Meet the Expert

“My journey into Early Years wasn’t necessarily the one I originally planned! I initially began a degree in Accountancy before quickly realising that it simply wasn’t for me. I knew I wanted to do something that felt more meaningful and more 'me', so I followed what I realised was my true calling and began a Level 3 Early Years Educator apprenticeship at KatieB Kids.

That was 11 and a half years ago, and I’ve been here ever since!

Over those years, I’ve grown from an apprentice taking my first steps into Early Years to becoming a Senior Leader, and I’ve been lucky enough to be part of the nursery journeys of hundreds of children and families along the way.

For me, one of the most special parts of Early Years is the relationships we build. At KatieB Kids, those relationships extend far beyond a quick hello and goodbye at the nursery door. Our relaxed handovers, community events and celebrations give us the opportunity to really get to know our families- to chat, catch up and share in all those little moments that matter.

I love celebrating the milestones alongside parents, whether it’s a first word, a new friendship, mastering something a child has been determined to achieve or simply one of those little breakthroughs that might seem tiny to somebody else but feels enormous when you know that child well.

Having been at KatieB Kids for so long means I’ve had the privilege of watching hundreds of families pass through our doors. I’ve welcomed younger siblings after caring for their older brothers and sisters, as well as cousins and other relatives, and there is something incredibly special about a family choosing to come back and allowing us to become part of another child’s story.

That sense of connection and belonging is a huge part of why I have stayed for more than a decade. I genuinely enjoy what I do, and having that level of job satisfaction has given me something increasingly rare in Early Years: longevity.

With that longevity comes a wealth of experience, but also relationships that have been built over many years. Children may eventually leave us, but the connections we make with their families often remain.

For me, Early Years has never just been about caring for and educating the child in front of us. It’s about recognising the family around them, building relationships based on trust and creating a community where children and their families genuinely feel that they belong.

And after 11 and a half years, it’s still a privilege to be part of it.”