At Bright Little Stars, staff wellbeing and happiness grow from genuine care and a culture that we’ve nurtured since the very beginning.
We focus on the following areas:
Staff wellbeing and happiness start with being seen and understood. I take the time to get to know each team member, what motivates them, what they value, how they like to work, and where they want to grow.
Conversations go beyond rotas and routines. They include real life, real feelings, and the things that matter both inside and outside of work.
Genuine care shows in small, consistent everyday actions. If someone returns after illness, I check in. If someone is overwhelmed, we offer quiet time with a hot water bottle and blanket or make them a coffee.
Leaders ask about family milestones, celebrate children’s achievements, and support staff in balancing important life events with work, including covering phones for doctor or school calls.
We celebrate milestones together, including birthdays, baby showers and cultural events, so everyone feels included.
I personally train middle leaders, setting the tone of the company since 2013. Training covers psychological safety, company culture, and expectations for leadership styles, showing the commitment from director level to ensure consistency across every one of our nurseries.
When it comes to staff wellbeing, small gestures make a big difference, especially with the rising cost of living.
Staff enjoy treats in the staff room, from hot chocolate jars to seasonal surprises. Daily hot meals help with nutrition and financial pressure; weekly food budgets let teams order what they enjoy most.
On training days, we bring in street food vans or ice cream trucks. These are strategic actions to support and motivate teams, planned, budgeted, and shaped by staff feedback.
We aim to reduce daily pressures so staff can focus on the children. We also aim to accommodate requested shifts wherever possible. Staff rooms feature back massage chairs, toastie makers, coffee machines and fully stocked fridges.
Our systems for planning, observations, and communication save time to reduce workload. We have key people to meet statutory welfare ratios, plus two kitchen staff, deputies outside ratios, and full-time administrators.
Each room has a designated lunch cover, an apprentice (outside of ratios), and contracted float staff. We also operate an internal BLS bank of emergency staff, managed by our head-office recruitment manager.
This ensures all cover staff are fully trained and vetted BLS employees, not external agency temps. These levels are above legal requirements to prevent pressure on staff and ensure every room is well supported.
This isn’t just compliance; it’s part of our business plan to make the day run smoothly for everyone.
Staff wellbeing is central to our culture. Staff surveys guide actions, and mental health first-aiders are in each nursery.
Wellbeing Wednesdays give staff time to talk. Winter wellbeing bags, birthday days off, extra tea breaks, flexible shifts, and our wellbeing app all show staff that we prioritise health.
Recognition drives motivation. Every day we celebrate effort, kindness, and teamwork. Staff receive personalised praise and shoutouts.
Children applaud the employee of the month, and our BLS Bucks system rewards excellent work, creativity, and leadership.
Staff can use Bucks for vouchers, experience days, or additional annual leave. Long-service awards and our annual Awards Dinner recognise achievements, featuring a restaurant lunch with directors.
Celebration strengthens our community. Christmas parties feature headline performers and regular social events, and in-nursery traditions such as advent calendars and Easter egg hunts keep the atmosphere uplifting.
We celebrate promotions, cultural events and personal milestones during work hours so everyone can take part.
Our success has been achieved through consistency, care and commitment, not token gestures. The practices outlined are designed to support and motivate – because when staff thrive, families thrive too.
Mandy Guttadauro is company operations director at Bright Little Stars.
