Childcare worker Nicky Houghton, from Smart Tots day nursery and pre-school, has received a long-service award in recognition of her 25-year dedication to childcare. Having worked at Smart Tots for the entirety of her childcare career, Houghton brings a wealth of experience to her role as deputy nursery manager. Recognising her loyalty, commitment and expertise, the award was presented last week by the Complete Childcare Nursery Support Team. The established nursery chain has 15 sites across the Thames Valley, and their 300 staff support close to 1,000 children every day.
Houghton told us, “I’m so thrilled to receive this award. I love my role at Smart Tots, and I feel privileged to work alongside such an inspiring team. The children in our care always make my day – watching them grow up, seeing the positive impact we have on their social and emotional development is so rewarding. No two days are the same, and it’s true what they say: time really does fly when you’re having fun! 25 years has gone by surprisingly quickly.”
During her time at Smart Tots, Houghton has completed her NVQ Level 3 in Childcare, progressing from a nursery assistant to deputy manager. She explained, “My role has changed lots over the years as I’ve progressed through different jobs and held different responsibilities. One thing that has remained consistent is the focus on providing outstanding care and a safe and nurturing space for children to learn and develop.” Alec Hodson, managing director at Complete Childcare, said, “We are proud to be experts in childcare and our staff do an incredible job – we simply wouldn’t be able to do what we do without them. Providing people with opportunities for progression and growth is top of our priority list.”
Houghton was awarded her certificate by Emma McIntyre from the Complete Childcare Nursery Support Team. McIntyre told us, “Nicky’s dedication to childcare is incredible. She brings so much knowledge and experience to her role, and we’re delighted to have her in our team.”
Houghton commented, “It means so much to me to receive this award. My tip for a long career is simply to do what you love. As deputy manager, I lead the staff team, as well as working in partnership with parents to make sure children are on track to achieve their development goals. It is so varied and seeing how much children develop during their time at Smart Tots never fails to amaze me.”
Providing premium care, Complete Childcare strive to give every child in its care a positive and lasting memory of a fulfilling childhood, while using all of its resources and professional training to develop the whole personality of every child. Its vision is to provide the caring, happy and challenging environment every day which their parents would want themselves, making them “Ready to learn, ready for life”.
To enquire about a role in childcare, contact Complete Childcare on hr@completechildcare.co.uk.
