By Sheena Patel, Director, Monkey Puzzle Streatham Common & West Norwood

Every child deserves to grow up feeling proud of who they are.

As South Asian Heritage Month begins, I’ve been reflecting on how my British East African Gujarati heritage has shaped my approach to leadership, childcare and Early Years education. This year’s theme, Unity in Diversity, perfectly captures what we strive to create every day at Monkey Puzzle Streatham Common and West Norwood.

Growing up in a family with roots in both East Africa and India gave me a deep appreciation of culture, community and belonging. It also taught me the importance of embracing different perspectives and recognising the strength that diversity brings.

Growing up, values such as family, respect, kindness, community and supporting one another were at the heart of everyday life. Those values continue to influence me today and have shaped the way I lead our nurseries. They are reflected in our G.R.A.I.N.S values – Growth Mindset, Respect, Aspiration, Individuality, Nurture and Support – which guide everything we do.

Before opening my nurseries, I worked as a Chartered Physiotherapist supporting children and families across paediatric departments and neonatal units. When I moved into Early Years, I brought those same values with me. My vision was never simply to create a nursery. It was to create an environment where every child feels safe, every family feels welcomed and every team member feels valued.

Over the years, I have also seen attitudes towards nursery education evolve within some South Asian communities. Historically, many families relied on grandparents or extended family for childcare, and private nursery education wasn’t always the first choice. Today, I am seeing more families recognise the enormous value of high-quality Early Years education alongside the love, care and support of the wider family network.

That shift is something I am incredibly proud to see.

At Monkey Puzzle Streatham Common and West Norwood, our children, families and team members come from many different cultures, languages, faiths and backgrounds. Every day, children learn through play, build friendships, celebrate one another’s differences and develop the confidence to be themselves. It creates a richer environment for everyone.

For me, this is what Unity in Diversity looks like.

It isn’t about celebrating different cultures for one month of the year. It’s about creating an inclusive nursery where every child feels they belong, every family feels respected and every member of our team is valued for who they are.

As educators, we have a unique opportunity to help shape the next generation. By celebrating diversity from the very beginning, we teach children kindness, empathy, curiosity and respect – qualities that will stay with them long after they leave nursery.

Whether children join us at Monkey Puzzle Streatham Common or Monkey Puzzle West Norwood, our goal remains the same: to provide exceptional childcare and Early Years education where every child feels safe, valued and inspired to learn through play.

I am incredibly proud of my British East African Gujarati heritage and the journey that brought my family to the UK. It has shaped my values, my outlook and the way I lead every day. I am equally proud to lead two nurseries that reflect the wonderfully diverse communities we serve. Diversity isn’t something we celebrate for one month. It’s something we live every single day.