27 Oct 2026
A Wheathampstead nursery leader has been shortlisted from thousands of nurseries across the country as one of the top 12 nursery managers in the UK.
Maddie Thompson of The Yellow Star Nursery Club, part of Emperor Nurseries, is a finalist in the Manager of the Year category of the National NMT Nursery Awards 2026, the early years sector’s leading national awards.
Finalists were assessed against demanding criteria, including education and curriculum, children’s development, team feedback and parent feedback. The winners will be revealed at the awards ceremony on Saturday November 7 at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, London.
Maddie has led The Yellow Star Nursery Club since the nursery opened in 2012 and has worked in childcare for 15 years. Under her leadership, Yellow Star has become one of the most highly regarded nurseries in the area and the top-rated nursery locally by the number of 5- star Google reviews.
She said: “It’s an honour to be recognised as a finalist for Manager of the Year. I have put my heart and soul into childcare for the last 15 years, and I always strive for the very best for our children.”
Avi Sethi, managing director of Emperor Nurseries, added: “From the moment we met Maddie, we knew she was a special talent who cares above and beyond for the children in her care. We’re proud that, by working together, we’ve enabled her to continue being her very best whilst also giving the opportunity to stretch her wings even further, with some exciting new projects coming soon – allowing us to provide more child care in the St Albans, Harpenden and Wheathampstead area.”
