Discover the Faces of Nursery Days: Get to Know Our Amazing Team!

Welcome to the Nursery Days spotlight! This month, we are pulling back the curtain so you can get to know the fantastic practitioners who care for, inspire, and laugh alongside your children every single day. To help parents and families learn more about the wonderful people making our nursery a home away from home, we asked our staff a few fun questions. From their go-to messy play activities to their dream superpowers, read on to discover what makes the Nursery Days team so incredibly special!

Imogen

• What is your absolute favourite storybook to read to the children and why? We're Going on a Bear Hunt.

• If you could only sing one nursery rhyme for the rest of the year, which one are you picking? I Have a Little Turtle.

• What is the funniest or sweetest thing a child has said to you recently? "You're my best friend."

• What is your go-to messy play activity? Cooked Spaghetti.

• What is your secret superpower for calming a grumpy toddler or comforting a sad child? Singing.

• What was your favourite food when you were a child, and what is your favourite food now? Younger - Macaroni cheese, Now - Pasta.

• If you could have any animal as a pet (real or mythical), what would it be? A Sloth.

• If you could instantly become an expert in any skill or hobby, what would it be? Dance.

• What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? Trust the process.

• If you could travel anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you go? Paris.

• If you could have any superpower, what would it be and how would it help you at work? To understand every language - to help fulfil the needs of every child in the setting, including babies.

Shani

• What is your absolute favourite storybook to read to the children and why? Wonky Donkey. The children love it and laugh when I’m reading it!

• If you could only sing one nursery rhyme for the rest of the year, which one are you picking? There’s a Dinosaur.

• What is the funniest or sweetest thing a child has said to you recently? They asked what my Dad’s name was, and when I told them it was the same as theirs, so they asked if we had the same Dad!

• What is your go-to messy play activity? Water play, but not a good idea to do this in the room, oops!

• What is your secret superpower for calming a grumpy toddler or comforting a sad child? I ask if they have seen The Gruffalo, and I start to act out the story.

• What was your favourite food when you were a child, and what is your favourite food now? I loved all food, and still do!

• If you could have any animal as a pet (real or mythical), what would it be? A lion. How great that would be?!

• If you could instantly become an expert in any skill or hobby, what would it be? To be able to do magic, that would bring a lot of laughter.

• What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? Treat people how you would like to be treated.

• If you could travel anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you go? To the moon, how amazing that would be!

• If you could have any superpower, what would it be and how would it help you at work? To be invisible!

Tamara

• What is your absolute favourite storybook to read to the children and why? Owl babies - The children listen and guess what’s going to happen. I also used to read this when I was little.

• If you could only sing one nursery rhyme for the rest of the year, which one are you picking? Miss Polly.

• What is the funniest or sweetest thing a child has said to you recently? "Mara is my best friend in the whole wide world".

• What is your go-to messy play activity? Frozen gloop.

• What is your secret superpower for calming a grumpy toddler or comforting a sad child? Distraction is key!!

• What was your favourite food when you were a child, and what is your favourite food now? As a child, homemade chips, ham, and egg. Now it’s mushrooms!

• If you could have any animal as a pet (real or mythical), what would it be? An Elephant.

• If you could instantly become an expert in any skill or hobby, what would it be? To be able to train my dog to behave when I'm not home.

• What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? You can achieve anything you set your mind to.

• If you could travel anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you go? Thailand.

• If you could have any superpower, what would it be and how would it help you at work? Mind Reading - understand what children need/want when speech is not fully there.

Grace

• What is your absolute favourite storybook to read to the children and why? Room on the Broom, as I always read this book as a child.

• If you could only sing one nursery rhyme for the rest of the year, which one are you picking? Wind the Bobbin Up.

• What is the funniest or sweetest thing a child has said to you recently? I love you.

• What is your go-to messy play activity? Coloured shaving foam with pots and pans.

• What is your secret superpower for calming a grumpy toddler or comforting a sad child? Talking about what I can see around us to help distract them.

• What was your favourite food when you were a child, and what is your favourite food now? As a child, my favourite food was steak, and it still is now.

