A beloved nursery manager is not only celebrating her 10-year work anniversary, she is also marking an incredible 40-year career in ‘an ever changing’ early years sector.
Ginny Andreas’ passion for early years has inspired generations of children and staff throughout her career.
In 2015, she helped one family realise their dream of setting up a business. Little Adventurers Nursery in Upminster, Essex, was the result of 10 years of planning for owner Lee Stimpson. When Ginny came on-board as an experienced nursery manager, that dream finally became a reality.
Almost a decade later, the nursery now caters for more than 60 children and offers them the greatest possibility for discovery, exploration and adventure.
Ginny Andreas, nursery manager at Little Adventures Nursery, said, To reach 40 years in the childcare sector feels astounding! Overwhelmingly its about getting it right for children – so much has changed in childcare over the years but essentially its about putting children at the centre, cherishing them and supporting them in their learning and development.
“This industry is tough, but the rewards – what you get back… their insights… their thirst for learning…. for knowledge and cuddles… they keep me going.”
‘Dedicated to the cause of getting it right’
Ginny recalls so many highlights from her incredible journey with Little Adventurers Nursery.
Along with her team, she has gained the nursery many accolades over the years, including ‘Apprentice Employer of the Year’ in partnership with Havering College, a Top 20 Nursery London Award in 2018 and 2019, as well as earning Healthy Early Years London Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards. Ginny also became ‘Nursery Manager of the Year’ in Nursery World’s 2019 Awards.
She said: The developments that we have been able to make with our nursery, such as our allotment at St. Lukess Church; our forest school sessions; our parents forum and our com-munity days; our staff awards evenings; our healthy lifestyle & Go Green Mascots; our re-turning parents and our relationships with families generally really stand out as highlights of my journey.”
Speaking about the senior leadership team, she continued, “Working with other equally pas-sionate, like-minded people and wanting the best for these generations of children… we are all of the belief that these earliest years are so pivotal for ongoing wellbeing and life chances.”
Ginny had much praise for all the wonderful staff members both currently and during the past 10 years at nursery, “I have also had the pleasure of working with some super staff – who are our greatest resource, some of whom have been here almost as long as I have! And many have been on this journey with us – they are really dedicated to the cause of getting early years right.
Asking Ginny about the future she said, I look forward to continuing to support staff as they grow and develop, particularly any new staff. As the famous quote by William Butler Yeats goes, Education is not the filling of a bucket, but the lighting of a fire”. I want to inspire a love of learning and if I can continue to do that with young children, Ill feel like Ive done my job.”
‘She is like the pied piper’
To celebrate Ginny’s milestones, the nursery presented her with a longevity award; a beau-tiful bouquet, a small gift to treasure along with handmade cards by the nursery children.
Commenting on Ginny’s achievements, Chris Ford, business development manager at Little Adventurers Nursery, added, “Ginny has been leading our nursery for an incredible 10 years and is quite simply the most passionate and inspiring nursery manager – her never ending passion for early years education and wanting the best for all children in our nursery is amazing. As one of our parents once said, ‘She is like the pied piper… children adore her and love spending time with her.’
“She has been instrumental in helping us create Little Adventurers into the fantastic setting it is today and we want to congratulate her 10 years service in helping to bring and lead our team to give children the best start in life.”
Nestled in the heart of Upminster, Little Adventurers Nursery stands as a beacon of early childhood education, proudly sharing its roots with the esteemed Shenfield Day Nursery. As sister nurseries, these two havens of learning are bound by a shared commitment to nurturing young minds and fostering a love for discovery. Little Adventurers inherits the same warm, family-oriented philosophy that has made Shenfield Day Nursery a beloved institution, while offering its own unique charm and state-of-the-art facilities.
Under common management, both nurseries collaborate to provide a seamless, high-quality early years experience. Parents in Upminster will delight in the nursery’s convenient location, with excellent transport links making drop-offs and pick-ups a breeze. At Little Adventurers, your child will embark on a journey of growth, laughter, and learning, surrounded by caring professionals who share the Shenfield ethos of excellence in early education.
Recent Comments