Still Together Since Day One: St Peter Chanel Nursery & Preschool Team Defies the UK Averages

Sidcup — When St Peter Chanel Nursery & Preschool opened its doors in Sidcup in 2008, its founding staff included six early years educators who have remained ever since. As of July 2025, each of the original team— Manager Grainne Edwards, and the rest of the team —are still with SPC. That remarkable loyalty stands in stark contrast to national norms. 102 years combined experience at one Sidcup nursery & pre-school!

Why It Matters

“As our children change, grows and graduate at the nursery and preschool in Sidcup, they know and love stability—same faces, same hearts,” says Grainne Edwards, reflecting on two decades of steady connections. It’s more than just goodwill: research shows continuity matters for children’s emotional, cognitive, and language development.

The team gain the nursery and & pre-school in Sidcup an Outstanding Ofsted rating whilst preschool was a separate entity from the associated primary school and now holds a combined rating of Good with the primary school.

How St Peter Chanel Nursery & Pre-School Shapes Up Against the UK Norms

• Staff retention:

  • SPC Preschool: 100% of founding staff retained for 17 years

  • UK average: Staff turnover around 18–21% per year

• Staff considering leaving soon:

  • UK average: 57% of nursery staff plan to leave within 12 months

• Sector turnover comparison:

  • SPC Preschool: 0%

  • UK average: About 24% annual turnover in early years compared to 15–18% in the wider UK workforce

• In 2023, staff turnover in private “group-based” nurseries reached 21% (up from 20% in 2022)  .

• From 2022–2024, England’s group-based provider turnover averaged 18% per year.

• A 2023 workforce coalition survey found 57% of nursery staff are considering leaving their setting within the next year  .

• The Sutton Trust highlights turnover in early years averages around 24%, compared to 15–18% in the broader UK workforce  .

Voices from Inside

“It’s more than a job—it’s a family. We see the difference our presence makes.” - Lucy Callard, Deputy Pre-School Manager since 2008

“When the same teacher greets the chilren every morning, they feel safe. Trust builds faster.” - Kate Coveney, Pre-School SENCO

Read our Parent Reviews Here

From the Headteacher

“At a time when nearly one in five nursery staff change jobs each year, SPC’s founding team staying together for 17 years is extraordinary,” the headteacher notes. “It’s not just good for morale—it’s vital for our preschool’s quality and for the children” - Alex Davies - Headteacher - St Peter Chanel Primary School and Pre-School