Laura Swallow

I began at Banana Moon Day Nursery as a level three practitioner and a key person to a preschool group of children. I monitor, record and report back to parents on children’s progression, and children’s school readiness.

Children in my key group have targets set for them by the speech and language department of Walsall Council. I monitor the effectiveness of targets in place, making suggestions for additional resources, to enhance the learning opportunities of these children in my care.

In August of 2025, I was promoted to preschool room leader. Part of my role is key holder, Designated Safeguarding Lead, Paediatric First Aid Trained, and to oversee the provision of learning and activities of a mixed aged group.

I ensure the smooth running of the rooms and lead and guide a team of staff members, working closely with management on upcoming changes, developments and staff meetings.

I have recently set-up a WhatsApp group for my team upstairs as a platform for members of my team to share their ideas and initiatives to enhance learning opportunities, and to add to the smooth running of the room. This has been well received, and is being proactively used by individual members in my team. I have also presented other ideas to my management for room layout, activity ideas and resources to enhance the children’s learning experiences.

Shooting Stars Day Nursery has revived my passion and enjoyment for working with children.

Whilst working in Toddler room, I was able to foster a positive environment for children's growth with engaging learning activities.

The children in my care had shown an interest in the story, 'We're going on a bear hunt.' To extend the children's understanding and enjoyment of the story, I created a small scale, 'We're going on a bear hunt' tuft tray with different textured resources from the garden, with the bear and people. The children loved the tuft tray and were able to recreate the story in a different way.

I engaged children in stimulating learning-based activities and games such as 'Don't wake the bear'. We enjoyed many games like this promoting social skills and turn taking including leading the morning and afternoon welcome song, and discussing the weather with the children in the group.

As a first aider, I administered first aid as needed, ensuring immediate care during emergencies; often following up with a call to the parents, filling out accident forms and issuing a bump to the head letter.

I have built a strong rapport with parents, ensuring strong communication lines regarding their child's progress and passing on important messages.

I Implemented Safeguarding Procedures to monitor and protect children and conduct risk assessments for activities to ensure Health and Safety.

In August of 2022, I applied my people facing skills to hospitality.

In the two years I have worked at Brockencote Hall Hotel, I have assisted with weddings and events, and meeting the needs and wishes of guests, during breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and evening services. I have enjoyed meeting and working with a mixture of people from all different backgrounds that have made my experiences at Brockencote very memorable.

I have built up a loyal customer base by creating a welcoming environment with top quality service. Regular guests now know me by name and speak highly of the service I give to them.

I was recently promoted to food and beverage supervisor because of my high standards, people skills and ability to teach others in a calm, friendly and professional manner. I trained new joiners in food regulatory compliance and company standards, by delivering on-the-job and mandatory training. I led the food and beverage team to champion customer service and consistently elevate food presentation standards.

I resolved complaints calmly and professionally to achieve positive customer outcomes, and would involve a manager should the situation need further intervention.

I am also one of the first aiders at work, and have carried out first aid on both colleagues and guests.

As a full-time nursery nurse working in a busy suburban day nursery, I was responsible for the primary care of the children in my care, including and not limited to assisting with children's self-care and development.

I observed and tracked the children's achievements digitally, in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum, in the UK, and prepared this for the parents to view on Tapestry. The parent partnership had recently taken a step back due to the Coronavirus Pandemic's unforeseen circumstances. However, I have assisted in rebuilding these relationships by taking part in an open evening designed for the parents to see the learning opportunities to aid their children's development, and meet the team that facilitates this. I also assisted during a parent stay and play session.

I had taken this position as a level 3 practitioner at Chessgrove Park Day Nursery, at the peak of the Coronavirus Pandemic.

My resilience skills were tested navigating my way through the unforeseen circumstances of the Pandemic; being furloughed twice, they were very uncertain times.

I carried out my role with minimal staffing looking after a smaller group of children. I was a lot more vigilant of illnesses and health, and how to normalise caring practices in a more stringent environment, with an uncertain future.

I had just qualified from my teacher training, and applied my skills to a teaching assistant position.

I was able to shadow the teacher and learn so much more about the primary curriculum, and apply the skills I had already learnt. I supported a group of students with reading, and in their maths lessons.

I witnessed first-hand the pressures felt by a teacher, and it reaffirmed my passion for working with children, and my love for the Early Years Curriculum.

I loved my time at Little Treasures Day Nursery, seeing children of all ages come and go, during my eight years of working here across various ages.

My proudest moment was when an inspector came in to observe the preschool learning environment.

I showcased a maths activity, reordering numbers on a number line using a number fairy. The children were fully immersed in the activity, and were engaged throughout. I could feel the energy in the room. The inspector inspired me to take my next step into teaching, by commenting on the confidence I showed in my craft, and the way I was able to engage all of the children in a challenging activity, for such a period of time.

Later that year, I applied to complete my Post Graduate Certificate in Primary Education, which I successfully completed in 2019.

During this time, I also successfully completed my Foundation Stage Degree in Childcare, and Bachelor of Arts Degree in Working with Children and Families.

This was my very first position as a newly qualified level 3 practioner. I was eager to put the skills I had learnt, during my three years of studying to the test.

I found my time here, challenging at times, but very rewarding.