Opted for childcare

28 Feb Opted for childcare

Kate Thompson planned to go into animal care when she left school but having listened to her mum, she opted for childcare instead and hasn’t looked back since.

That was 20 years ago and now she is bringing her considerable experience to bear as a teacher at Baldersby Park Montessori Nursery School.

Mrs Kate joined the nursery in January 2023 and works in our Butterflies Room, as well as taking the lead in the development of our Woodland School.

As a self-described ‘outdoors person’, this gives her the best of both worlds, but it’s the children who are particularly benefiting.

Things may have been a little different had she not heeded her mum’s advice though.

Mrs Kate says: “After leaving school I wanted to be a veterinary nurse but with jobs thin on the ground, my mum suggested trying childcare and I am so glad I did, because it’s a job I love.

“There’s nothing better knowing you are helping to give children the best possible start in life and watching them develop.”

Even though she chose childcare over animal care, Mrs Kate is also still very much an animal lover and the ‘menagerie’ she has at home with her husband and their two children include a dog called Boris and two Afghan Snails.

And at Woodland School, she also delights in pointing out the different ‘mini-beasts’ the children discover during their sessions.

Mrs Kate adds: “I have always loved being outside so I was delighted when I saw the amazing outdoor space at Baldersby Park and to be able to take the lead with the Woodland School.

“We can be outside whatever the weather because as I like to say, ‘we are all waterproof’, it’s just about the choice of clothes!”

As well as being impressed with the outside, Mrs Kate, who has a Level 3 in Childcare with plans to go further with her professional development, says she is just as impressed with what goes on inside at Baldersby Park.

She adds: “I have worked in a few early years settings but Baldersby Park really is quite special.

“There’s a lovely family atmosphere in the nursery; the children are very well behaved, and they are very advanced for their age.”