Meet the Nursery Manager: Kelly from Fennies Ealing Junction Road

We had the opportunity to speak with Kelly, our dedicated Nursery Manager at Fennies Ealing, Junction Road. With a warm and supportive approach, Kelly is passionate about creating an environment where children feel happy, valued and confident to explore the world around them. She believes the Early Years play a crucial role in shaping a child's future and is committed to providing experiences that nurture curiosity, independence and a lifelong love of learning.

In this blog, Kelly shares what makes our Ealing nursery such a special place. From building strong relationships with families and supporting her team to delivering high-quality learning experiences for children, she reflects on the values that guide her leadership and the positive impact Early Years education can have on every child's development.

• Inspiring the Local Community ‍
• Parent Partnerships ‍
• Early Years Curriculum ‍
• Team Upskilling and Atmosphere ‍
• Childcare Passions ‍
• Upcoming Events

Join us at Fennies Ealing, Junction Road

If you are looking for a nursery where your child can feel safe, supported and inspired to learn every day, we would love to welcome you to our nursery in Ealing. Our dedicated team and thoughtfully designed environments create a nurturing space where children can explore, build confidence and develop a love of learning. Families value the strong relationships we build and the genuine care we provide, while Early Years professionals appreciate the supportive culture and opportunities for growth. Ealing is a nursery where children are encouraged to thrive, teams feel empowered to succeed and parents feel reassured that their child is receiving the very best start in life.

What’s a fun fact about you?

A fun fact about me is that I regularly volunteer at my local hospice on Sundays. It is something that is very important to me and gives me the opportunity to give back to the community outside of my role in Early Years. I find it incredibly rewarding to support others and spend time helping people where I can. It has also helped me develop valuable skills such as empathy, communication and understanding, which I bring into my work at nursery every day.

What helps you stay connected with your communities?

I enjoy helping children explore their local community and learn more about the world around them. Taking children on trips to local parks and outdoor spaces is a great way to do this, as it allows them to experience new environments, develop their confidence and build an understanding of the community they are part of. These experiences help bring learning to life and create meaningful connections beyond the nursery environment.

What’s something you have loved about your Early Years Career so far?

One of the things I have loved most about my Early Years career is how friendly and welcoming everyone has been. Building relationships with the team, children and families is a real highlight of my role. Every child and family has their own story and getting to know them, supporting them and celebrating their achievements alongside them is incredibly rewarding. Those relationships are what make every day so enjoyable.

What’s your ambition to help improve the Early Years Sector?

My ambition is to work alongside my team to deliver the highest possible standard of Early Years education. I am particularly excited about embedding our new pedagogy and ensuring it becomes part of everyday practice throughout the nursery. By supporting the team with training, guidance and professional development, I hope to help create an environment where children receive outstanding learning experiences that prepare them for the future.

How do you create parent partnerships at Fennies Ealing, Junction Road?

I believe parent partnerships begin with being a friendly and familiar face each day. I enjoy welcoming families into the nursery every morning and making sure they know I am always available if they have questions or need support. Whether it is advice around potty training, weaning or another stage of their child's development, I want parents to feel comfortable approaching me and confident that we are working together. I also place a great deal of importance on supporting families through the settling-in process.

While we often focus on helping children settle, I recognise that it can be just as emotional for parents. Building trust from the beginning helps create strong relationships that continue throughout a child's time at nursery. Alongside this, I enjoy organising opportunities for parents to be involved in their children's learning and development, helping them feel connected to their nursery experience.

What’s one impact you like to make on the team atmosphere?

I want the atmosphere within the nursery to feel positive, supportive and exciting. I believe people do their best work when they genuinely enjoy coming to work and feel valued by those around them. My aim is to provide guidance and encouragement that helps team members develop their confidence and continue growing professionally. Having completed a Level 2 qualification in Mental Health for Children and Adults, I also understand the importance of wellbeing in the workplace. I want my team to feel supported not only professionally but personally too, creating an environment where everyone feels comfortable asking for help and sharing ideas.

What’s one way you help to upskill your team?

I spend time observing practice across the nursery and speaking with team members about their personal and professional goals. Understanding what they want to achieve allows me to provide support that is tailored to their individual aspirations and development needs. I enjoy helping people identify opportunities for growth and working alongside them to achieve their goals. Whether that involves coaching, training opportunities or simply providing guidance and encouragement, I want every team member to feel supported on their professional journey.

Why did you choose to work in Early Years Education?

I have always had a passion for working with children. Early Years in particular appealed to me because of how important those first years of life are and the lasting impact they have on a child's future. The experiences, relationships and learning opportunities children receive during this stage help shape who they become. Knowing that I can play a part in helping children build confidence, curiosity and a love of learning is one of the reasons I continue to be so passionate about Early Years education.

What passions do you have within the Early Years Curriculum?

I recently completed a Level 2 qualification in Brain Development because I found the subject incredibly fascinating. I am passionate about understanding how children learn, how they make connections and how their brains develop during the Early Years. The more we understand about brain development, the better we can support children as they grow and learn. I enjoy exploring how different experiences contribute to children's understanding of the world and how we can provide opportunities that help them build knowledge, confidence and independence.

What kind of leader are you?

I would describe myself as a supportive leader who is firm but fair. I believe in creating an environment where people feel comfortable approaching me for guidance, support or simply a conversation. I operate an open-door policy and always try to be available whenever my team needs me. I also believe strongly in leading by example. Whether that is role modelling good practice, sharing knowledge from training courses or drawing on my years of experience in Early Years, I want to provide practical support that helps my team succeed. My goal is always to help people grow in confidence while feeling supported throughout their journey.

What would you like to achieve in the next six months?

Over the next six months, I am looking forward to getting to know the team even better and building strong relationships across the nursery. Creating those partnerships and understanding everyone's strengths will help us continue developing as a team. I am also focused on completing our action plans and achieving the goals we have set for ourselves. Continuous improvement is incredibly important to me and I am excited to continue striving towards providing the highest quality experiences for children and families.

What’s your favourite thing about coming to work?

One of my favourite things about coming to work is meeting people and building relationships. Seeing the children arrive with smiles on their faces and hearing their enthusiastic greetings is a wonderful way to start the day. I also love watching the relationships between key people and their children develop over time. Seeing those strong bonds form and knowing how much of a positive impact they have on children's wellbeing is incredibly heartwarming and one of the most rewarding aspects of working in Early Years.

Do you have any exciting visits or upcoming partnerships within the community planned?

I have recently been attending SEND and network meetings to develop a stronger understanding of the local area and the support available within the community. These opportunities allow me to build valuable connections and identify ways we can further support children and families within our nursery. I am excited to continue strengthening these partnerships and exploring new opportunities that will benefit both our children and the wider community.

What’s the best thing about Fennies Ealing, Junction Road?

I think one of the best things about Fennies Ealing, Junction Road is how welcoming everyone is. From the team to the families, there is a real sense of warmth and community that makes people feel comfortable and supported. Building those relationships and creating a strong sense of continuity is something I am really excited about as I continue my journey at Ealing.