Meet the team at Fennies Twickenham: The people behind our nursery

We had the chance to catch up with the management team at Fennies Twickenham, Katie and Jess. With their passion for supporting both children and their colleagues, Early Years is clearly close to their hearts. Katie is our Acting Nursery Manager, who loves seeing the smiles and laughter that come from the relationships children build with their educators. Jess is our Deputy Manager, who particularly enjoys watching her team members grow in their roles and supporting them throughout their Early Years journeys.

They share a strong belief in creating a positive and supportive team environment, where everyone has the opportunity to develop and make a difference. Their connection with the wider Twickenham community is also important to them, whether that means supporting local causes, making donations to food banks or taking children out to explore the world around them.

In this blog, Katie and Jess share more about their Early Years careers, what they love about being part of the Fennies Twickenham team and what makes their nursery so special. From supporting colleagues to grow to creating experiences that help children become ‘Ready for Life’, they give us an insight into the people behind our Twickenham nursery.

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

Join us at Fennies Twickenham, Hampton Road

Choosing the right nursery is a big decision, and at our nursery in Twickenham we’re here to make that choice feel a little easier. With a warm, welcoming team and carefully considered spaces, children have the freedom to discover new interests, try new things and grow in confidence at their own pace. Our approach is built around meaningful relationships, giving every child the individual attention and encouragement they need to flourish. For our team, Twickenham is also a place to develop professionally, share ideas and feel supported in making a difference to children’s early years. Above all, we want families to feel confident knowing their child is happy, cared for and given the foundations they need for a positive start to life.

How do you create parent partnerships at Fennies Twickenham?

Katie: For me, building strong relationships with parents starts from the moment they first join us. We make sure we connect with families as early as possible, sharing a bespoke email with everything they need to know about starting nursery, from what to bring to what they can expect during those first few days.

This helps answer some of those initial questions and makes the transition feel easier. Most importantly, it gives parents the confidence to know they can come to us whenever they need support, helping us build trust from the very beginning.

Jess: Open communication is a really important part of our relationships with families. We make the most of those everyday conversations at drop-off and collection to get to know our parents and talk about how their child is getting on.

We also share regular photographs and updates so parents can see what their child has been enjoying throughout the day. Our Friday updates keep families up to date with upcoming events too, helping them feel involved in everything happening at Fennies Twickenham.

How would you describe the team culture at your nursery?

Katie: Our team culture is built around respect, trust and kindness. Everyone has a voice, regardless of their role, because we’re all working towards the same goal. We also want Fennies Twickenham to be a fun place to work. When the team feels happy and supported, that naturally creates a positive environment for the children too.

Jess: I’d describe us as a little family. Everyone genuinely loves what they do, and there’s a real team-player culture. We love putting the fun into Early Years too, from creating events around the children’s interests to socialising together outside of nursery.  

What kind of leader would your team say you are?

Katie: I think they’d say I’m a big developer. I really enjoy supporting people to grow, and we currently have three apprentices at Twickenham who joined us unqualified and are now working towards their Level 3 qualifications. I also love a bit of healthy competition, so I’ll often create little challenges or incentives to encourage the team to keep developing their practice. Most importantly, I make sure their hard work is recognised and celebrated.

Jess: They’d describe me as thoughtful, ambitious and trusting. I’m someone who follows through on what I say I’m going to do, while being mindful of how others are feeling. Empathy is important to me, and I always want my team to feel supported and listened to.

What makes your team special?  

Katie: We’ve built something strong from the very beginning. Although we’ve only been open for a year, we’ve always thought about the future and made decisions with that in mind. That strong team work ethic has helped us build something we’re proud of.

Jess: Our team is incredibly passionate and always wants to do their best. They bring so much energy to each day, while making sure we share the load and look out for each other. There’s lots of laughter and a real desire to inspire each other.

What do you enjoy most about working together as a team?

Katie: We genuinely care about the work we do and about each other, and I think that comes through in how we work together. We take away the titles and recognise that everyone has a responsibility and an opportunity to learn. After all, pencils have rubbers for a reason. We’re all going to make mistakes, and that’s part of learning to help us find the right answer.

Jess: They’re such an easy group to work with. They’re open to feedback, happy to share ideas and always willing to problem-solve together. As a management team, we pour as much into them as they pour into us, and they’re genuinely the people you want to be around.

What do you think makes your nursery in Twickenham a great place to work?

Katie: The fun, the ambition and the recognition. For us, those things should be the standard we hold ourselves to.

Jess: The people. They’re genuinely the people you want to be around.

Why would parents love to bring their child to Fennies Twickenham?

Katie: I think it starts with the trust we build from the very first day families walk through our doors. Parents can see that Fennies Twickenham is a warm and secure environment where children can thrive, and tools like the Famly app help keep them connected to their child’s day. We’re also proud that our reviews from both current and former families reflect the high standards we aim to deliver every day.

Jess: We inspire fun and love building relationships with our families. When you join our Twickenham nursery you become part of our nursery community, and we take the time to really get to know you. From our tours to settling sessions, there is so much care and thought put into every stage of the journey.

If you had to describe your managing counterpart in three words what would they be?

Katie: Committed. Strategic. Charismatic.

Jess: Thoughtful. Vibrant. Attention-to-detail.

What’s a moment from your Twickenham nursery that always makes you smile?

Katie: Taking the children to a local care home to sing Christmas carols. One 90-year-old resident got up to play an instrument and dance, and the nurses told us they had never seen him move like that before. Seeing the children bring so much joy to the residents was really special.

Jess: We recently held a catwalk, and during it, one of our children took their first steps. He has been with us from the very beginning, so seeing that milestone after watching his journey was such a special moment. It was definitely a teary one for the whole team!

What’s the best thing about Fennies Twickenham?

Katie: No two days are ever the same, and we love that!

Jess: Our team culture. There’s a real sense of togetherness that makes Twickenham such a special place to work!