE FUTURE?
I’m currently in an acting deputy manager role at The Oaks. It is maternity post cover and I’m really enjoying it. However, my love is with the children, creating an impact on their lives and being a male role model for all. Wellbeing is also a big part of what I love doing, and I’m always looking for ways to further develop that and become a strong representative for staff at The Oaks.
Getting to know you…
If you didn’t work in a nursery, what would your career back-up plan be?
I would love to be doing something with art, like graphic design. In my spare time I design T-shirts or trainers that are LGBTQ+ themed, and as a proud member of this community it is great seeing people wearing my designs – it gives me a real sense of PRIDE!
Any particular places in the world you’d like to visit? What’s on your bucket list?
The one place I would love to visit and have just started to save for is Japan. It is the dream to go and explore the bamboo forest, the shopping centres, the themed cafes, but most of all to visit the arcades. My favourite pastime is to go to arcades, play on claw machines and see how many ticket jackpots I can win, then see what is the best prize I can take home. Japan has so many amazing arcades. What’s on my bucket list? I am a bit sentimental. One day I would like to get married and hopefully become a dad.
- The Oaks Day Nursery is one ofthe University of Birmingham’s three day nurseries. Find out more at https://daynurseries.bham.ac.uk
