Laura Salmon, Head of Early Years

Laura is the heart and soul of early years education at Banana Moon Franchise. 

From overseeing the Early Years Development Programme to managing our Early Years Support Officers (EYSOs), launching the Banana Moon Training Academy and being instrumental in designing and planning new nursery environments, she’s proudly shaping the educational and care standards across the franchise.

Laura’s focus is on delivering clear, consistent and high-quality support to nurseries and making sure Banana Moon continue to stand out in the childcare franchise sector. She’s responsible for overseeing early years education and our curriculum – our Early Years Development Programme – which delivers a strong learning foundation for children. She also manages our EYSOs, who know they can always approach her and pick her brain with any questions. 

She leads the Banana Moon Training Academy, which she launched, ensuring that franchisees and staff receive exceptional, well-structured training that champions our ethos. She’s also instrumental in designing and planning new nursery environments, ensuring that every space is welcoming, engaging and designed to support children’s development. 

With extensive experience, including 12 years at the YMCA as Early Years and Childcare Manager, Laura’s journey to Banana Moon in 2021 was driven by a deep alignment with our mission and values and making meaningful impact on children’s lives. She has steadily progressed through key roles, starting as an EYSO before moving into Early Years Support Manager and now Head of Early Years.  

Eager to work in childcare since her childhood, due to seeing her mum thrive as an Early Years Professional, her passion for early years education stems from the incredible impact these formative years have on a child’s future. To her, each nursery in the franchise operates as its own little family, which makes the role all the more rewarding. 

While Laura keeps on top of new developments in early childhood education, she says that our ‘trend’ is our Early Years Development Programme, where we’ve adapted a blend of best leading education approaches and our learn-by-play ethos to create something truly unique. This special approach explores how we can use the world around us to educate and engage little minds. 

But it’s not just early years where the power of play and creativity can shine. Out of hours, Laura finds her relaxing creative outlet in felting, having even made festive felted decorations for gifts.