Why I chose a career in early years: Mariana's story

For Mariana, a career in Early Years started straight after college. Five years later, she is still at Fennies and has progressed into a Deputy Manager role at Fennies Cheam.

Her journey has been shaped by a desire to keep learning and take on new challenges. By being given extra responsibilities by those around her and then joining the team opening a new Fennies nursery, Mariana has continued to look for opportunities to grow.

Now, as she helps lead a new nursery alongside Emma, she is bringing the experience she has gained along the way while continuing to discover what the next stage of her Early Years career could look like.

Starting an Early Years career straight from college

Mariana joined Fennies straight from college, with no previous nursery career behind her. Five years later, Fennies is still the only Early Years setting she has worked in.

For her, staying has been about having the opportunity to keep learning. She has been able to take on more responsibility over time and see where a career in Early Years could take her. That progression has given Mariana the confidence to look beyond her current role and consider what she could take on next.

Taking the next step in her Early Years career

Mariana has always wanted to keep learning and see where her Early Years career could take her. Moving into a Deputy Manager role gave her the chance to take on more responsibility while continuing to develop her own skills.

The opportunity to help open Fennies Cheam made the decision even more exciting. Rather than simply stepping into a more senior role, Mariana would be part of creating something new and learning from an experience she had not had before.

For Mariana, it felt like the right time to take on a new challenge.

“It was a new chapter for me and a chance to learn something I’d never had the opportunity to do before, so I didn’t want to pass on it.” said Mariana

A new challenge at Fennies Cheam

Moving from an established nursery to a brand-new Fennies setting was a big change for Mariana.

She was used to working in a busy nursery where she knew the families and the wider community well. Cheam meant starting again in a new area and helping build those relationships from the beginning.

“I’m a busy body and I’m used to moving about constantly, so going somewhere new was a big change.” said Mariana

Having the opportunity to help open Cheam has given Mariana a different perspective on nursery life. She is now helping create the kind of environment she has experienced herself, while getting to know a new community along the way.

Learning from the people around her

Taking on a new role has also meant learning from the people around her. At Cheam, Mariana works closely with Emma, sharing ideas and supporting each other as they establish the new nursery.

She also draws on the wider Fennies network. Visiting other settings and hearing about what has worked for different teams gives her ideas that she can take back to Cheam and adapt to suit her own nursery.

For Mariana, that sense of connection has made progressing into leadership feel like a shared experience rather than something she has had to figure out alone.

Building relationships with families

For Mariana, some of the most rewarding moments in her Early Years career have happened outside the nursery room.

She particularly enjoys hosting open days at Fennies Cheam. Meeting families for the first time gives her the chance to answer their questions and help ease some of the worries that can come with choosing a nursery.

That connection doesn't stop once a child starts. Building strong relationships with families is something Mariana sees as an important part of her role, helping create a community where parents feel comfortable sharing what matters to them.

“Parent partnerships are one of my favourite things about Early Years.” says Mariana.

The people who helped her take the next step

Mariana's progression didn't happen overnight. During her time at Fennies Epsom, her managers Josie and Becca gradually gave her more responsibility and opportunities to take on different roles.

Those experiences helped Mariana build her confidence and recognise that she was ready to take on more. Being trusted with new responsibilities also gave her the chance to demonstrate what she could bring to a leadership role. When the opportunity at Cheam came up, having that encouragement from the people around her made a real difference.

For Mariana, having people believe in her was an important part of recognising that she was ready for the next stage of her Early Years career.

Why progression matters to Mariana

For Mariana, one of the things that has kept her at Fennies is knowing that her career can continue to develop.

She started straight from college and has since moved through different responsibilities before taking on her Deputy Manager role. Each step has given her something new to learn, while showing her that there are further opportunities ahead.

That sense of progression is something Mariana values about Fennies. She has been able to build her experience over five years while being encouraged by the people around her to take on new challenges.

For her, a career in Early Years is not about reaching one particular role. It is about continuing to learn and seeing where that journey can take her.

What Mariana loves about Early Years and Fennies

After five years in Early Years, Mariana says it is still the children who make the work so rewarding. For her, working in Early Years comes from having a genuine passion for nurturing children and helping them grow.

She also loves the relationships that come with the role. Getting to know families, being part of their nursery journey and building that sense of community are all things she particularly enjoys.

And when it comes to Fennies, career progression stands out. Starting straight from college and progressing to Deputy Manager has shown Mariana what can happen when you are given opportunities to take on more.

Her journey at Fennies is still unfolding, and with the Cheam nursery bringing a new challenge, Mariana is looking forward to seeing what comes next.