Abigail Reilly Saunders
East Sussex,BNH
Summary
Experienced childcare professional with focus on early childhood education and management. Proven track record of creating nurturing environments and implementing educational programmes that enhance child development. Skilled in team leadership, parent communication, and operational oversight to ensure high-quality nursery standards.
Friendly and adaptable, equipped with strong communication and teamwork skills, paired with keen ability to handle high-pressure environments. Possess solid foundation in customer service and problem-solving, ensuring seamless and enjoyable experience for patrons. Ready to contribute to positive and energetic atmosphere that enhances customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Overview
1011
1011
years of professional experience
1
1
year of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work history
Nursery Manager
Hove Village Day Nursery, Hove Library
Hove
09.2024 - 08.2025
- Lead safeguarding as Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), overseeing all safeguarding duties, staff training, and compliance with internal policies and statutory requirements.
- Appoint and train Deputy DSL and maintain strong safeguarding culture.
- Manage day-to-day nursery operations ensuring full compliance with Ofsted, EYFS, health & safety, and legislative standards; prepare for inspections and implement improvement plans.
- Oversee staff recruitment, onboarding, probation, supervisions, appraisals, and performance management, ensuring compliance with employment law, Ofsted, and company policies.
- Address underperformance with clear action plans.
- Monitor staff attendance, annual leave, sickness, and maintain accurate records of hours worked using digital systems.
- Manage budgets, payroll amendments, and expenditure within agreed limits; collaborate with admissions to maximise occupancy and manage funding.
- Maintain accurate records for staff, children, and nursery operations, ensuring GDPR compliance and effective communication via digital platforms.
- Lead quality education provision by supporting staff with child observations, planning, and development tracking, ensuring nursery meets and exceeds EYFS standards.
- Conduct regular health & safety checks, risk assessments, fire drills, and ensure staff complete mandatory training; maintain secure and hygienic environment.
- Build and maintain positive relationships with parents, responding promptly to enquiries, conducting tours, and delivering excellent customer service.
- Coordinate marketing efforts, promote nursery within local community, and support occupancy targets through effective communication and outreach.
- Support other nursery sites as needed and report regularly to Principal on safeguarding, operational, and staffing matters.
Bar Staff
Enigma Stock Exchange Bar
05.2025 - 08.2025
- Prepare and serve cocktails, beverages, and other drinks according to standard recipes and customer preferences.
- Provide excellent customer service, engaging with guests to create welcoming and enjoyable atmosphere.
- Take customer orders accurately and recommend drinks based on preferences and specials.
- Maintain cleanliness and organization of bar area, including glassware, utensils, and workstations.
- Handle cash, card payments.
- Monitor inventory levels and assist with stock control, including receiving deliveries and storing supplies.
- Ensure compliance with health and safety regulations, including responsible alcohol service and checking IDs to prevent underage drinking.
- Prepare garnishes and set up bar before opening and restock during service as needed.
- Manage multiple orders efficiently during busy periods while maintaining quality and presentation.
- Clean bar equipment and utensils regularly and ensure overall hygiene standards are met.
- Collaborate with team members to ensure smooth bar operations and excellent customer experience.
- Handle customer complaints or issues professionally, escalating to management when necessary.
- Follow all company policies, including those related to alcohol licensing and safety.
Nursery Deputy Manager
Hove Village Day Nursery, Bloomsbury Street
Hove
04.2022 - 09.2024
- Managing nursery when manager was not present.
- Communicating with parents at drop off and pick up, as well as parent evenings.
- Collaborated with partner nurseries in order to ensure mutual understanding on all areas of learning.
- Overseeing level of treatment and care offered to children of all ages, whilst also providing additional support to room leaders.
- Completing weekly rotas for staff.
- Authorising holiday requests.
- Hosting staff meetings.
- Creating up to date dietary checklists to ensure children who had any dietary requirements were catered for.
- Conducting supervisions on staff and providing relevant feedback to ensure success within business.
- Being key part in recruitment process to ensure all staff have general consensus on care and support needed for outstanding quality of care.
- Opening and closing of premises.
Waitress
Stanmer House
04.2023 - 06.2024
- Taking section of Thirteen tables at time and ensuring that all customers are happy with all food and drink.
- Looking after large parties of up to 12+ people and taking control of birthday cakes/ surprises and engagements.
