From Nannies to Nightmares: How We Celebrate Halloween

We all know our childcare recruitment consultants are experts at finding the perfect nursery workers and school staff. But what happens when they trade in their client calls for costumes and candy?

This year, we thought it’d be fun to peek behind the pumpkin patch and find out how the team celebrates this spooky season! We asked them about their favorite Halloween traditions, their go-to costumes, and their best trick-or-treating memories. Get ready for some frightfully good fun as they share their answers below!

Ready to find out if they prefer a scary movie night or a full-on haunted house? Keep reading and 🎃 Happy Halloween! 👻

What’s your ultimate Halloween treat and what’s a candy you’d happily trade away?

Jen: A toffee apple would be my treat, and I would trade the sticky out of date treats handed out when trick or treating!

Jodi: I’m a sucker for a mini-Twix and fizzy sweets. But if you hand me a boiled sweet… we’re trading.

Kelly: Sweets—Cadbury Nibbles included—are stacked and staying put; if I need to share, I’ll dig out something from the cupboard I don’t even like.

Emily: Ultimate Halloween treat must be a milky way (best treat any time of year!!!). I would happily give away skittles – there are much better options.

Lois: My favourite sweet has 100% got to be a pear drop, but they don’t get given out on Halloween so I will settle for a lolly. I am happy to give away a flying saucer to Emily and Jodi, seeing as they like them!

What’s been your favourite Halloween costume (past or dream one)?

Jen: My favourite Halloween costume was a witch because I loved the mysterious vibe and the chance to dress up with fun accessories like a pointed hat and a broomstick.

Jodi: Winnie the witch would an incredible future costume!

Kelly: Cat woman.

Emily: A neon skeleton, it was even glow in the dark.

Lois: I always go as a dead schoolgirl, but this year I’m doing a duo of Woody and Jessie from Toy Story, LOL!

If you had to run a nursery in a haunted house for one day, what would be your survival strategy?

Jen: I’d ensure I was working in a room surrounded by children and team members, someone else could work alone in the office!

Jodi: Keep calm, carry snacks, and distract the ghosts with a sensory tray. Bonus points if it’s filled with slime and googly eyes

Kelly: No adult to leave me by myself I’ll be dead within 5 mins.

Emily: Run fast & wait outside.

Lois: Bring in the Warren family right away!

Carving, painting, or leaving it whole – how do you decorate your pumpkin?

Jen: Carving creating new designs alongside my family, it gets competitive!

Jodi: I go full carving mode classic triangle eyes, jagged smile, and a tea light inside. It’s tradition!

Kelly: I say “carving,” but let’s be honest I’m more of the creative director. I tell my partner exactly how I want my pumpkin, and he does the carving. I’m far too much of a girly girl to get my hands dirty! As for my son, I’d let him paint his pumpkin instead – way more fun and mess-free for him.

Emily: Carving and adding a tealight candle (although my artistic skills would tell me to leave it whole!).

Lois: If you are not getting your hands dirty to carve a pumpkin, then well we cannot be friends.

What’s the funniest Halloween moment you’ve ever had?

Jen: My young son walked right up to what he thought was a witch decoration – only for it to move and reveal it was a real person!

Jodi: The drive to work at a nursery in your Halloween outfit and the car next to you at traffic lights Is looking at you oddly, then you remember you’re dressed as a skeleton!

Kelly: One Halloween, my friend said, “get ready to fight”—I said, “good luck” and bolted. Survival mode: activated.

Emily: Taking my niece trick or treating at a young age and her wishing everyone a Merry Christmas!!

Lois: When I was out with my friend and her little one realised his grandad was not collecting sweets for the kids but had both coat pockets stuffed for himself!

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to nursery staff during a busy Halloween week?

Jen: Enjoy the sugar high children after having sweets for breakfast!

Jodi: Plan themed activities, expect costume chaos, and keep the camera ready—Halloween memories are golden.

Kelly: As many Halloween messy activities you can think of. It’s the best fun!

Emily: Enjoy it! There is only a small time of year you can do something of the amazing activities linked to Halloween.

Lois: Keep up the creative activities!

If you were a Halloween creature (witch, vampire, ghost, zombie), which one would you be and why?

Jen: I would have to say a witch – I love the cackle!

Jodi: I’m a cheerful witch – organised, creative, and always ready with a spell (or a spreadsheet) to save the day.

Kelly: Vampire? All I’m saying is—have you seen Vampire Diaries? Immortality, drama, and cheekbones for days. Who wouldn’t want to be one?

Emily: Vampire, purely because of my love of Vampire Diaries!!

Lois: I think we all know that it would be a Vampire, seeing as if I could be anything in this world, it would be a vampire.

What’s your go-to cosy autumn activity after a long day at work?

Jen: Getting wrapped up and going for a walk in the crisp leaves followed by a cup of tea and biscuit!

Jodi: Hot chocolate, fluffy socks, and a good Halloween film. Bonus points if there’s a scented candle involved.

Kelly: Walking my dog admiring the different colours of leaves and watching them fall from the trees.

Emily: Cosy evenings in, with blankets and warm dinners!

Lois: Again, very clear that mine is having a tea and taking a nice long nap.

What’s your “magic power” in the office – something you’re known for?

Jen: I like to think my “magic power” in the office is creating a positive and supportive environment for the team. I enjoy working alongside everyone and helping to pull all the pieces together to keep things running smoothly.

Jodi: I’m the shift-filling sorcerer – give me a last-minute request, and I’ll conjure up the perfect candidate before you can say “boo!”

Kelly: Being cold and making good hot drinks.

Emily: Summoning top talent and banishing tech gremlins – all in a day’s witch-work.

Lois: I come in each day and make everyone laugh, because I am funny and everyone knows that, must be boring on a Tuesday girls.

What’s your favourite thing about helping nurseries and candidates find their perfect match?

Jen: The reward when both parties are happy, they have been matched together.

Jodi: It’s like solving a puzzle – when the right person lands in the right setting, it just clicks. That’s the magic. Happy staff teams and happy children.

Kelly: It’s reassuring to know I can draw from my own experience and genuinely relate to them.

Emily: Casting the perfect spell to bring the right people and places together.

Lois: Being able to help fulfil someone’s career path and making them feel welcome and happy within a setting.