As Storal celebrates 10 years of creating extraordinary childhoods, we’re sharing the stories of the people who have helped shape our nurseries and the remarkable careers they have built along the way.
Behind every child’s milestone, every strong family partnership and every nurturing nursery environment is a team of passionate people. Many of our colleagues have dedicated decades to early years education, growing professionally while supporting children, families and one another.
As part of our 10 Years, 10 Stories anniversary series, Story 3 celebrates long-serving colleagues whose journeys reflect the dedication, care and commitment at the heart of Storal.
From beginning their careers as young educators to progressing into leadership and specialist roles, their stories show just how varied and rewarding a career in early years can be.
A career dedicated to children
Gayle began her career in early years at just 16 years old, joining Smisby Day Nursery through a youth training scheme. After briefly working at another setting, she joined the former Swingboat nurseries and continued building a career devoted to supporting children.
Over the years, Gayle has seen early years environments and teaching practices change significantly.
“When I first started, the environments were full of bright colours, loud noises and plastic toys. We even used to watch ten minutes of television after milk and biscuits.”
Today, nursery environments are much calmer and more considered, using natural colours, wooden toys and real objects to encourage children to explore, investigate and learn through meaningful play.
Although Gayle has experienced too many memorable moments to choose just one, a recent experience supporting a child stands out.
Alongside a colleague, Gayle worked tirelessly to ensure the child could remain at the nursery when it felt as though other professionals and settings had given up on him.
“We were the child’s voice. That little boy left us in July ready for school. Without the support we gave him, he might not have had a nursery place before starting school.”
For Gayle, advocating for children and recognising their individual needs is one of the most important parts of working in early years. She also particularly enjoys planning preschool graduations and celebrating each child’s unique journey with their family.
Her story reflects the difference that patient, consistent and dedicated educators can make during the most important years of a child’s development.
From the Tweenie Room to Operations Director
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Emma began her early years journey at Ashby Nursery School in the summer of 1999.
Her first role was in the Tweenie Room. Filled with energetic children, it was a busy and challenging introduction to nursery life, but Emma immediately knew she had found a career she loved.
“It was challenging, hectic and a huge learning curve, but I absolutely loved it.”
Emma went on to become a Preschool Senior before joining Woodville when the nursery first opened its doors. There, she progressed to Deputy Manager and later held Nursery Manager roles across all three of the former Swingboat nurseries.
After having her son in 2006, Emma moved into a Training and Operations Manager position, opening an entirely new chapter in her career. While her responsibilities have changed, the people she has worked alongside remain one of the most rewarding parts of her journey.
“I still have the privilege of working with several managers from those early days. Many are still part of Storal and have developed into different roles across the business.”
Watching colleagues grow in confidence, build successful careers and achieve things they may never have thought possible has been one of Emma’s greatest sources of pride. She has also celebrated many important nursery achievements. One of the most memorable was seeing all three nurseries she oversaw receive Outstanding judgements from Ofsted.
“That was a real team effort and something I’ll always be incredibly proud of.”
Emma has also enjoyed seeing colleagues receive national recognition through the Nursery Management Today and Nursery World Awards, as well as watching Storal be named Nursery Group of the Year for two consecutive years. When Storal first acquired the nurseries, however, Emma admits that it felt like one of the most difficult moments of her career. After more than 20 years with the same organisation, it seemed as though a very happy chapter was coming to an end. Looking back, she now sees it very differently.
“The last eight years have challenged me, developed me and given me opportunities I never imagined. You think that after 20 years in early years you’ve seen it all and know it all, but there is always more to learn.”
Today, Emma is proud to work alongside people who share the same goal: creating the very best experiences for children, teams and nurseries.
A journey that began as a parent
Lorna’s journey into early years began when she was looking for a nursery for her eldest daughter.
Her second daughter later attended the same setting, and the family’s experience introduced Lorna to a sector she had never previously considered as a career. She eventually joined Willow Tree as an unqualified team member before completing her Level 2 qualification. Balancing her studies with raising two daughters as a single mum was not always easy, but her hard work opened the door to a rewarding new career. After spending around ten years as a practitioner, Lorna felt ready for a change. She was offered the opportunity to move into the nursery office, drawing on administrative experience from previous roles to support the transition.
“And then here we are today!”
Throughout her career, Lorna has experienced countless special moments, including children and colleagues singing Christmas carols on local radio, sports days, Christmas performances, summer events and preschool graduations.
“Watching the children develop and then move on to their next journey gives immense satisfaction, knowing that you have played a small part in their early years education.”
Some former nursery children have even returned years later as colleagues and parents, creating a wonderful full-circle connection with the nursery.