• If you could have any animal as a pet (real or mythical), what would it be? A dolphin, as I think they are amazing animals.

• If you could instantly become an expert in any skill or hobby, what would it be? Ice skating.

• What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? Everything happens for a reason.

• If you could travel anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you go? Italy.

• If you could have any superpower, what would it be and how would it help you at work? I would choose invisibility, and I’d use it to play a massive game of hide and seek at work!

Katy

• What is your absolute favourite storybook to read to the children and why? Room On The Broom, is my favourite book to read to the children. I love the rhyming and repeated phrases, which allow the children to join in and feel part of the storytelling process. It has such fantastic characters in the book that children enjoy role-playing, and it lends itself to so many inspired activities after reading.

• If you could only sing one nursery rhyme for the rest of the year, which one are you picking? Wind The Bobbin Up. All of the children join in, even if they don’t know the words; they will still join in with the actions.

• What is the funniest or sweetest thing a child has said to you recently? I need a Katy hug. You cuddle like my Mummy!

• What is your go-to messy play activity? Marble painting with shaving foam, very messy, but produces such a beautiful effect.

• What is your secret superpower for calming a grumpy toddler or comforting a sad child? Getting down to their level and offering a hug, asking them if they would like to choose a story or puzzle for us to do together 1 to 1.

• What was your favourite food when you were a child, and what is your favourite food now? My favourite food as a child was burgers. My favourite food now is Chinese food.

• If you could have any animal as a pet (real or mythical), what would it be? I would have a dog. I have a dog in real life, and she is simply the best pet in the world.

• If you could instantly become an expert in any skill or hobby, what would it be? I wish I could speak multiple languages. It fascinates me when people can switch between languages.

• What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? I was told that you cannot control other people’s actions; you can only control your reactions to their actions. Treat others as you wish to be treated, and hopefully that kindness will be returned.

• If you could travel anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you go? I would love to go and visit the USA. I’ve never been, but always wanted to. I would love to hire a camper van and tour the country.

• If you could have any superpower, what would it be and how would it help you at work? I would love to have the power to find where lost items have gone. This would help me at work on a daily basis, finding jumpers that have been taken off with no name in them, and finding a random sock that was taken off when wet!

Maria

• What is your absolute favourite storybook to read to the children and why? The Very Hungry Caterpillar. This is because the children always seem very engaged with this story; it always makes them laugh, and they enjoy how the different fruits pop out of the page. When we add the puppets, they really enjoy the interactive element of the story.

• If you could only sing one nursery rhyme for the rest of the year, which one are you picking? Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes because you can sing it really fast, and the kids interact with it.

• What is the funniest or sweetest thing a child has said to you recently? A child has told me I looked like a jelly!

• What is your go-to messy play activity? Slime or shaving foam.

• What is your secret superpower for calming a grumpy toddler or comforting a sad child? Giving them a cuddle and singing.

• What was your favourite food when you were a child, and what is your favourite food now? Pizza and now it's still pizza!

• If you could have any animal as a pet (real or mythical), what would it be? A sloth or a monkey.

• If you could instantly become an expert in any skill or hobby, what would it be? Gaming.

• What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? Live life the way you want to live it and don't let anyone bring you down.

• If you could travel anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you go? Florida, Disneyland.

• If you could have any superpower, what would it be and how would it help you at work? Being invisible, or flying. This would help me by being able to fly around and help more, and then being invisible and hiding and making the children laugh by dropping things.

Trina

• What is your absolute favourite storybook to read to the children and why? We’re Going on a Bear Hunt – it’s so engaging and I love acting it out with the children.

• If you could only sing one nursery rhyme for the rest of the year, which one are you picking? Animal Fayre.

• What is the funniest or sweetest thing a child has said to you recently? You look like a princess today!

• What is your go-to messy play activity? Shaving foam tea party.

• What is your secret superpower for calming a grumpy toddler or comforting a sad child? Distraction – singing or creating a magical story where they love to join and engage in to help them be happier again.

• What was your favourite food when you were a child, and what is your favourite food now? As a child it was meatballs and spaghetti. As an adult it’s seafood linguini.

