In a happy nursery, the children thrive, parents feel confident in their choice, and the whole place feels good.
That’s not just luck – that’s the power of a positive workplace culture.
In this article, we share what ingredients are needed to achieve high employee satisfaction, build positive energy in your nursery environment and encourage parents who share their positive experiences with others.
You can also pinpoint the areas of workplace culture your nursery can tackle next with our free nursery culture quiz.
In this article:
Why is workplace culture important in nurseries?
A happy team doesn’t just mean better care for little ones. It also fuels glowing word-of-mouth recommendations from both parents and staff. After all, when practitioners love where they work, they’re far more likely to shout about it!
Positive word-of-mouth recommendations are among the most valuable ways to market your nursery.
When a nursery environment and the nursery team work in harmony, you can feel it as you enter the premises. If we were to put a colour hue on a positive work environment, in our mind, it would be a warm yellow or orange.
But, the opposite is also true. Word spreads fast if a setting is plagued by negativity, stress, or poor management. There are clues that your nursery workplace culture needs a tweak or two – we’ll dive into those a little more later.
If we use the colour analogy to compare positive and negative workspaces, what colour would you imagine for a toxic workplace?
When workplaces feel like a breath of fresh air, staff feel valued, children flourish, and reputation soars.
But what’s the recipe for positive culture? Let’s unpick it.
What makes a positive workplace culture in nurseries?
The early years have a unique dynamic that most privately-owned companies envy and try to replicate. The sense of belonging, making a difference and the highly sought-after ‘workplace family’.
Nurture is the very core of nurseries. Recognising what the children in your care need to reach their own potential. Many workplaces forget that nurture is vital when supporting your employees – the by-product is often a toxic culture that begins to creep in.
Did you know? The word ‘nursery’ comes from the Middle English word noricerie, which means ‘a place to nurse, nourish, and foster’. It was first used in the 14th century to mean a place for young infants to be cared for by their nurse.
A positive nursery workplace culture isn’t just about having a nice staffroom or the occasional team get-together (though those are great, too!).
It’s about creating an environment where practitioners feel valued, supported, and empowered every single day. When staff feel like part of a team – not just employees – they bring their best selves to work, and that energy filters down to the children and parents.
So, what are the non-negotiables for a thriving, happy nursery team?
- Strong communication and empowering team voice
- Personal and professional support and development
- Recognition of efforts and motivation drivers
- Prioritising a work-life balance and practitioner well-being
- Team bonding and building a sense of community and belonging
- Preparing your setting for Ofsted without the stress
- Supporting women through every stage of life
- Encouraging professional growth and career progression
- Encouraging healthy lifestyles
When nursery managers prioritise these non-negotiables, staff feel respected and cared for. That’s exactly the kind of culture that keeps teams motivated, children thriving, and word-of-mouth recommendations rolling in!
The signs your nursery culture can be improved
No nursery gets it right 100% of the time, but being aware of the warning signs of a toxic culture is an important step to making positive changes.
Take a moment to reflect: do any of these sound familiar?
- High staff turnover
- Poor communication and low practitioner morale
- Resistance to change and new initiatives
- Frequent staff absence and burnout
- Lack of recognition and career growth
- ‘Us vs. Them’ mentality
- Consistent parent complaints
If you recognise some of these signs in your setting, don’t panic – every nursery has areas to improve!
The key is taking action, and the first step is to take the nursery culture quiz below.
The workplace culture quiz for nursery owners and managers
Rate your nursery on a scale of 1-5 (1 = not evident, 5 = very visible) for each statement below.
We’d also recommend sharing with your nursery team to gather their honest feedback.
Communication and team voice
- Staff feel comfortable approaching management with concerns or ideas
- Team meetings are regular, productive, and a safe space for open discussions
- Important updates are shared clearly
- Staff have a say in decision-making
Support and development
- Regular one-to-one check-ins give opportunity for mutual feedback and personal development opportunities
- There is access to thoughtful CPD plans and training
- Mentors and buddy systems help support new or less experienced team members
- Nursery management recognises the emotional challenges working in early years brings and offers support for safeguarding concerns, managing difficult parents, and other workplace stressors
Practitioner retention
- Staff retention is high
- Exit interviews reveal dissatisfaction, stress, or feeling undervalued
- Recruitment is an occasional need, not a constant cycle
- Practitioners recommend your setting as a place to work to others they know
Recognition and motivation
- Staff achievements are celebrated
- Hard work is acknowledged and rewarded in meaningful ways
- There are team celebrations or social activities to foster a sense of community and belonging
- Staff feel valued and know their contributions make a difference
Work-life balance and practitioner well-being
- Staff are encouraged to take their full breaks without feeling guilty
- There is flexibility for important personal events (e.g., child’s first day of school, important medical appointments, emergencies)
- Mental health and well-being support are integrated into the workplace (e.g., check-ins, resources, awareness days)
- Staff feel they have a good work-life balance and are not overwhelmed by stress or burnout
New initiatives
- Staff are open to new initiatives aimed to improve efficiency and practice
- New ideas are encouraged from all practitioners
- CPD and training opportunities are suggested by practitioners
- New initiatives always consider staff workload and potential reward to risk
Team bonding and community
- The team has a ‘workplace family’ feel and enjoys working together
- Team-building activities or fun social events happen
- There is a clear, shared ethos that everyone understands and embraces
- New practitioners have an enhanced induction process
Preparing for Ofsted without the stress
- Staff feel confident about what to expect in an Ofsted inspection and are well-prepared
- Management provides clear guidance, training, and support leading up to inspections
- There is an ongoing culture of high-quality practice, rather than last-minute panic before inspections
- Ofsted preparation is approached as a team effort rather than adding pressure to individuals
Supporting women through every stage of life
- There is open support for staff during pregnancy, including flexibility and reasonable adjustments
- Staff going through menopause feel understood and accommodated (e.g., uniform adjustments, temperature control, access to rest areas)
- Maternity and paternity leave and return-to-work policies are clear, supportive, and encourage work-life balance
- There is a culture of respect and understanding for the different challenges women may face at various life stages
Encouraging professional growth and career progression
- Staff are encouraged to participate in CPD opportunities and feel encouraged to upskill
- Training is supported financially or through time allowances where possible
- Career progression pathways are clear
- Staff feel excited about their future within the nursery setting
Encouraging healthy lifestyles
- Staff have access to fresh drinking water and nutritious snacks if needed
- There is encouragement for healthy eating and well-being initiatives in the workplace
- Regular toilet breaks are ensured– no one should feel like they can’t step away when needed, and managers support this by covering to ensure the adult: child ratio is maintained
- Staff feel supported and that management values their physical and mental health
Your score breakdown!
Each section has four areas, and the maximum score in each section is 20. How many 5’s did you get? How many 1’s? 15-20 in each section means you’ve got a positive culture – great job! Anything approaching 4 in any section however, and you might need to work on your nursery’s staff positivity.
As a starting point, identify the headings with the lowest scores. We recommend comparing your quiz results with your nursery teams’ results to get an accurate picture.
Creating a positive workplace culture isn’t just about keeping staff happy – it directly impacts the children in your care and the parents who trust you with them.
When your team feels valued, supported, and motivated, they bring their best selves to work, and that energy spreads throughout the nursery.
You can build a setting where everyone can thrive by prioritising open communication, well-being, and professional development. Blossom’s communication features make it easier than ever to keep your team connected, engaged, and informed, which in turn enhances the parent experience.
Want to see how? Explore Blossom’s tools today and build a stronger, happier nursery team.
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