A new manager has taken over the reins at a leading Telford day nursery.

Kirsty Caldecott has joined the team at ABC Day Nursery as Lead Operations Manager for the Lightmoor setting. The nursery group, which marked its 26th anniversary in January, also has branches at Hoo in Preston-upon-the-Weald Moors, Hollinswood and Hadley.

Kirsty, 28, has an extensive background in childcare with previous positions at a children’s nursery in Wem, as well as being the deputy manager at a nursery in Shrewsbury.

After completing a Foundation Degree in Early Childhood Support Studies, Kirsty went on to study for a BA Hons in childcare studies. Most recently she successfully passed a level 5 NVQ in Management and Leadership.

Kirsty, who lives in Newport, said her route to ABC Lightmoor had certainly given her varied experience and she loved being a member of the team at the Ofsted Outstanding day nursery.

“After studying childcare at university and working in various different settings for a number of years, I decided to explore another interest and went into mental health. I worked on a psychiatric ward for 18 months where I learned an awful lot,” she said.

“But I realised I missed working with little ones so I came back into childcare. My time in mental health really taught me a lot that is useful across the board.”

“I had heard great things about ABC and when I looked around Lightmoor the approach to play really interested me. We use the Curiosity Approach so instead of lots of plastic toys we use real items.

“We do forest school too which is fantastic and I like the fact that I have the opportunity to use my leadership and management qualification, I’m really looking forward to it. It’s just great here, I love it,” she added.