Laura Truss
Peterborough
Summary
Dedicated professional with a strong background in team building, policy implementation, and staff leadership. Demonstrates exceptional skills in recruitment and hiring, line management, and administrative tasks. Adept at maintaining calm under pressure and fostering empathetic communication to build trusting relationships. Committed to ensuring Health and Safety Compliance and Data Protection Act compliance. Holds First Aid certification and excels in creating a supportive work environment.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
12
12
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Nursery Manager
Little Acorns Day Nursery and Montessori School
Peterborough
2025.07 - Current
- Provided safe and stimulating environment for children, promoting their learning and development.
- Led team meetings effectively to discuss developmental concerns or improvements in teaching strategies.
- Secured resources such as toys or teaching materials that promote early childhood education within budget constraints.
- Coordinated with external agencies for additional support services as needed by children or families.
- Regularly updated child records accurately reflecting current developmental stage and any special requirements.
- Dealt calmly with emergency situations, ensuring overall safety of children and staff members.
- Fostered strong relationships with parents to improve communication regarding child progress.
- Handled recruitment process for new staff, ensuring best fit for nursery needs.
- Implemented government guidelines on Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum within the nursery setting.
- Conducted employee training sessions for enhanced service provision in the nursery.
- Ensured compliance with Ofsted regulations by managing daily nursery operations diligently.
- Planned logistics of nursery routine and local excursions, managing sufficient ratios and rotas.
- Attended regular training opportunities to expand professional knowledge and further career progression.
- Managed team of 28 staff members within nursery setting.
Assistant underwriter
RSA/NIG Commercial E-Trade (Internal Progression)
Peterborough
2024.08 - 2025.07
- Dealing with broker referrals on property policies
- Making underwriting decisions
- Agreeing terms and conditions on policies
- Making policy amendments
- Discount requests and endorsing policies
- Internal progression move
- Collaborated with team members, fostering a cooperative environment.
- Handled renewals process, maintaining strong client retention rates.
- Analysed risk factors for underwriting decisions.
- Liaised between clients and underwriters, facilitating communication flow.
- Negotiated terms with clients to secure profitable deals.
- Maintained accurate records to uphold regulatory compliance.
- Delivered excellent service and support to brokers using consistent, timely, and proactive approach to underwriting.
- Made quick, sound decisions within underwriting authority and based on appropriate data.
Specialist Complaints Handler
RSA Customer Relations
Peterborough
2021.01 - 2024.01
- Managed a portfolio of complaints in accordance with FCA guidelines.
- Investigated and resolved customer complaints empathetically within licensing parameters.
- Collaborated with Financial Ombudsman Service to ensure effective complaint resolution.
- Handled personal lines, commercial, marine, legal, and personal injury complaints.
- Engaged with vulnerable customers to provide appropriate support.
- Contributed to a large subsidence project while collaborating with team members.
- Ensured data protection compliance and addressed data subject access requests.
- Maintained consistent communication with customers regarding decision outcomes.
Buildings Specialist
RSA Home Claims
Peterborough
2017.01 - 2021.01
- Completing claims from first notification to resolution
- Maintaining relationships with suppliers
- Ensuring a smooth customer journey
- Maintaining my own portfolio of claims
- Managing complaints
- Managing complex and large claims that involve drying, alternative accommodation, asbestos removal, and reinstatement works
- Technical Knowledge of buildings through the BDMA and Cert CII qualification
- Internal progression move
Customer Manager Sales and Service/Delta Force
RSA – Pet Insurance
Peterborough
2015.01 - 2017.01
- Multiskilled across multiple brands
- Sales, retentions, and general amendments
- Dealing with payment queries
- Met all customer call guidelines including service levels, call handling times and productivity
- Maintained up to date knowledge of product changes
Deputy Manager/EYFS Coordinator
Little Acorns Day Nursery and Montessori School
Peterborough
2014.01 - 2015.01
- Ensuring the day to day running of the setting
- Managing a team of 16 staff
- Key person to children and ensuring their learning needs are met and their paperwork is accurate and up to date
- Appraisals and staff supervision/Disciplinaries
- Interviewing for new staff
- Helping the children with their learning, play, educational and social development.
- Having regular contact with parents and other professionals such as area SENCO and children’s services
- Ensuring invoices are paid
- Extensive knowledge of the EYFS and learning outcomes
- Excellent at observations and learning and development reviews
- Following and implementing the policies and procedures set out by the nursery and writing of said policies.
- Liaising with parents to resolve problems.
- Coordination and planning activities.
- Meeting with parents and encouraging their involvement in the aims of the nursery
- Maintaining children’s administrative records and carried out assessments.
- Working within a team to provide high quality childcare
- Following and implementing the policies and procedures set out by the nursery.
- Contributed to and participated in team meetings and activities.
- Liasing with the Early years team and OFSTED.
- Reason for leaving: - Change of career.
Nursery Practitioner - Level 3
Woodston Nursery
Peterborough
2011.01 - 2014.01
- Delivered high-quality childcare services, ensuring a comforting atmosphere for all attendees.
- Conducted regular parent-teacher meetings, fostering strong communication channels between nursery and home environments.
- Fostered creativity amongst young learners through organised arts and crafts sessions.
- Improved fine motor skills in children by introducing age-appropriate crafting activities.
Chairperson
Woodston Nursery
2009.01 - 2011.01
NIG - National Insurance Guarantee
2001.01 - 2003.01
- I was responsible for the broker accounts. Managing accounts and ensuring they were up to date.
- Administrative duties.
- Reason for leaving: - Maternity Leave.
Education
GCSE - Maths, English, Science, French, Design and Technology, Sociology
Jack Hunt School
Peterborough 1991.01 - 1997.01
NVQ level 2 and level 3 - Administration, Customer Service
Peterborough ITeC
Peterborough 1998.01 - 2000.01
Cert CII - Insurance
Chartered institute of insurance
2017.01 - 2021.01
Skills
- Calm under pressure
- Team building
- Policy implementation
- Recruitment and hiring
- Line management
- First Aid certification
- Empathetic communication
- Data Protection Act compliance
- Staff leadership
- Health and Safety Compliance
- Administrative tasks
- Building trusting relationships
INTERESTS
I enjoy socialising, music, and going to the gym. Spending time with my family. My passion is running, charity work and volunteering.
Accomplishments
- Winner of the Shining Stars award 2018
- Finalist for the Shining Stars award 2022
- Rated Superior in last appraisal
Timeline
Nursery Manager
Little Acorns Day Nursery and Montessori School
2025.07 - Current
Assistant underwriter
RSA/NIG Commercial E-Trade (Internal Progression)
2024.08 - 2025.07
Specialist Complaints Handler
RSA Customer Relations
2021.01 - 2024.01
Buildings Specialist
RSA Home Claims
2017.01 - 2021.01
Cert CII - Insurance
Chartered institute of insurance
2017.01 - 2021.01
Customer Manager Sales and Service/Delta Force
RSA – Pet Insurance
2015.01 - 2017.01
Deputy Manager/EYFS Coordinator
Little Acorns Day Nursery and Montessori School
2014.01 - 2015.01
Nursery Practitioner - Level 3
Woodston Nursery
2011.01 - 2014.01
Chairperson
Woodston Nursery
2009.01 - 2011.01
NIG - National Insurance Guarantee
2001.01 - 2003.01
NVQ level 2 and level 3 - Administration, Customer Service
Peterborough ITeC
1998.01 - 2000.01
GCSE - Maths, English, Science, French, Design and Technology, Sociology
Jack Hunt School
1991.01 - 1997.01