One of the latest openings, in Wokingham, took place in June. The location has been launched by dad-of-one, Dilpreet Singh – and Dilpreet is proud to represent other men, like him, whose own experiences as a parent inspired their journey in franchising.
Here, David Hancock, executive chairman, shares stories from two dads from within the Monkey Puzzle family – and takes time to recognise the distinctive and valuable assets that men can bring to the early years sector.
Dilpreet’s story
Dilpreet Singh was inspired into franchising and the early years industry through his own experiences as a father. Going through the process of adoption, Dilpreet knew straight away that he’d found his calling. His setting, Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries Wokingham, opened in early June, and Dilpreet has big plans for the future after igniting a new-found passion for early years.
After studying engineering in India, Dilpreet started out in a career in telecommunications before moving to the UK to undertake a postgraduate degree at Queen Mary University. He was working in IT as a business analyst when he began to look at adoption – the process that led him to Monkey Puzzle.
“When I was going through the adoption processes, a local agency recommended that it’d be a great experience to visit a few nurseries just to spend some time with younger children.
“As soon as I attended a local nursery, I knew I’d found my calling. I was struck by the joy, warmth and creativity of all the kids – it was a real light-bulb moment – I knew exactly what I wanted to do next, and that was to run my own nursery!”
“I always knew about the importance of education. I was lucky that I got the opportunity from my parents to attend a private school in India, which gave me the skills I needed for my career. In the village I was from, the literacy level was quite low, so I’ve always been grateful for the opportunity afforded to me.”
Andy’s story
Andy Fleetwood runs his Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries franchise in Hartley Wintney with his wife, Cherry. As a dad working in early years, Andy feels he had a head start with the children, but he recognises that male role models are still somewhat of a novelty. “As a dad, I already knew all of the songs, the games – and I know how to get down to a child’s level and communicate with them. I can relate to parents, their worries when first leaving their child at the door and what they expect from a setting. I know how I would want my own children treated, and therefore I expect the children at the nursery to be treated in the same way.
“Also, as a male figure, we’re still a bit of a novelty in a nursery setting. We have three men who work at our setting, and that really helps to give the children a more varied experience. We show children that men can be caring and work in a caring role – bringing a different dynamic in play, much like mums and dads at home. Certain children will gravitate to men for different play, and dare I say it, we’re sometimes considered to be more fun! I like to think that I can be a good male role model for the children, some of whom may not have this at home for whatever reason.”
When children see positive male role models, it enriches their learning and helps break down outdated stereotypes. Encouraging more men to join early years leads to a more balanced and dynamic educational experience, benefiting everyone involved. It’s all about creating an inclusive environment where both children and educators thrive.
