Jun 03, 2025
As Mental Health Awareness Week draws to a close, I want to take a moment to thank every single one of you for showing up this week, not just in your roles, but for yourselves and each other. It’s been wonderful to see your photos, messages, and updates from across our nurseries. Each one told a powerful story of care, connection, and community, and highlighted our collective commitment to mental health and well-being.
We spend a lot of time at work. And while there are practical reasons why work matters, it’s also important to recognise how closely our identity and sense of purpose are often woven into it. When we lose sight of who we are, and the meaning our work gives us, it’s easy to drift into emotionally difficult waters. We cannot pour from an empty cup.
I know this first-hand. In late 2021, I experienced a significant personal burnout, having ignored the signs of physical, mental, and emotional overwhelm until I hit a wall and was unwell for a prolonged period of time. It almost irreversibly changed the shape of my career and my life. I was fortunate to seek support, education, and help to recover. It was one of the hardest chapters of my life, but one I wouldn’t change. The lessons I learned have shaped the way I lead now, with renewed focus and determination to help others avoid the same experience.
I know now that burnout is not a badge of honour. And my lived experience of my own personal mental health challenge, sharpened my purpose as a people practitioner and leader: to create human-centred workplace cultures where people don’t just survive, but truly thrive.
As a business we know we still have much to do, but we are making progress and on the path to building the tools and foundations to support all our people well. In the coming weeks, we’ll be launching a new well-being training offer and introducing a partnership with a dedicated well-being provider. This is part of our ongoing commitment to continue to create a culture where people feel supported to grow, be themselves, and take care of what matters most-their health, happiness, and sense of purpose. All of which is in service of delivering the very best care and education for our children and families.
Working in early years is deeply human work. It takes heart, energy, resilience—and above all, connection. But that connection must begin with us. We can’t support others if we’re running on empty. We can’t pour joy, patience, or care into our teams, children, or families unless we offer those things to ourselves first.
That’s the foundation of sustainable well-being.
This week has been more than themed days and shared moments (though we’ve loved those too). It’s been a gentle call back to ourselves, to check in on how we’re really doing, and what we might need.
Mental, physical, and emotional well-being isn’t a once-a-year event. It’s a daily practice. A way of working, leading, and living.
Tamsyn Allington, Chief People Officer, The Old Station Nursery