Its development has been linked to plans for primary education in thearea. Three primary schools were amalgamated and the centre establishedon the site where a brand new school will be built. The children'scentre occupies a converted infant school and includes a new nursery.Meanwhile, the new primary school is still running at three locations."It's a huge organisational process," admits Davies, and this is whystrong leadership and good communication is essential.
Davies, who is part of the senior leadership team for the wholeorganisation, is a former nursery nurse who went on to train as an earlyyears teacher.
She was a specialist adviser on early years teaching in Croydon and thenhead of training and development at another local children's centrebefore she joined the Leatherhead project. Last September, she undertookthe National Professional Qualification in Integrated Centre Leadership.As head of centre, she will work closely with early years teachers andstaff, and be responsible for liaising with a range of otherprofessionals.
An established families project, formerly run as a charity, has alsojoined the centre. Its manager is now the family team leader andline-managed by Davies, who admits staff were anxious about the change."I've spent time with them and shared the vision for the centre and I'velistened to their views," she says. "It's about building uprelationships and acknowledging change; that it will be different andmay be difficult but we can work through it."
The project has been part of the centre right from the beginning and notjust when they moved in, adds Davies. For example, staff had training atthe centre and ran family learning courses there before thetransfer.
Local families were also consulted from the start. They had the chanceto say what they wanted and then comment on plans. The next stage is toestablish a family forum to allow parents to have ongoing input. This isat the heart of Davies's approach. "You have to be able to see thebigger picture as well as focus on individual things," she says. "It'slike you're a Jack of all trades because there are so many things goingon.
"But everything we're doing is based around families and parents andproviding something they want and need," she concludes. "As a leader Ineed to be continually saying that to my staff."
TOP TIPS
- I've spent a huge amount of time finding out contacts, phoning peopleand being persistent
- The local authority early years team has been really helpful
- It's all about getting to know people and building up relationships.
