Working in early years can be exhilarating, rewarding, inspiring and can put a smile on your face every day. But working in childcare can also feel isolating and challenging, especially if you work on your own. Asking for help is not admitting you cannot cope, are not able or even strong enough to run your business – in fact asking for help is a powerful step forward and shows high levels of cognition.

As a childcare business owner or practitioner, either home-based or in a group setting, you must be all things to all people, you must spin many plates, wear many hats and be on the front foot at all times. Expectation is high and room for error small. There is no wonder you can feel overwhelmed, tired and alone!

Childcare practitioners can often feel lonely. It can feel like you have no one to share your practice ideas and challenges with and no one understands the pressures you face. But this feeling is not just for childminders or nannies: being the manager or owner of a group setting can feel just as lonely even though it is full of people.