Meet The Manager: Kiri From Fennies Reading, Rose Kiln Lane

We had the privilege of sitting down with Kiri, our incredible Nursery Manager at our new nursery, Fennies Reading, Rose Kiln Lane, opening in June 2025! With over 15 years of Early Years experience, Kiri has developed a huge passion for giving all children the best start in life, ensuring they have a caring and engaging environment to thrive in.

Throughout this blog, Kiri will dive into what is going to make our new Rose Kiln Lane setting so special and what she envisages for the future! From her desire to become a bona fide member of the local community to building relationships with the parents and the children, we found out what makes Kiri tick!

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

Join Us at Fennies Reading, Rose Kiln Lane

At Fennies Reading on Rose Kiln Lane, Kiri, the amazing manager, leads a committed team who are dedicated to creating a safe and secure environment where children can learn and thrive. Kiri has worked across multiple Fennies sites in management roles and can’t wait to meet new families at Fennies Reading and help the children achieve some key milestones! Whether you’re a family looking for a place for your child to grow, or an Early Years educator looking to join a collaborative team, Fennies Reading is a welcoming environment for everyone!

What’s a fun fact about you?

I absolutely love to sing, and you’ll often catch me singing as I walk around the nursery. Whether I’m belting out a nursery rhyme or humming a tune between rooms, I find that music lifts the mood and creates such a joyful atmosphere for both the children and the team. Singing is a great way to engage the little ones, it’s calming, fun and educational all at once. I like to think it brings a little bit of magic into their day!

What helps you stay connected with your communities?

Staying connected to our nursery families and the wider community is something I prioritise. I love creating opportunities for parents to get involved and feel part of our journey. We regularly host relaxed social events like ‘Paint and Sip’ evenings or a good old ‘Wine and Cheese’ night. These kinds of events allow us all to come together outside of the usual drop-off and pick-up routines, and they really help build strong relationships. It's in these moments, chatting over a paintbrush or a glass of wine, that you get to know people on a deeper level and truly build that community spirit.

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

One of my favourite experiences so far has been celebrating World Kindness Day with the children and our amazing team. We spent time creating beautiful handmade cards filled with positive messages and then went out into the community to deliver them. Seeing the children light up as they handed out their cards, and witnessing the joy it brought to people’s faces, was such a powerful reminder of the impact we can have, even through small gestures. It was a lovely way to involve the children in something bigger than themselves, teaching them about empathy and kindness in a really hands-on way.

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

My ambition is to make sure that fun remains at the core of Early Years education. It can be easy to get caught up in frameworks and targets, but we have to remember why we started in this field in the first place. To support children and to enjoy helping them grow. I want to keep that spark alive by creating environments where children can laugh, explore and thrive! A place where educators feel inspired to come to work every day. When learning is fun, it becomes meaningful, and that’s when the real magic happens for both children and our team.

How do you create Parent Partnerships at Fennies Reading?

Building relationships with parents starts from day one. I make it a priority to create an open, welcoming environment where parents feel comfortable coming in, chatting with us, and getting involved. Whether it's through daily interactions, casual drop-ins or planned events, we offer plenty of chances for parents to connect with what’s happening in the nursery. We also hold parent-only evenings where they can meet the team and have more personal conversations without the chaos of the usual day. I really believe that clear, honest communication and being approachable make all the difference. It’s about building mutual trust and working together in the best interest of the child.

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

I always aim to make our nursery a genuinely fun and positive place to work. It’s so important to me that the team feels like one big family, not just divided into teams for each room, but united as one ‘Little Fennies Family.’ I want our nursery to be the kind of place where people enjoy coming in every day, where laughter is shared and support is always available. When the team feels happy and valued, that energy flows through everything we do, especially in how we care for the children. A happy team equals a happy nursery!

What kind of leader are you?

I’d describe myself as someone who leads by example. I take time to get to know each member of my team personally, understanding how they work, how they learn and how I can best support them. I’m always approachable, and my team knows they can come to me about anything. That strong bond we build helps foster real camaraderie, and I make it a point to push my team to grow and take on new challenges. I’m constantly looking for ways to empower them and help them progress along their career pathways. Being a leader, to me, means being present, being kind,and always believing in your team’s potential.

