Introduction, the importance in our role, What you will see from here – 02/01/26

To all reading, welcome!

Welcome to the little space I am creating this side of Nursery life – blog posts! – All posts will probably start with something along the lines of ‘Grab a cuppa, and take a couple of minutes to yourself to have a nosey through my thoughts!’ (or if you’re me, grab a cocao... if you know, you know! Haha!)

I am so passionate about how I feel regarding my role in childcare, watching my beautiful staff grow, and something I do not get the chance to do too often, it is writing.

I am always one to chat your ear off about how much I love my role and my passions behind it, but sometimes, a good chunk of time with a notepad and your thoughts really allows you to dig deep, which I am fully aware can’t always happen during the 5 minutes we have to talk to parents on handover, or during a quick phone call. So here, ‘The Little Honeys Journal’, but in other words... the thoughts of Jo’s mind... was created.

I hope you enjoy this space and enjoy the uploads. If it becomes something that is enjoyed by others, I will absolutely continue to brain dump my thoughts with you all. I also hope you can take away some points from me – I do not want these posts to be seen as patronising, but only to be seen as inspiration with your little ones, and hopefully with yourselves, as I am also super passionate about adult growth – this is because of going through a lot of personal growth myself, through work, and mentally.

I am always one to write paragraphs in peoples Birthday/Christmas cards, getting all ‘soppy’ and sentimental.

I thought today’s post could be simply an introduction. Covering a few various, slightly more random points, that you may want to have a read through.

-So, to kick start, my name is Jo Arrol (Arrol as of August 2025, so some of you may know me as my previous name of Le Prevost) and I opened up Little Honeys Daycare Nursery in September 2025, however, starting the business ‘setting up’ late Spring time 2024; wow, what a journey it has been!

I have been in childcare shy of 10 years, and I have known since my first day this role was one I wanted to stay in. Not only have I always grown up around children, but I have also grown up watching my mum working as a childminder.

Starting up the business, with Lindsay and Danny’s help, my best friend’s seriously generous mum and step dad who have had experiences similar to mine of opening a new business, was a job I very quickly realised is not for the faint hearted and less motivated individuals. You must put SO much work in behind the scenes. If it isn’t paper work, its the building work. If it’s not the building work, it’s the starting up prep. If it isn’t the starting up prep, it is the insurance/registry/license start ups. If its not all the start ups, it’s the early mornings/late nights. This list could honestly go on for what only feels like forever but I can honestly say I loved every second. Having the control of the vision I have had for years come to life; honestly the only way to describe this is mind blowing! I do want to add, a lot of people thrive off working for others, which is of course such a good route to follow and one that I always have done up until now. I also would like to firmly put across to you all that I loved working for other people/companies; but taking the leap was a goal and dream of mine. What I am trying to say, is that I am aware it is not for everyone.

The beautiful building I am in, with very special thanks to my lovely land lady and land lord who have supported me like no other, is EXACTLY what I imagine my precious Nursery to look like. It is small, but not too small. It is cosy, but so open. It is homely, whilst also being a clear workplace – just honestly perfect.

When the children go on outings with my lovely staff team, they say comments such as “When is it time to go back to the home” “we love the honey school” “we are going back to the honey home” which makes me feel so many ways I can not begin to describe. So warming, and it really does make me feel so full of happiness to see them so happy.

My staff team also have been the dream team I have had in my mind for so long. These children are so lucky!!

-Moving on slightly to what you will be likely to see on these posts. I am very lucky and fortunate to of had some years working at Baby Sensory Guernsey. I took away so much knowledge from this job and my training that I completed, and I absorbed so much fascinating information about babies and toddlers that I will never forget, as well as the information I have picked up naturally from Nursery life, as well as the various courses and trainings I have attended.

I will be sharing more of my passions to hopefully help with your little ones at home, this will be things like: The benefits behind certain activities, reading benefits, signing, as well just general well-being. We don’t want children growing up too quickly, but sadly they do! So, we need to treasure their early years, and hold on to those precious moments whilst we can! From birth through to 2 years, and from 2 years to 4 years, when you think about it, does seem like a long time. Just think, where were you at 4 years ago? – 4 years ago I was in the process of completing the huge purchase of buying my first home, but I wasn’t engaged yet, I didn’t have my dog yet, I certainly didn’t have my business hat on yet... a long time ago, feels like another lifetime ago. However, where on EARTH have those last 4 years gone? Just think about it, everything you have achieved in 4 years has happened in the blink of an eye; this will of course continue to happen. Lets make every moment with our little ones count.

-Next up, why? What is my why? My ‘why’ is, I wanted to create somewhere I would send my future child. However, the ‘why’ behind these posts, is as I have said above, brain dumping, sharing passions, helping others – but really, because why not? Life is too short to do the whole ‘what if’ – turn that around! Do what you love!

The island has some lovely Nurseries which we are very lucky to have.

-Not forgetting, the importance of our role as Nursery practitioners! We will definitely be sharing our thoughts (as nursery practitioners) with you all!

I will round this little introduction blog up here. To sum up the above: A little background of Little Honeys, a few passions/points you will see here in the future to hopefully help with your little ones, and all things childcare, well-being, and happiness.

Thank you, as always, lots of love xx