Sophie

Room Leader

Hello, my name is Sophie I am Room Leader in the toddler room here at Monkey Puzzle Chesham

What fills your heart with happiness about your role?

Working with children gives me the sense of achievement knowing I’m part of the reason children are achieving and developing through some of what is the most important years of their life. Helping them to grow their curious minds and develop into independent young children before going off to pre-school is what keeps me going everyday working in early years. I’m an advocate for setting a good example and ensure the importance of British Values are embedded into their learning everyday they are with us.

How did you get your career started in Early Years?

I started working in the childcare sector from the time I left school, 13years ago. I went onto work in a preschool as an apprentice to complete my level 2 and 3 in Childcare. I then continued my childcare career in early years day nurseries where I learned and gained more knowledge of the day to day running of a nursery and finding the best ways to help children develop through their interests, building partnerships with parents and working in a team. I then became a room leader and extended my qualifications by completing my Team Leadership course with the support from my previous Monkey Puzzle setting where I then was able to continue this here at Chesham with support from leadership and management.

How are you supported at Monkey Puzzle to develop and progress your career?

Working at Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Chesham has given me opportunities to widen my knowledge by putting me on courses I find interesting to support me in helping the children develop. We’ve started recently utilising monthly staff meetings for training needs identified by staff, we are tested monthly on policies to ensure our knowledge is kept fresh in mind. I’ve also had my Paediatric First Aid and Food Hygiene Level 2 fully funded by the team to ensure I have the qualifications I require to do my job.

What is your potential next step?

My goal in my childcare career is to become a part of the senior management team and to help run the day to day running of the nursery.

What would you say to anyone with a choice of early years childcare as a possible career path?

Childcare is one of the rewarding careers you can be in because not only you are here to help the children develop you are here to support them grow into young independent children that will follow them going onto school, adult life and work. It’s YOU that makes that difference.