What do you look for in a preschool leader / supervisor?

[misshardbroom]

I'm asking this really from a parental perspective. Obviously I know the 'textbook' answer about what skills they should have, levels of qualification etc. But as a mother, really from the heart, what do you want your child's preschool leader to be like?

[Bucharest]

My daughter finishes preschool in 10 days and it will break my heart.....because she is living the woman who I've entrusted her to for 3 years.
She's funny, she's loud (can be quite shouty) the kids adore her, she doesn't hesitate to tell parents off when there's any semblance of fvckwittery or PFBy stuff going on....she has given her heart and soul to the school (taking one month off last year to fly to Columbia and adopt 3 children of her own) she has single-handedly potty trained, food-trained, behaviour-trained an average of 25 kids each year, ranging from 2-6 (am in Italy, this is normal class size for preschool and one teacher)
She has no formal qualification, she was working in the nursing home attached to the school and the director thought she would be better off with the smalls.
I am evangelical about her....I would leave my daughter with her till she was 18.....
She'll be hard to live up to.

Waffle waffle.....but I suppose what I mean, is you get a feeling for people....dds teacher doesn't tick any of the textbook boxes- but she damn well has ticked all of mine.

[Bucharest]

leaving not living....d'oh.

[bobblehat]

ds2's nursery teacher is endlessly kind and patient, but at the same time takes no shit. She pushes them to do their best in a really positive way. She is also very arty and creative, and has a fab eye for detail and small touches that mean the world to a 3/4yo.

Most importantly, she loves small children and this really comes through

[Ripeberry]

As bobblehat, they need to be someone who have a level 3 NVQ qualification but love children and get down to their level.
They need to smile at the parents and children and be approachable.
We found a great new pre-school leader at Easter and when she came to help out we knew straight away that she would fit in.
Our previous leader, hardly interacted with the children, was always doing paperwork or having meetings in the middle of the sessions! And she used to hardly smile at anyone.

[Whoosh79]

I have no level 2 NVQ, but am working towards my level 3 and have been employed as a deputy supervisor, with SEN responsibilities, health and safety officer and key children. Should I be doing this? I've been asked if I would be able to do the supervisor role soon, which I do feel I am capable of and would love the opportunity, but want to check I should be??? Thanks in advance for the advice.

[misshardbroom]

To the best of my knowledge, you have to be a minimum of NVQ level 3 in order to be a preschool supervisor in a standalone preschool.

Not sure what the deal would be if you were the preschool room leader in a day nursery.

I'm pretty sure too that the deputy supervisor has to be NVQ3 as well.

There's also something in the welfare requirements of the EYFS (p.32 of the 'Statutory Framework' book) about how at least 50% of the staff must be qualified to minimum NVQ2. We've been advised by Sure Start that this means 50% of the staff in any given session, not the staff as a whole.

I'd check it out if I was you.