A warm welcome from Sophie Haylock, Early Years HR Director.

Welcome to Early Years HR a specialist HR Consultancy for nurseries and preschools.

I’m Sophie Haylock, HR Director and former nursery owner. I know that managing and supporting your team can be one of the biggest challenges of running a nursery, but you don’t have to do it alone. And you don’t need to sign up to long-term contracts to get the support you need.

At Early Years HR, we provide practical, sector-specific HR support to help you stay compliant, manage your people with confidence, and grow a happy, high-performing team. We also work with in-house HR teams on specific issues or projects when you need an extra pair of hands.

HR Services for nurseries and pre-schools

We specialise in HR support designed specifically for the early years sector, including:

• Employment law and HR advice – clear, jargon-free guidance you can rely on.
• Staffing and employee issues – support with performance management, sickness, absence, disciplinary or grievance issues.
• Recruitment and induction support – helping you attract and retain the right people for your setting in line with safer recruitment requirements
• Employment contracts and HR policies – ensuring your documents are compliant and fit for purpose.
• HR systems for nurseries – reduce the time you spend on employee admin
• Leadership training and personality profiling – helping you and your team communicate effectively and lead with confidence.

Whether you’re buying a nursery and need TUPE support, updating your policies, have a tricky investigation to manage or need help with leadership development, we’re here to help.

You’ll get advice from people who understand the early years world and have hands-on experience with the EYFS, safeguarding, LADO, and Ofsted requirements.

Why Work with Early Years HR?

You’ll be getting HR support from someone who’s been there. I’ve owned, managed, and sold nurseries, implemented HR systems, and supported both standalone settings and national nursery groups.

Since establishing Early Years HR in 2017, I’ve worked with:

• Independent nurseries and preschools
• Groups of up to 40+ settings
• Nursery owners, managers, and in-house HR teams needing tailored support

My background spans financial services, public sector HR, and over 12 years in the early years sector. Alongside consultancy work, I’ve held roles such as Interim Head of Operations for a growing nursery group, and Head of HR for a group of 16 nurseries.

Having been through both the acquisition and sales process of nurseries, I know the real-world pressures managers face and can help you navigate them confidently and compliantly.

Flexible, Fair, and Transparent Support for Nursery Managers

HR advice shouldn’t be complicated or costly. That’s why we work on a pay-as-you-go basis. That means no long-term contracts and no monthly fees for services you don’t use.

We also have an HR template document shop, giving you instant access to compliant, easy-to-use documents written specifically for nurseries and preschools.

About Sophie

I hold a Masters in Human Resource Management and Chartered CIPD status. I’m an active CIPD Branch Committee Member. I also volunteer with the National Migraine Centre and regularly attend training & networking to keep my skills current.

When you work with Early Years HR, you’ll get a unique combination of HR expertise and first-hand nursery experience, from someone who has been there and understands your challenges.

Get in Touch

If you’re a Nursery or Manager looking for straightforward, expert HR support, or an internal HR Team needing an extra pair of hands, let’s chat.

You don’t have to manage your team challenges alone. Get in touch today to see how we can support your nursery.