Meet the Head of Nursery - Netta, Muswell Hill!
Meet Netta, our Head of Nursery at Muswell Hill! 👋
In this quick-fire Q&A, we’re getting to know the person behind the nursery a little better! Inspired from the age of three by a passionate Nursery Educator, Netta has always known she wanted to bring that same care and magic into early years.
We’re incredibly proud of the journey she’s been on, building her career in a new country and language, and of the growth her team at Muswell Hill has achieved in recent years.
Why did you want to work in early years?
As a child, I had the most amazing, caring, and passionate Nursery Educator who inspired me from a very early age. Since I was three years old, my intent has been clear: I wanted to share all the love and care that I received from her and make that magical change and impact on the next generation of children.
What was your route to becoming a manager?
As a teen, I studied for my Level 3 qualification, and on my 18th birthday, alongside my cards and cake from the children, I received my first job offer as a Nursery Practitioner. After a couple of years, I became a Baby Room Leader and then worked my way up into a managerial role. I joined kinderzimmer as Head of Nursery, in the Muswell Hill setting, in August 2024.
What are you most proud of achieving as a manager?
Seeing our amazing children, parents and team entering the setting each morning with a big, also creating an amazing team that looks after our management team in the same way we look after them. I’m so proud of the growth kinderzimmer Muswell Hill, and my team, have achieved over the past few years.
After not having the most supportive teachers during secondary school, I’m incredibly proud of my career achievements; particularly gaining this success and creating this change in a different country and speaking a different language.
What is the best thing about the setting you manage?
My Team. When building my team, I looked for that real passion in people’s eyes; working with children can be challenging so it’s integral we recruit team members that truly believe in kinderzimmer’s mission and values.
The unique and beautiful kinderzimmer setting amazed me from the moment I arrived, confirming my desire to work here. After nearly two years, I still come to work every morning with the same smile I had on my first day. The well-structured curriculum allows children to maintain their innocence while fostering independence, exploration and wonder.
What is the best training you have been on?
My absolute favourite training is the First Aid training
What is the most challenging part of being a nursery manager?
Not having enough time in a day and switching off after the day is over.
What do you do to look after yourself when things get stressful?
I reach out to my family for extra cuddles. I have also learned to organise challenges; I focus on the things I can control and prioritise and worry less about the things I cannot impact myself. Again, I can only refer to my team and our Support Office, who make every effort to support us, listen to us, and guide us. They are truly inspiring in every way, sometimes, just a quick chat and a coffee can sort a stressful situation out. Communication is the key here, so I always strive to teach my team and our children that resilience is key: no matter how hard things get, we can always talk it through with each other.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Always listen to your heart and do what you truly love to be successful
What is the one thing you would change about the early years sector?
Some people’s opinions in the early years industry are that “all we do is sit and play”. I would love more people to understand the true impact we have on the next generation and that, whilst we believe in child-led learning, there’s a lot of planning and strategy that comes prior to what the children experience each day at kinderzimmer.
What three things would you take to a desert island?
- A “do not disturb” sign
- A cooking pot
- A knife
