early years educator

lead practitioner

deputy manager

nursery manager

housekeeper

Thrive-Childcare-and-Education

No two days are the same. The days can be busy, fast-paced and sometimes stressful, but there is always plenty to do and opportunities for the children. Working in childcare can be demanding, especially on longer shifts, but it is also very rewarding.
I have learned a lot about communication, frameworks and how different nurseries work. Sometimes the communication can be a problem but we try to work through it. Frameworks are available in staff rooms and staff training helps with this too.
I have found management to be supportive and approachable. If I need help or guidance, I feel comfortable reaching out and know they will do what they can to support me. There is a genuine willingness to listen and work through things.

 I have built some great relationships during my time here. There is a shared focus on providing the best outcomes for children. Some people sometimes don't get along but again going to management about this helps get if off our chest and move on or solve it.
Staff shortages at time, busy long days, getting paperwork done when there are staff shortages can be the hardest parts of the job
The most enjoyable part is seeing the positive impact we have on children and families. Watching children develop and achieve milestones is incredibly rewarding. I also enjoy working alongside supportive colleagues and being part of the team.
Overall, I am happy working for the company and feel supported in my role. If I could change anything, it would be having slightly longer breaks and additional staffing available to help cover sickness, paperwork and time out of the room when needed. However, these are common challenges within the sector, and overall my experience has been positive.

Long hours and very rarely unable to finish your shift on time. No incentives for long serving staff members. Definitely an air of favouritism amongst managers and staff, 20 days holiday per yr with no option to buy or sell or have these increased with long standing service, trying to book holidays is difficult as they only allow 1 L3 off at any given time, HAVE to take 1 weeks hol at beginning of the year, 2 in the middle and 1 at the end of the year so no flexibility. Too much expectation for paperwork in a very limited time frame. Medical app is upcoming and a good perk, pension scheme is basic. Minium wage is usually topped up depending on qualification.
Senior HR management team show no interest in any complaints and feel your not taken seriously! On site is very much like a playground bickering,  name calling, sniping,  very "clicky" if your not in the "click" you feel excluded, any on site issues with team your expected to "sort out" yourself. Very much a blame game from majority of the team from practitioners to HR" this is very much a business on a term of money making, however it seems its poor decision making as now in financial crisis (which they dont want the team to know about) they don't pay the "trade" companies bills so are in debt with them and constant redundancies to save money and will then re advertise the job at a lower wage. Constant high turnover of staff! Think the owners need to wake up and offer more perks and support to the one's who make the money for them and sort the financial issues out and regain the good reputation it once had!

I enjoy working at Thrive Childcare because it provides a supportive and positive environment where children are encouraged to learn, develop, and reach their full potential. I find it rewarding to build strong relationships with the children and their families and to be part of a team that values high-quality childcare and early years education.

Since joining Thrive, I have made significant progress through various training opportunities. The training has increased my knowledge of child development, safeguarding, health and safety, and effective ways to support children's learning and wellbeing. I have developed greater confidence in planning activities, observing and assessing children's progress, and supporting their individual needs. The training has also helped me improve my communication skills, teamwork, and understanding of best practice.

As a result, I feel more confident in my role as a nursery practitioner and better equipped to provide a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment for the children in my care. I look forward to continuing my professional development and applying new knowledge and skills to support both the children and the nursery team.

I was really excited to start working at Thrive, I asked lots of questions : about the business, the culture how they supported their staff wellbeing and development, I was impressed by their response and the initial following months were great. 
A Central restructure followed at the beginning of 2023 which meant that dozens of loyal, hardworking colleagues left or were pushed out. 
This is not a safe place to work. 
Whistle Blowing procedures are ignored and colleague’s feel they can no longer share concerns or they will be the next person to be targeted by the Senior Leaders within the business.
Nursery staff are not supported emotionally and often are buying resources from their own money so the children have activities. 
It’s such a shame that a once very caring organisation has become an unsafe place to be. 
I loved working at Thrive initially but sadly the Senior Leadership Team choose not to listen and this means that nursery staff feel under valued and emotionally drained, causing them to leave due to feeling undervalued or suffering from burnout.
I have met some amazing people at Thrive but the recent culture shift has made me realise that I don’t belong there anymore. I don’t want to work for an Early Years organisation where I don’t have a voice.


The Nursery used to be amazing, then Thrive took over and now it's truly appalling.

They came in and promised so much but what followed was just chronic under investment, deception but the worst thing in my view was mistrust.

It started with us not even being allowed to keep our own phones in our cars but in reality, this is just one of many examples of their micro managing approach.

They can throw all the 'perks and extra benefits' they want at staff but what you cannot replace is staffing feeling trusted to do their jobs, and Thrive trust no one!