- Taking food and drink orders along with payments of cash and card.
- Communicating with colleagues/ Chefs of any dietary requirements and requests of customers.
- Listening to any complaints from customers and relaying this to floor supervisors and Chefs.
- Supporting bar staff with running drinks to tables in or out of section.
- Running food from kitchen to tables in or out of section.
- Supporting colleagues during hectic times by taking orders in their sections and ensuring any important information is shared.
Nursery Apprentice/ Room Leader/ Third in Charge
Growing Up Green Day Nursery
07.2016 - 04.2022
- Offering general support to staff, giving them guidance and answering any queries there may have.
- Conducting interviews for potential new starters.
- Hosting inductions for new starters.
- Managing nursery when senior management weren’t present.
- Sending written correspondence to parents.
- Making Inbound and outbound calls with parents and outside agencies.
- Assisting all Room Leaders in their planning.
- Delegating tasks.
- Observing staff and providing feedback to ensure high standard of care is provided.
- Followed meal plans and made healthy meals for children when chef was not present.
- Made relationships with both children and parents.
- Worked as part of team and supported Room Leader.
- Completed health and safety training.
Sales Assistant
Movel Shoes
06.1015 - 10.2015
- Providing great level of customer service, assisting customers with any queries they may have.
- Serving customers, including working with cash register.
- Monitoring stock to ensure shop floor is presentable.
- General cleaning of shop floor.
Education
NVQ Level 3 - Advanced: Early Years Educator
Brooklands College
Brighton 07.2018 - 07.2020
Intermediate: Children And Young Peoples Workforce
Learn District Apprenticeship
Brighton 10.2016 - 01.2018
Health And Social Care
Cardinal Newman College
Hove 09.2015 - 06.2016
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Cardinal Newman Catholic School
09.2018 - 06.2015
Skills
- Patience and tolerance
- Flexible working hours
- Effective delegating
- Outstanding customer service
- Professional attitude
- Strong communication
- Hospitality etiquette
- Calm under pressure
- Problem-solving
- Communication skills
- Public speaking
- Strategic planning
- Leadership
- Constructive criticism
- Positive and approachable
Certification
- 2025 – MHFA – Mental Health First Aid
- 2025 – LAMS – Leadership and management skills programme (Modules 1-6)
- 2023 Brighton and Hove Learning Gateway: Safeguarding Leader (retain)
- 2023 - The Brighton and Hove Learning Gateway: Special Education Needs Co-ordinator (retrain)
- 2023 – TeamTeach: Positive behaviour training
- 2021 – Brighton and Hove Learning Gateway: Safeguarding Leader
- 2018 - The Brighton and Hove Learning Gateway: Special Education Needs Co-ordinator
- 2018 - CACHE: Advanced level in Children and Young Peoples Workforce
- 2018 – The Brighton and Hove Early Years Learning and Development: Forest School Teacher
- 2017– NCFE: Functional Skills Qualification in Information and Communication Technology at Level 2
- 2016 - CACHE: Intermediate level in Children and Young Peoples Workforce
- 2016 - NCFE: Functional Skills Qualification in English at Level 2
- 2016 - Edexcel: Functional Skills Qualification in Mathematics at Level 2
- 2016 – Edexcel: Information and Communication Technology at Level 1
Affiliations
I enjoy spending time with friends and family, travelling, cooking and going to the gym.
Languages
English
Fluent
Timeline
Bar Staff
Enigma Stock Exchange Bar
05.2025 - 08.2025
Nursery Manager
Hove Village Day Nursery, Hove Library
09.2024 - 08.2025
Waitress
Stanmer House
04.2023 - 06.2024
Nursery Deputy Manager
Hove Village Day Nursery, Bloomsbury Street
04.2022 - 09.2024
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Cardinal Newman Catholic School
09.2018 - 06.2015
NVQ Level 3 - Advanced: Early Years Educator
Brooklands College
07.2018 - 07.2020
Intermediate: Children And Young Peoples Workforce
Learn District Apprenticeship
10.2016 - 01.2018
Nursery Apprentice/ Room Leader/ Third in Charge
Growing Up Green Day Nursery
07.2016 - 04.2022
Health And Social Care
Cardinal Newman College
09.2015 - 06.2016
Sales Assistant
Movel Shoes
06.1015 - 10.2015
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