• If you could have any animal as a pet (real or mythical), what would it be? A Cat. They are the best companion.

• If you could instantly become an expert in any skill or hobby, what would it be? Mind reading.

• What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? You’ve got to keep on trying if you want to see success.

• If you could travel anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you go? America – it will always be my happy place.

• If you could have any superpower, what would it be and how would it help you at work? Mind reading – to understand how children think when planning their play/ making friendships.

Bea

• What is your absolute favourite storybook to read to the children and why? Snow White & the Red Rose as it teaches us about being kind.

• If you could only sing one nursery rhyme for the rest of the year, which one are you picking? Wheels on the Bus as everyone loves to join in!

• What is the funniest or sweetest thing a child has said to you recently? “I’ve made a broomstick! You can fly with me!”

• What is your go-to messy play activity? The mud kitchen, as it’s lots of fun!

• What is your secret superpower for calming a grumpy toddler or comforting a sad child? Singing nursery rhymes seems to help calm the children.

• What was your favourite food when you were a child, and what is your favourite food now? As a child, I loved to eat fish finger sandwiches, and now I enjoy my daughter’s homemade chicken tikka curry.

• If you could have any animal as a pet (real or mythical), what would it be? I would have a cat or a unicorn!

• If you could instantly become an expert in any skill or hobby, what would it be? Have the confidence (and height) to learn to drive a minibus!

• What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? Be yourself.

• If you could travel anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you go? Canada as I travelled there years ago and would love to go back.

• If you could have any superpower, what would it be and how would it help you at work? Be Mary Poppins!

Lisa

• What is your absolute favourite storybook to read to the children and why? We’re Going on a Bear Hunt. I love how interactive it is and how easy it can be brought to life using props or sensory trays for children to walk through. It’s also easy to act it out and turn it into a game.

• If you could only sing one nursery rhyme for the rest of the year, which one are you picking? Incy Wincy Spider.

• What is the funniest or sweetest thing a child has said to you recently? You’re my best friend, you can come to my party!

• What is your go-to messy play activity? Gloop.

• What is your secret superpower for calming a grumpy toddler or comforting a sad child? Distraction, I usually point and say “Can you see the fairy up there?” and ask what colour fairy they can see.

• What was your favourite food when you were a child, and what is your favourite food now? As a child cheese, and still cheese now.

• If you could have any animal as a pet (real or mythical), what would it be? Micro pig.

• If you could instantly become an expert in any skill or hobby, what would it be? Cake decorating.

• What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? Trust your gut feeling, it’s always right.

• If you could travel anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you go? South Africa.

• If you could have any superpower, what would it be and how would it help you at work? Telekinesis, I’d use it to tidy up the room quicker.

Olivia

• What is your absolute favourite storybook to read to the children and why? Going on a Bear Hunt because it’s a classic!

• If you could only sing one nursery rhyme for the rest of the year, which one are you picking? Wind the Bobbin Up.

• What is the funniest or sweetest thing a child has said to you recently? That they love me.

• What is your go-to messy play activity? Shaving cream and food dye.

• What is your secret superpower for calming a grumpy toddler or comforting a sad child? Cuddles and words of reassurance.

• What was your favourite food when you were a child, and what is your favourite food now? As a child it was chicken nuggets, and now it’s mangoes.

• If you could have any animal as a pet (real or mythical), what would it be? Bunny rabbit.

• If you could instantly become an expert in any skill or hobby, what would it be? Chess or playing piano.

• What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? Life isn’t a rearview mirror, so stop looking backwards and start looking forward.

• If you could travel anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you go? Athens.

• If you could have any superpower, what would it be and how would it help you at work? Time control, to pause time and tidy up everything!

Conclusion

We hope you loved reading these wonderful insights into our Nursery Days family! Whether they are dreaming of owning micro pigs, mastering the art of telekinesis to clean up rooms, or simply ensuring every child feels safe and loved with their favourite songs and stories, our team puts their hearts into everything they do. Thank you for taking the time to learn a little more about the amazing people who make Nursery Days so special!