Webinar Recap: Bringing Back Your Nursery Team’s Sparkle (And Yours Too) – Part 3
Welcome to the third and final article in our three-part series, rounding up the insights from our latest webinar, ‘Bringing Back Your Nursery Team’s Sparkle (And Yours Too!)’. In this inspiring session, Jamie shared valuable tips to help reignite the magic in your nursery setting—not just for the children but also for your team. The feedback from the webinar has been fantastic, and we highly recommend watching it for a deeper understanding of Jamie’s motivational points and strategies.
One of the most insightful takeaways from the webinar was the concept of “filling your bucket.” Drawing inspiration from the book Have You Filled Your Bucket?, Jamie emphasised the importance of self-care and ensuring that your team feels valued and appreciated. Leadership isn’t just about guiding others—it’s also about taking care of yourself and your team’s wellbeing. When your “bucket” is full, you are in a better position to lead with positivity, enthusiasm, and energy.
Reignite the joy of learning
In today’s fast-paced world of early years education, it’s easy to get caught up in the details and feel pressured to plan every moment with intention. After all, Ofsted wants to see purpose in everything, right? But sometimes, the most powerful learning experiences come from creating fun, sparking creativity, and letting the excitement of learning unfold naturally.
In this blog, we’ll explore Jamie’s recommendations on how to bring back the magic in your setting by focusing on the joy of learning and creating a culture where both children and staff feel inspired. It’s about striking the right balance between structured learning and creative freedom.
Plan for fun, not just intentions
It’s easy to get obsessed with planning every little detail, especially when people ask, “What’s the intent for this activity?” While clear intentions are important—after all, we want children to learn and grow—it’s equally valuable to plan activities that are simply fun.
When you create something exciting and engaging, learning happens naturally. Take, for example, an activity designed to spark curiosity and wonder in children. This energy fuels their learning, even if the specific outcome isn’t immediately clear. And the best part? Your staff will be more engaged too!
Simple ideas that spark curiosity
A great way to reignite the magic is by introducing small surprises that capture children’s imaginations. You could write a letter from a fictional character like Pirate Pete or Santa’s elf. Imagine a letter arriving at your setting saying, “I’ve lost my treasure again—can you help me find it?” Suddenly, a wicker box appears, and the children are off on a treasure hunt! This activity is not only fun but also offers a chance for learning—whether it’s counting, problem-solving, or language development.
Another idea Jamie loves is using a “magic box,” filled with mysterious objects or notes from characters like a pixie or wizard. These magical creatures could ask the children to help rebuild a village or search for hidden treasures. It’s a simple way to spark creativity and curiosity while supporting physical development and problem-solving.
Creating a culture of fun and confidence
As a leader, you set the tone for your nursery. If you show your team that it’s okay to have fun, try new ideas, and embrace creativity, they’ll feel more confident doing the same. Staff will be more likely to step out of their comfort zones and experiment when they know they’re supported.
Remember, it’s not just about the children having fun—it’s about creating an environment where everyone feels inspired. When your team is engaged and enjoying themselves, that energy will ripple through to the children. It’s all about leading by example and adopting a culture of excitement, creativity, and wellbeing.
Using stories as a springboard for learning
If you or your staff ever feel stuck or unsure about how to spark creativity, stories are a wonderful tool. They provide a solid foundation for imaginative play, problem-solving, and language development. Take The Gruffalo, for example. You can create activities based on the characters and settings that will engage children in various ways. Whether you’re working with babies, toddlers, or preschoolers, stories can be adapted to suit different ages and interests—and can lead to exciting learning opportunities like counting, letter recognition, or even role-play.
To help you get started, Jamie created a free downloadable activity pack based on The Gruffalo with two activity ideas—one for younger children (6-18 months) and one for preschoolers. You can access it here. These are just the beginning of many fun and creative ways to bring stories to life.
Ofsted inspections: it's not just about the paperwork
When preparing for Ofsted inspections, it’s easy to get bogged down by the fear of needing paperwork to prove every step of the process. But what Ofsted really wants to see is that you’re providing exciting, engaging experiences that support children’s learning. If you can show that your children are thriving and enjoying their time in your setting, you’re on the right track.
Focus on the impact of your activities. When children are engaged, excited, and actively learning, the results will speak for themselves. And don’t forget about your team—empower them to speak confidently to inspectors about the wonderful work they’re doing with the children.
Supporting your team’s confidence
If you have staff members who are unsure about how to generate creative ideas, it’s important to build their confidence. Encourage them to embrace their creativity and remember that not every activity needs to have a strict educational goal. Magic happens when you let go of rigid plans and focus on making learning fun and exciting.
To help you better understand your team, consider using tools like the 16 Personalities Test. This can help identify each individual’s strengths, enabling you to provide the right support and create a more cohesive and motivated team.
The three I's: intent, implementation, and impact
When planning activities, think about Ofsted’s “three I’s”: intent, implementation, and impact.
- Intent: What do you want for your setting and children?
- Implementation: How will you put this into practice?
- Impact: How will you evaluate if your intentions are being met?
By applying this method not just to your curriculum but to the culture of your setting, you can create a vibrant, positive environment where everyone—staff and children alike—benefits.
A happy team = happy children
At the heart of early years education is the wellbeing of both the children and the team. When staff feel happy, supported, and confident, they bring that positive energy into their interactions with the children. A happy, well-supported team is key to ensuring the best outcomes for the children in your care.
Key takeaways: bring the magic back
To sum up, here are a few takeaways to help you bring the magic back to your setting:
- Create a culture where fun, creativity, and wellbeing are at the centre.
- Use stories and characters to spark excitement and learning.
- Empower your team to feel confident in their ideas and interactions with children.
- Focus on the impact of your activities, not just the paperwork.
- Remember: a happy team leads to happy children.
As we wrap up this series, we encourage all leaders to reflect on their own practice. What’s going well? Where might there be room for improvement? How can you support your team, empower others, and promote a positive environment where everyone feels heard and valued? Ultimately, great leadership in early years is about nurturing and guiding your team to reach their full potential, while remembering to fill your own bucket along the way.
Catch up on Part 1 and Part 2 of our round-up articles, or even better, catch up on the full webinar here! If you’ve read through them all, thank you for sticking with us through the series! If you’d like to stay up to date with more resources, tips, and exclusive content, don’t forget to register for our newsletter here. We’d love to continue supporting you on your journey to bring sparkle and creativity back into your nursery!
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About the Author
Content Marketing Executive at Connect Childcare