Although Lorna is now office-based, she still values the opportunities she has to spend time in the rooms and contribute to children’s experiences. She also takes great pride in organising events for children and families and seeing her planning become memorable occasions for the whole nursery community. Moving from an independently owned nursery to becoming part of Storal was a significant transition, particularly as it happened shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, being part of a growing nursery group gave Lorna access to a wider network of knowledge, guidance and support.
She has since contributed to pilot schemes, shared her perspective on new platforms and successfully completed a Business Administration qualification.
Most of all, she is proud to be part of a team that works hard every day to provide a safe and nurturing nursery where families feel confident leaving their children.
Sharing knowledge and supporting excellence
Amanda's early years journey began in 2002 when she completed her Level 3 Childcare qualification and joined Ashby Nursery School. What started as a passion for working with children and families has grown into a career spanning more than two decades, during which she has progressed from Nursery Officer to Senior Nursery Manager and now Education Coach.
Throughout her career, Amanda has had the privilege of supporting countless children through important milestones and celebrating those achievements alongside their families.
"Seeing a parent's reaction when their child achieves something they have been working towards is incredibly rewarding, especially when you know you've played a part in supporting that journey."
She has also loved watching children develop friendships, grow in confidence and evolve into unique young people with their own personalities, interests and ambitions.
Amanda's career has brought plenty of opportunities for growth and learning, from leading teams and achieving Outstanding Ofsted outcomes to sharing her knowledge and expertise with other nurseries to support their own improvement journeys.
"One important lesson I've learned is never to be afraid to seek advice or support. We all share the same goal of achieving the best outcomes for children and families."
For Amanda, the greatest reward has always been knowing that the support provided during a child's early years can have a lasting impact.
"It is a privilege to play a role in a child's development and to know that the support we provide can help shape their future."
Today, Amanda is proud to be part of Storal, working alongside passionate and dedicated colleagues who share her commitment to creating exceptional experiences for children, families and nursery teams.
From Bank Staff to Head of Sales Operations
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Beccy began her early years journey 24 years ago when her son started school. Wanting to develop her understanding of SEND, she joined Ashby after hearing about a bank staff opportunity through her sister-in-law. She applied, joined the nursery and, as she says, "the rest is history."
Starting with no childcare qualifications, Beccy quickly completed her Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications, later achieving a Level 5 in Leadership and Management. She progressed from Bank Staff to Educator, Room Leader and, unexpectedly, into management.
One day, after being asked to answer the phone in the office, Beccy found herself being offered the role of Acting Manager. That opportunity led to a permanent Nursery Manager position and later roles supporting Hermitage, managing out-of-school clubs, working across multiple nurseries and progressing through regional operational and education leadership roles before moving into Sales Operations.
A standout chapter in her career was helping to launch the Pre-school Academy during lockdown.
"It was one of the most stressful but amazing times in my career. The team was fantastic throughout, and launching the Academy was definitely a highlight."
Beccy's favourite memories include celebrating team achievements through the NDNA and NMT Awards, but it is the people who have made the biggest impact.
"I've always loved feeling that I've made a difference, whether that's supporting a family, encouraging a colleague into a new role or simply sharing in a child's journey." She remains especially proud of the teams she has worked alongside and the support they showed one another as the organisation evolved.
"I've loved being part of Storal from day one. We supported each other through the changes and continued to do so as we grew."
Of all her achievements, helping to create the Academy remains the one she treasures most.
"I loved every minute of the journey, and I'm proud that trust was placed in us to make it the success it is today."
Different journeys, one shared purpose
Gayle, Emma, Lorna, Amanda and Beccy have each followed a different career path, but their stories share the same foundations: care, dedication and a determination to make a positive difference.
They have supported children through important developmental milestones, helped families navigate challenges and encouraged colleagues to recognise their own potential.
They have also witnessed remarkable changes in early years education, from the appearance of nursery environments and the resources used by children to the technology, training and support now available to teams.
Through every change, their shared purpose has remained the same: giving children the strongest possible foundations for their future.
The people behind extraordinary childhoods
As Storal celebrates its tenth anniversary, these stories remind us that extraordinary childhoods are made possible by extraordinary people.
They are created by educators who advocate for children, managers who encourage their teams and colleagues who continually share their time, knowledge and experience.
Together, Gayle, Emma, Lorna, Amanda and Beccy represent decades of early years expertise and countless memories shared with children and families.
Their careers show that working in early years is about much more than one role. It can be the beginning of a lifelong journey filled with opportunities to learn, progress, lead and make a lasting difference.
Because behind every extraordinary childhood is someone who believed in a child, celebrated their individuality and helped them discover everything they were capable of.
Start your own story with Storal
If their journeys have inspired you, explore our early years careers and current vacancies and discover where a career with Storal could take you.
Looking for exceptional early years care and education for your child? Find your nearest Storal nursery and start your family’s story with us.
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