Celebrate National Nursery Practitioner Day with us
In 2018, we organised the first ever National Nursery Practitioner Day. It was a special, fun-filled celebration that saw Little Pioneers and nurseries across the country thanking childcare practitioners for all their hard work and amazing efforts nationwide.
The ninth National Nursery Practitioner Day will take place on Friday 16th October 2026, and we can’t wait to say thank-you and show some love!
Get ready to boogie! This year, we’re turning up the sparkle and celebrating Nursery Practitioner Day with a Disco Fever theme! Nursery practitioners across the country are invited to dust off their dancing shoes, get dressed to impress and bring the disco vibes! Whether you’re rocking sequins, glitter, flares or your best disco outfit, it’s time to shine, sparkle and celebrate our amazing childcare superstars!
After last year’s success, we’re dreaming even bigger and hoping that more nursery providers, parents, and children take part! It would be a Little Pioneers dream come true if we knew that every nursery practitioner in the country received the gratitude and love they deserve.
Here at Little Pioneers, we know that everyone in the industry deserves a huge thank-you and should be appreciated for what they do – and that’s what the day is all about.
Why #NurseryPractitionerDay?
A career in childcare is rewarding, packed with creativity, and makes a huge difference to the adults of tomorrow. But no career comes without its challenges, and childcare roles can be tough at times.
Did you know that in 2017, 45% of job vacancies at nurseries and pre-schools in England were left vacant? Then in 2018, a survey from the Pre-school Learning Alliance looked at how working in the Early Years sector affects people’s mental health and wellbeing, and found that a quarter of Early Years workers were considering leaving the sector due to stress and mental health problems.
All jobs have their ups and downs, but we know that being a nursery practitioner is also one of the most rewarding jobs available today. Working in childcare is so important that we want nursery team members to realise how awesome and appreciated they really are.
What will happen on National Nursery Practitioner Day?
We can’t wait for the ninth National Nursery Practitioner Day.
Our nurseries, as well as many others across the country, will each celebrate the event on 16th October in their own unique way. There will no doubt be snacks, cakes, and partying on-site – not to mention a “Thank You Wall” where parents can show their gratitude, because a thank-you can go a very long way.
Year-round support
We know it’s important to show our colleagues that they’re valued throughout the rest of the year, too – that’s why we offer a range of colleague benefits and wellbeing support. This includes confidential help and advice through free helpline numbers covering crises such as cancer, debt, plus a general number to call for airing personal problems.
We also give discounts on products across Our Co-op, savings on childcare, a support fund scheme letting colleagues claim money on health essentials, and awards recognising when they have gone the extra mile for the company.