Three leaders at Partou Worcester Royal Day Nursery and Pre-school, who together have amassed more than half a century of experience in childcare, have reflected on their careers as Partou marks 50 years since being established.
Founded in 1975, Partou is the biggest childcare group in the Netherlands with more than 700 settings, over 70,000 children and 9,000 team members.
Following last year’s merger of Just Childcare and All About Children under the Partou brand, it now operates 106 nurseries in the UK which collectively care for around 9,000 children and employ more than 2,000 dedicated childcare professionals, including 240 apprentices.
Purpose-built on the premises of Royal Worcester Hospital, Partou Worcester Royal offers high-quality childcare and early years education to NHS staff as well as families throughout the local community.
It was recently awarded a ‘Good’ rating in all areas by Ofsted, with the inspector describing team members as “positive and caring towards children while prioritising their safety.”
Partou Worcester Royal Nursery Manager Lisa Smith (centre) with Senior Deputy Manager Amy Vernalls (left) and Deputy Manager Bekkah Stilliard
Lisa Smith, Partou Worcester Royal Nursery Manager who has worked in childcare for just short of a quarter of a century, said she was first inspired to enter the sector by “having a nine year age gap between me and my younger sister, watching her grow and develop.” And, indeed, watching children develop has been the most rewarding part of the job for her ever since.
Achieving a ‘Good’ Ofsted rating has been her highlight as Nursery Manager with the happiest period “having my daughter attending nursery with me and not missing those important milestones.”
Looking back over the past 24 years, Lisa says the most positive change between present day childcare and the start of her career is “safeguarding where it was to where it is now.”
Amy Vernalls, Senior Deputy Manager at the setting with 19 years of experience, said she chose her vocation after helping her mum work with children during the school holidays. And the part of her job which she finds most fulfilling is “knowing I am making a difference in a child’s life, watching them learn and grow into confident little people.”
She reveals that entering management to work alongside Amy at Partou Worcester Royal was her proudest moment with “seeing the children happy” and receiving the ‘Good‘ Ofsted rating her personal high points thus far.
She shares Amy’s belief that the more “in-depth” approach to safeguarding represents the most positive change she’s observed in her career, with “different methods of teaching children and exploring with more natural resources” especially satisfying on a professional level.
Bekkah Stilliard, Partou Worcester Royal Deputy Manager entered childcare 16 years ago because of a desire to “be part of children’s development.” And her passion to help them progress on their learning journey has remained constant.
In common with Lisa and Amy, Bekkah believes that modern day safeguarding standards represent the most noteworthy improvements she’s witnessed, including the requirement to sit with sleeping children at all times a standout change.
When asked, all three women said they would definitely recommend a career at a Partou nursery to aspiring team members.
Samantha Rhodes, Partou Managing Director, said the leadership shown by Lisa, Amy and Bekkah had been “pivotal” in Partou Worcester Royal being the subject of such a glowing Ofsted report.
She commented: “We have many outstanding leaders across our UK settings but, as we celebrate 50 years of Partou, it is an ideal time to reflect on the deep experience that our longest serving managers offer on a daily basis.
“They have helped to shape numerous young lives and helped guide a great number of childcare professionals on their own learning journeys.
“Lisa, Amy and Bekkah are role models and should be incredibly proud of their continuing achievements.”