Kerry – wraparound owner
From Brownies leader to business owner
Tell us a bit about your background?
My career has always focused on supporting people and making a positive difference, particularly children and families. I began my professional journey working in HR and payroll, where I developed strong organisational, leadership, and business management skills. Alongside this, I gained hands-on experience in childcare by working in nurseries and as a registered childminder.
I also completed both my Level 3 qualification in Childcare and my Level 3 Teaching Assistant qualification through evening college classes, which gave me a strong understanding of child development and education.
My passion for working with children started at a very young age. Growing up, my parents were foster carers, meaning I was always surrounded by children and involved in helping to care for and support them. This experience shaped my love for childcare and my desire to help children thrive.
As I grew older, I became a young leader within a local youth team before moving on to run Brownies and Rainbows groups. These roles allowed me to build strong leadership skills while supporting children’s confidence, creativity, and social development.
What did you do before you started to work in wraparound childcare?
Before entering wraparound childcare, I worked in HR and payroll roles, alongside working in nurseries and running my own childminding business.
This combination of business experience and childcare practice gave me a strong understanding of both operational management and high-quality childcare provision, which has been invaluable in growing and running successful settings.
Was there a specific entry route you took?
After several years as a childminder, I felt ready for a new and exciting challenge within the childcare sector. When the opportunity came up to purchase an after-school club, I saw it as a wonderful chance to expand my passion into something bigger.
I decided to take the leap – and it turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
Ten years later, I now proudly oversee 8 after-school clubs, 3 pre-schools, and a nursery, supporting hundreds of children and families in the community.
What qualifications did you have before you got started?
Before starting in wraparound childcare, I completed my Level 3 qualification in Childcare and my Level 3 Teaching Assistant qualification.
Since then, I have remained committed to continuous professional development. I am currently working towards my Level 5 qualification and regularly complete additional training to ensure the highest standards of care.
This includes Paediatric First Aid, safeguarding, British Values, and many other professional courses.
I strongly believe in always learning, growing, and improving – both for myself and for my team.
What inspired you to join wraparound childcare?
I have always had a genuine passion for working with children and supporting their development.
Being brought up in a fostering household meant I saw first-hand the importance of providing children with safe, nurturing, and supportive environments. This early experience played a huge role in shaping my desire to work in childcare.
Running Brownies and Rainbows groups, along with being a young leader, further strengthened my love for working with children and helping them grow in confidence.
What continues to inspire me most about wraparound childcare is seeing children enjoy new experiences, build friendships, and take part in activities that help them learn and develop – especially those they might not get to experience at home.
Its rewarding to see the children try out different things that they might not get to do at home.
A day in the life
My days are busy, varied, and incredibly rewarding, usually running from 7am to 6pm.
Around 20 hours a week are spent directly in the clubs with children, while around 30 hours are dedicated to administration, planning, staff support, and ensuring all settings run smoothly.
Each morning begins with completing risk assessments and setting up the breakfast club rooms. As we operate as pack-away provision, each space is carefully prepared every day to create a safe and welcoming environment.
As children arrive, we offer breakfast followed by a wide range of engaging activities. Children are encouraged to choose activities that interest them, helping them develop independence and confidence.
Once the morning session ends, we tidy the rooms, escort the children to their classrooms, clean and organise resources, and pack everything away before I head to the office.
During the day, I manage emails, bookings, funding forms, planning, and all the behind-the-scenes work needed to keep everything running efficiently.
In the afternoon, we return to the clubs to complete risk assessments and set up again for after-school care. We collect children from class, provide a healthy snack, and run a variety of activities including arts and crafts, role play, messy play, baking, outdoor games, and creative projects. As parents collect their children, we pack everything away once again and finish the day ready for the next..
What’s your favourite part of the day, working with children?
My favourite part of the day is being with the children themselves.
After putting so much thought and care into planning activities, it’s incredibly rewarding to see their excitement, laughter, and enjoyment as they take part.
How do you feel that you are making a difference?
We aim to create a safe, fun, and supportive environment where children feel happy, confident, and valued.
By offering a wide range of activities, we help children develop social skills, creativity, independence, and confidence – all while having fun.
Knowing parents can go to work feeling reassured that their children are well cared for means a great deal to me.
One of my favourite moments is when a parent arrives early to collect their child, and the child is having so much fun they ask them to come back later!
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I love that every day is different and full of new experiences.
I enjoy chatting with the children, listening to their stories, discovering new activities to try, and seeing the joy these bring.
Baking with the children and encouraging them to try new foods is something I particularly enjoy, as it teaches life skills while being fun and interactive.
What’s your career highlight so far?
My greatest career highlight is building the business to where it is today — running multiple settings and leading a fantastic team of caring, passionate professionals.
Seeing the positive impact we have on so many children and families is incredibly rewarding.
Although the journey hasn’t always been easy, it has been full of growth, learning, and success, and I am extremely proud of everything we’ve achieved.
Career tips
Why would you recommend others join the wraparound childcare sector?
Wraparound childcare is a truly rewarding and enjoyable career choice.
You have the opportunity to support children’s development, build strong relationships with families, and make a positive difference every day.
It’s a role that brings joy, variety, and real personal fulfilment.
What advice would you have for anyone wanting to work with children?
I would wholeheartedly encourage anyone with an interest in working with children to go for it.
Wraparound childcare offers flexibility, variety, and a fun working environment. It’s especially great for parents, as it can fit around family life while still providing a fulfilling career.
If you have even a small passion for childcare, wraparound care is an incredible path – the rewards you receive through children’s happiness, progress, and development truly make it worthwhile.
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