New Manager Brings Skills to Faringdon Nursery

News release

16th August 2012

A nursery manager with a first-class honours degree and three other major childcare qualifications is now heading up The Old Station Nursery in Faringdon.

Maggie Barrett, 50, has been drafted in to the flagship setting, which was the first Old Station Nursery to open in 2002, after impressing Managing Director Sarah Steel with her pedigree.

She has an NVQ Level 3 in Childcare and Education, a foundation degree in Early Years and a first-class honours degree in Early Childhood Studies from Oxford Brookes University.

She then rounded off her experience by gaining the Early Years Professional Status, which is the equivalent of being a teacher for pre-school children.

“I am a bit of a perfectionist and have to do everything to the absolute best of my ability and that goes for my work too,” said Maggie, whose interest in child development began in 1988 after she had her first child.

“For me the most important aspect of working with babies and children is partnership with parents. By building up a good working relationship with parents we can get a much better picture of each child and ensure that their time at nursery reflects their home life.

“The newly revised Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS, 2012) comes into force in September and has an increased emphasis on partnership with parents. Since I started, we have already begun to increase parental participation.

“The staff here are a hard-working, well qualified, enthusiastic and dedicated team who work together really well to make sure all the children are safe, occupied and happy. I have to say that I have never worked anywhere before where the staff are so well qualified and so caring towards the children.

“All in all I am very excited about being given the opportunity to work for such a forward-thinking establishment.”

Most of the staff at Faringdon have a Level 3 qualification and there is also another team member with a foundation degree and another about to start that training in September.

Before starting at The Old Station Nursery this month, Maggie was a Consultant Supervisor at a local village pre-school, Supervisor at a nursery in an independent girls’ school in Headington, Deputy Manager at another nursery near Abingdon, Supervisor at Cassington Pre-School and Deputy Supervisor at a playgroup.

Sarah Steel, Managing Director of The Old Station Nursery, commented: “Maggie seems to be getting on really well and is more than qualified for the job. She is bringing a wealth of experience and understanding of what a child needs to develop, which will enable our nursery to ensure we can provide a top-quality service.

“I can honestly say I believe that the pre-school education children at the setting will get will help them when they are ready for the transition into school.”

The Faringdon nursery can care for up to 60 children, with some spaces still available. Parents with children currently at the nursery as well as prospective parents can see it in action at an open day on Tuesday 21st August.

To find out more about the nursery, call 01367 243800.

Ends

Notes to editors:

• Managing Director of The Old Station Nursery Sarah Steel set up the first nursery in Faringdon, Oxfordshire, in 2002 when she left the army and was unable to find suitable childcare for her two children.
• Sarah Steel was awarded The Enterprising Women of the Year Award earlier this year. The award was given out by Enterprising Women magazine based in the United States: www.enterprisingwomen.com/EWofYearAwards.htm
• Visit www.theoldstationnursery.co.uk for more on the company.

Cerri Delaney
Shooting Star PR
01522 528540
cerri@shootingstar-pr.co.uk
www.shootingstar-pr.co.uk
t: @cerridelaney

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