Love Based Leadership in Action

I feel very fortunate to do the job that I do; work with a range of early educators and support them in their reflections to move practice forward. It’s great to see the transformation a setting has had after working so hard on areas of their practice.

Today I had the chance to visit one of the wonderful local nurseries I’ve been working with for the last year. This was a chance to hear and see the progress they’ve made in not only their ethos but how this has translated into their learning environment.

Emma is an inspirational leader who also leads with a love-based leadership style. Making sure she invests time in getting to know each member of her team and giving them opportunities to lead in areas that are their strength. At the same time, she also understands the importance of supporting staff and has a clear system in place for professional development. Over the last year the team have worked hard on creating a shared and consistent ethos across the three rooms of the nursery. Emma also places a high priority on staff wellbeing and has offered her team opportunities to take part in training around mindfulness, meditation and yoga. All of this is contributing to having a team of staff that are eager to be at work who strive to do the best for the children.

As soon as I entered the main entrance I immediately felt a change to the way the sense of belonging and calmness had been created. Children’s work on the now neutral display boards and family photos really stood out and were not lost in the previously brightly coloured display boards. I also liked the homely feel of children and staff wearing slippers while working inside.

As I entered each of the learning spaces it was a delight to see and hear a buzz of excitement as children worked away and investigated their own lines of enquiry. The cosy nooks, interesting objects to explore and sensory experiences allowed for high levels of engagement. The rooms were previously brightly coloured and bursting with resources and hanging decorations. Now spaces have been created, using cushions and tepees, for children to have quiet time and share a book together. Many hygge elements had also been embraced with LED candles and natural elements contributing to that feeling of cosiness.

Areas have also been resourced with more open- ended materials and authentic resources. Like in the home corner children can play imaginary with real food and packaging. The team have also moved towards a less is more approach and use wooden crates and open shelving to store and display interesting resources. The team have worked hard on their understanding of how children learn. They have considered ways they can value process-based learning and promote creativity by moving towards more loose parts.

What I like about the leadership approach here is the recognition that we never stop learning and reflecting. Owner Emma, has recently had some decking fitted for the outside area and talked about the teams plans to set up a sensory garden here for the babies to explore and enjoy.

It really was such a delight to visit Emma’s Angels this morning. What lucky children and staff to work in such a nurturing and fun setting.

Find out more about Emma's Angels at http://www.emmasangelsdaycare.co.uk

If you would like to know more about the Hygge in Early Years Accreditation click here