Meet the Nursery Manager: Hayley from Fennies Walton, Tennis Close

We had the chance to speak with Hayley, our dedicated Nursery Manager at Fennies Walton, Tennis Close. With a hands-on and supportive approach, Hayley enjoys creating an environment where children and educators feel encouraged to explore and grow. She believes in leading by example, supporting her team to try new things and creating opportunities for everyone to bring their own ideas to life. Her focus on meaningful relationships and continuous improvement helps create a nursery where children can enjoy enriching experiences, and educators feel trusted to deliver their best practice.

In this blog, Hayley shares what makes our Walton nursery such a special place. From building strong relationships with families and supporting the local community to developing her team and creating exciting learning experiences for children, Hayley reflects on the experiences that have shaped her Early Years career and the values that guide her as a Nursery Manager.

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

Join us at Fennies Walton, Tennis Close

If you are looking for a nursery where your child can feel safe and encouraged to explore new adventures every day, we would love to welcome you to our nursery in Walton. Our dedicated team and bright, engaging environments create a space where learning feels meaningful for children. Families value the warm and supportive relationships we build, while Early Years professionals appreciate the opportunity to grow and work alongside a passionate team. Walton is a nursery where children are encouraged to explore, and educators feel supported to thrive. Families can feel confident that their children are receiving the care and experiences they deserve.

What's a fun fact about you?

I love reading stories to the children, and over the years I have become pretty good at reading The Gruffalo. In fact, I can now read the whole story without even opening the book! Storytelling is something I really enjoy because it is such a lovely way to connect with children, see their imaginations come to life and watch them join in with familiar words and phrases.

What helps you stay connected with your communities?

I enjoy working with and supporting local businesses and organisations that make a positive difference within the community. One way we do this is by supporting local food banks with donations, helping provide support to those who need it. I think it is important for the nursery to play an active role in the community around us and look for ways we can make a positive impact beyond our own setting.

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 was successfully setting up a new baby unit at a previous setting. Seeing it go from the initial set-up stage to being fully occupied and operational within just six weeks was incredibly rewarding. It was a great experience to help create a new space for babies and see it quickly become a thriving part of the nursery.

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

My ambition is to always strive towards continuous improvement and ensure children have the best possible experience during their time at Fennies. I believe there is always an opportunity to reflect and find ways to improve our practice, so we can continue providing high-quality experiences that support every child’s development and wellbeing.

How do you create parent partnerships at Fennies Walton, Tennis Close?

For me, strong parent partnerships begin with having those everyday conversations with families. Greeting parents at drop-off and pick-up and taking the time to speak with them helps build trust and shows that I am genuinely invested in their child’s development. The quicker families can see that you care about their child and want to understand them, the easier it becomes to build a strong relationship.

After I joined Fennies Walton, we also set up mini coffee mornings where parents could come in, get to know me better and give me the opportunity to get to know them on a deeper level. I think building relationships through mutual understanding is really important, and these opportunities help create a welcoming and supportive community for our families.

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

I would say one of my strengths is being a problem solver. When a team member comes to me with a question or needs support, I want to be able to help them find a solution and give them the confidence to move forward. I started my own Early Years career as bank staff, so I have experienced many of the roles within a nursery and understand what it is like to be part of the team. I would never ask someone to do something that I would not be willing to do myself, and I think that helps build trust and creates an inspiring atmosphere where the team feel supported.

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

I think it's really important to have supportive conversations in private rather than putting someone on the spot. I like to explain not only what we could do differently, but why good practice is so important, as understanding the reasoning behind something helps people feel more confident putting it into practice. I also enjoy having open discussions with the team about how we can extend or simplify activities to make them accessible and engaging for every child, helping us share ideas and consistently deliver high-quality experiences across the nursery.

Why did you choose to work in Early Years Education?

I started working in Early Years while I was studying for my A Levels, and after finishing my studies, I happened to move into a full-time position. From there, I immediately began my Level 3 qualification, and my love of learning helped ignite my passion for Early Years. I quickly fell in love with working with the children and, nearly 20 years later, I am now a Nursery Manager. It has been a rewarding journey, and I still love learning and developing within the sector today.

What passions do you have within the Early Years Curriculum?

I am particularly passionate about the three prime areas of learning: communication and language, personal, social and emotional development, and physical development. I think Early Years can sometimes be undervalued, despite how important these foundational skills are for children as they grow. These areas support children in developing the skills they need for everyday life, and I feel incredibly lucky to be able to support them through this important stage. Working alongside parents and helping children build these foundations, while watching their development grow, is something I find incredibly special.

What kind of leader are you?

I would describe myself as firm but fair, and I like to lead by example. I believe in physically demonstrating good practice and supporting my team through my own actions. I also want to encourage team members to develop their skills, try new things, and take ownership of their ideas. If someone has an idea, I want to say, “That’s brilliant, let’s give it a go!” I want my team to have autonomy over how they run their rooms, as long as the children are learning, having fun, and getting the most from their experiences. I am always happy to provide ideas or resources to help bring their ideas to life, and I think our strong team atmosphere comes from giving people the trust and support to grow.

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

I was at my previous setting for eight years, so over the next six months I would love to build that same level of knowledge and understanding about Fennies Walton, Tennis Close. I want to become a real go-to person for the team and families, feeling fully immersed in the nursery and my role. I already feel very settled, but I am looking forward to continuing to develop my knowledge of the nursery, strengthen relationships with the team and become even more involved in everything we do.

What’s your favourite thing about coming to work?

I love the number of different people I get to meet every day. No two days are ever the same, and I enjoy meeting children and families from all different walks of life. Whether I am having a conversation with a grandparent, auntie or uncle, or watching the children explore a new activity, there is always something different happening. Even with our daily routines, you never walk into the same activity or experience in a room each day, and I love that sense of variety and excitement.

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

We are really enjoying going on outings at the moment and finding new ways for the children to explore the local community. Recently, our Inventors went to the park for a bug hunt and took cameras with them so they could capture the experience through their own eyes. As we are also right next to a tennis club, we would love to explore opportunities to work with them and create exciting experiences for the children in the future.

What’s the best thing about Fennies Walton, Tennis Close?

I love our garden because it is so big and there is so much for the children to explore. Every child has the opportunity to spend time outdoors each day, where they can learn, discover and enjoy new experiences. There are so many opportunities for children to dance, sing, grow herbs and explore different environments, which makes the garden such a special part of the nursery. I love seeing the children make the most of the space and having the freedom to learn and grow through outdoor experiences.