An award-winning nursery group has announced the appointment of a new Area Manager, further strengthening its senior management team.
Clever Clogs Nursery Group, which includes Clever Clogs Day Nursery in Belmont, Clever Clogs Day Nursery in Bowburn and Little Ladybirds Day Nursery in Stockton, has confirmed the recruitment of Lauren Heward.
Lauren will work directly with Group Operations Director Sharon Lewis to continue the group’s outstanding practice and offering support to the managers at all three sites to ensure the right care is provided to the 700-plus children who attend the nurseries.
Lauren, who hails from Oxfordshire and is married to a Stockton man, brings nearly 20 years of experience to the role, having started in the childcare industry when she was 17. Over the years she worked her way up from nursery nurse to senior manager and held management positions where she was responsible for turning around nurseries that were rated Poor by Ofsted inspectors.
As Area Manager, she is looking forward to building on the excellent reputation and industry rating that all three nurseries have built up.
She said: “My husband is in the Royal Air Force, and we were living in military accommodation, but had decided that it was the right time for us to get on the property ladder.
“It was always our plan to relocate from Reading where we were living to the North East, so I started looking for jobs and found this one with Clever Clogs Nursery Group.
“It was perfect, everything they were looking for I had experience in, and it was so similar to the role I was in.
“I researched the nurseries, and I liked their ethos, the curriculum and the aesthetics. It felt right to me, they came across like a family, so I applied
“When I had the interview, I knew it was the job I wanted, the team was so lovely and there was a really nice, welcoming feel about the nurseries.”
Lauren started in the role at the end of last month and has spent the first few weeks getting to grips with each nursery, getting to know the staff and spending time in the different rooms getting to know the children.
Clever Clogs Nursery Group Operations Director Sharon Lewis said: “We are delighted to have secured someone of Lauren’s experience.
“We knew when we interviewed her that she was exactly who we were looking for. It was clear she shared our passion and commitment to the continued development of our nurseries and providing the very best care to the children who attend.
“Although just a few weeks into the role, Lauren has already become part of the Clever Clogs family and is proving to be an excellent addition to our senior management team.”