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

I’m really passionate about supporting the growth of my team and helping them reach their full potential. I’m always thinking about how each individual can progress to the next stage in their career and what steps we can take together to get there. Whether it's enrolling them in relevant training, identifying their strengths or encouraging them to take on new challenges, I make sure development is constant. We also run weekly training sessions and reflective practices to keep everyone sharp and inspired. I’m very hands-on as a manager; I'm always in the rooms regularly, working alongside the team. I believe it's important that the children, parents and team all know me and feel comfortable coming to me. I’d never ask the team to do something I wouldn’t do myself, and I think that kind of leadership builds trust and a sense of equality.

Why did you choose to work in Early Years education?

I’ve always loved being around children and naturally have a nurturing personality, but it goes deeper than that. I know that not every child has the easiest start in life, and being able to offer them a safe, supportive environment means everything to me. If we can be that space where a child feels loved, secure and able to thrive, then we've done something truly special. That sense of purpose of making a real difference in the earliest, most important years of someone’s life is what drove me into Early Years education and what keeps me motivated every day.

What passions do you have within the Early Years curriculum?

I’m a huge advocate for messy play! There’s just something magical about watching children completely immerse themselves in the mud kitchen, splashing around and really getting stuck in. It’s about letting children be children, allowing them to explore, get messy and follow their curiosity. I firmly believe that children learn best when they’re free to explore the world around them. This kind of play nurtures their creativity, builds confidence and resilience, and supports a strong foundation for future learning. I’m all for anything that sparks wonder and encourages them to be curious, brave little explorers.

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

Over the next six months, I’m focused on maintaining the high standards we’ll have set out from day one at Fennies Reading. Meaning the children will be settling in beautifully, and the feedback from parents will hopefully be overwhelmingly positive. It’s that kind of community buzz we’re aiming for, where families are talking about how great the nursery is and feel proud to be part of it. I also want to ensure that our team continues to meet those expectations, growing in confidence and capability. Ultimately, it's about building on a strong start and making Fennies Reading known as a standout setting in the area.

What’s your favourite thing about coming to work?

What I love most is the people. I’m a very personable person, so whether it's connecting with the team, chatting with parents or spending time with the children, those daily interactions mean everything to me. I always try to go above and beyond in the little things, whether that’s checking in on someone’s day or helping a child achieve a milestone. It’s those moments that make the job so meaningful. I come to work every day with a smile and a positive outlook because I know the difference we make matters, and it’s such a privilege to be part of these families’ lives.

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

We’re always looking for ways to connect with the local community and bring enriching experiences to the children. One of the things I’m really excited about is developing a relationship with a local baby sensory and music group. It’s a fantastic opportunity not only to enhance our curriculum with fun, music-based learning but also to open our doors to the wider community, offering a warm and safe space for families to come and see what we’re all about. We’re also planning a trip to Beale Farm Park so the children can meet and learn about animals up close. On top of that, we’ll be hosting parent learning sessions on useful topics like potty training. These are helpful, informative evenings where we can support our families and strengthen those all-important partnerships.

What events have you got in the near future at Fennies Reading?

We’re thrilled to be hosting our official launch party on the 26th of July, and it’s going to be such a fun day! It’ll be a celebration of everything we’ve built so far and a chance for families, children and the wider community to come together, meet the team, and see the nursery in full swing. There will be lots of exciting activities, and it’s a great way for prospective families to get a feel for what makes Fennies Reading such a special place. We want to create lasting memories and a strong sense of belonging from the moment someone walks through our doors.

What’s going to be the best thing about Fennies Reading?

Without a doubt, it’s the culture. From the moment you walk in, you’ll be greeted by warmth, smiles and a genuine sense of happiness. That’s something we will work hard to build, and hopefully set us apart from other settings. Children feel safe and supported here, parents feel welcome and informed and the team feel valued and inspired. It’s a place where everyone is on board with the same vision. To create a nurturing, fun and vibrant environment that benefits everyone. Fennies Reading is more than just a nursery, it’s a community. We can’t wait to welcome families!