City nursery rated one of the UK’S best places to work
A NURSERY in Coventry has been ranked as one of the best places to work in two prestigious lists.
Westwood Day Nursery has been recommended along with the rest of its parent company, Childbase Partnership.
Childbase was the only early years provider to get a top 10 placing in the ‘very big organisation’ category of The Sunday Times’ Best Places to Work 2023 list. It was also highly commended in the ‘best places to work for 16-34 years olds’ category.
The organisation was ranked alongside Pizza Express, Fat Face fashion group and David Lloyd Leisure by The Sunday Times, receiving ratings of ‘excellent’ in all areas of scrutiny measuring staff wellbeing, happiness and engagement.
It achieved scores of 90% for the pride colleagues feel for their employee-owned company and the initiatives in place to promote diversity and inclusion and environmental sustainability.
In addition, Childbase was the only early years provider in the Top 20 of the UK Great Place to Work awards. Lyndsey Matthews, manager of Westwood Day Nursery which is rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted, said: “It is a very personal achievement because we are all employee owners and what we say really does make a difference. When you are committed to giving young children the very best start in life, a happy supported staff team, who love their work and workplace, is vital.”
Childbase employs 2,299 people and runs 43 nurseries. Based in Newport Pagnell, last year the firm said it would spend £8.5 million on increased salaries, free meals at work and discounted shopping deals in recognition of the rising cost of living.
Lyndsey said: “This kind of support makes for happy, energised practitioners
committed to delivering outstanding outcomes for our children. Ofsted inspectors have told us repeatedly that a happy and engaged staff team equals happy children. Our pride in our nursery and our company is reflected in our happy and confident children and there is nothing more rewarding or satisfying than that.”
Childbase has been picked by The Sunday Times for over 13 years and took first and second place in 2020 and 2021 respectively. The new lists, put together in partnership with Workl - a digital service that tracks employees’ happiness at work - do not rank by number.