Every week they are making head office redundancies, every week it's another cost cutting announcement and that financial squeeze is showing in the resources we have available, and when we find cheap resources ourselves, Thrive actively discourage us from getting them as they can't afford ANYTHING! 

And that's emblematic of a lack of trust and finances

Thrive bought Nurseries in affluent areas, possibly thinking it meant larger fees, from wealthier parents in high employment areas, but that also means staff can find better jobs, and I don't know one member of staff who is not looking to leave, NOT ONE!

Local management do their best but under Thrive, they have both hands tied behind their back.

Such a shame because it was brilliant, it's now terrible!

I’ve had an awful experience since Thrive took over. 
Definitely not children first, money first! 
Very little resources and the staff have had to buy their own to keep the children happy. Mostly run by agency workers that do not support you at all. The permanent staff are overworked and stressed. You are expected to use so much of your own time attending open days, staff meetings and parents evenings when you have way too many key children so this takes up so much of your time after long shifts. All holiday requests get declined unless you have an explanation as to why you need it off.
You’re not allowed to take your wellbeing day when you’re working your notice to the as “ it costs Thrive money for you to be off”. 
They advertised new staff at a higher pay “ to attract people” but weren’t going to pay their current staff that rate until we argued it and wanted to take it further so they finally did something about it. Always running out of nappies and wipes and being told they’re coming the next day but never do, waiting days for them to come and having to just use what we can.
They do not look after their staff one bit! Everything is fake and for show. I feel sorry for families as lots of staff are leaving as they feel the same way! Thrive ruined a great nursery. 

I loved my job and the nursery I worked for, the staff have a genuine love and care of the children and want to give them the best. 
However, the Thrive company are in no way supportive of their staff unless it is something to line their pockets. The nursery management have their hands tied when it comes to final word or decision making. 
Everything has to be approved including spending of budget on the items for the children's meals, cleaning essentials and even what management wants to get the nursery areas such as toys and arts and crafts. Thrive say this is down to management decisions but management have to ask permission and Thrive are scrimping on every penny. 
For Thrive it's all about the money and riding on the good reputation of a well established nursery previously, for that, they ruin the existing environment for children and staff. 
Thrive have lots of people doing lots of jobs for them but still don't have a clue. On regular occasions my pay has been wrong and even on my last pay I haven't been paid for overtime from months ago. 
I loved my nursery and the staff there but unfortunately due to Thrive I felt undervalued and well untruly not appreciated 

Thrive is one of the worst companies I've worked for, they claim to Care about their staff and the children!! They don't they care about the money the nursery is bringing in. They don't appreciate when staff go above and beyond to them it's an expectation, they expect you to do things for example when the nursery is short staffed because of staff illness so you do extra hours, are run off your feet trying to keep your room running while also being over ratio not so much as a thank you. Parents have complained to staff about how rude and unhelpful the regional manager is. I could go on and on about everything that is wrong with the company at the end of the day if you work on the floor in the nursery you have no appreciation shown at all for all the work you are expected to do and bo appreciation shown at all unless you are lucky enough to have a manager that cares. If you are one of the managers you are given a lot more and shown alot more appreciation than early years practitioner. 

What is the best part of working at the company?
Staff team, Children and Families 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
lack of communication and support from management. Expectations changed frequently, staffing often felt inadequate, and it created a stressful environment for both employees and children. 
Concerns raised by employees often did not feel acknowledged or addressed properly. The building and overall environment often felt run down. Lack of resources for staff made it more stressful. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
The work environment often felt stressful due to limited support, lack of resources, and poor communication from higher management. The culture was often stressful because staff were expected to manage with limited resources and support. The work environment and building maintenance also felt neglected. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Under pressure with lack of support. 

High expectations with little to no resources or support or staff to achieve.

No acknowledgment for anything positive always negative

What is the best part of working at the company?
This is a company that finally understands what it is to be a passionate working person, the company really values their staff and are so supportive in personal development, progression and you being the best version of yourself 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Any childcare job can be stressful but I genuinely believe the support network you get from this company supports those stressful days 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
A home from home and a very positive culture, there's always room for development, there's always support either daily in your role or in your general role, the nursery environments are like a home from home and a family unit 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
It's a busy day; but I have such a strong team around me, I have an amazing support network with my senior management team, so our day is filled with fun, laughter, learning, building relationships and providing the best possible opportunities for our children

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Early years educator 363 salaries reported	£13.15 per hour
Lead practitioner 157 salaries reported	£13.89 per hour
Deputy manager 73 salaries reported	£31,242 per year
Nursery manager 67 salaries reported	£36,955 per year
Housekeeper 42 salaries reported	£12.60 per hour

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