A Day at a Local Nursery: A True Story

I visited a local nursery recently, one of those settings full of colour, noise, and that warm energy only early years places have. The manager had called me in because “a few little things” needed looking at and like most nurseries, those little things had been quietly growing while the team were busy with children, parents, and paperwork.

The moment I walked in, I spotted the first issue: the main room door had started sticking. Staff had been nudging it with their hip to close it, something they didn’t even notice they were doing anymore. A simple adjustment and hinge reset fixed it in minutes, but left alone, it would’ve eventually pulled the hinge screws out and damaged the frame.

Then there was the outdoor area. A fence panel had loosened during the recent wind, nothing dramatic, just enough for a curious toddler to poke fingers through. A quick reinforcement and post check sorted it before it became a bigger problem.

What really stood out was the surprise on the manager’s face when I showed her how these tiny early signs can save hundreds of pounds in the long run. She said, "We see the children every day, we don’t always see the building anymore." That’s exactly why regular maintenance matters.

By the time I left, she had booked a monthly visit. Not because things were falling apart, but because she realised how much calmer and safer the environment feels when small issues never get the chance to grow.