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Celebrating 10 years of workplace excellence as the sector’s leading Employer of Choice
Fiona Alston
Dec 19, 2025
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In 2025, KU Children’s Services proudly celebrates a milestone achievement, KU has been recognised as an Employer of Choice for the tenth consecutive year. Since first receiving this prestigious acknowledgement in 2016, KU has consistently demonstrated its commitment to fostering a positive, people-first workplace culture across every level of its organisation.
As the only early childhood education provider to be awarded the Employer of Choice in 2025, this sustained recognition speaks to KU’s enduring focus on valuing, supporting and investing in its people.A culture grounded in respect and support
At the centre of KU’s continued recognition is a deeply embedded organisational culture that prioritises staff wellbeing, authentic communication and professional fulfilment. Each KU employee, regardless of their role or location, is treated with care, dignity and respect.
CEO Chris Legg says “We remain firmly focused on living our values and by placing our people at the heart of all we do, we constantly reimagine and co-create a world of work where our people and our purpose thrive in harmony in a supportive and inclusive culture.”
Active communication channels enable all KU people to have direct access to the CEO and Senior Management Team, this enables them to share their feedback, ideas and suggestions. Staff are seen as individuals, not numbers, with communication channels designed to be genuinely two-way. Internal newsletters, an accessible intranet and regular conversations ensure that every voice matters, every contribution counts , supporting KU to pivot quickly to embrace innovative change.
A benefits approach that values diversity
KU’s approach to remuneration and benefits reflects its belief that the employee experience should be flexible and inclusive. Sector-leading wages are complemented by additional initiatives such as Fitness Passport and Blue Light Card memberships, which provide everyday savings and lifestyle perks. Recognising that every team member has unique circumstances, KU offers a suite of benefits tailored to individual needs.
Investing in growth and career journeys
Central to KU’s Employer of Choice recognition is a long-standing commitment to professional growth. The organisation actively supports personal and professional goals, offers ongoing training and development, and provides dedicated support for teacher accreditation. From onboarding to career advancement, KU’s focus on creating value for employees is integrated throughout the entire employee lifecycle.
Child Safe by design
As a child-safe organisation, KU embeds child protection into every facet of its culture starting with the recruitment process. From recruitment, to onboarding and beyond, child safety is prioritised and led by a specialist child safe team to ensure compliance and best practice.
Listening, learning and responding
Regular feedback is not just welcomed at KU, it’s embedded in the way the organisation evolves. Through annual engagement surveys and a culture of transparency, staff are encouraged to share their experiences, challenges and ideas.
Sector leader in quality
KU’s quality ratings in 2025 continue to exceed national benchmarks, with 68.1 per cent of services currently rated as Exceeding under the National Quality Standard (NQS), compared to a sector average of just 18.5 per cent.
While many providers cite combined percentages for Meeting or Exceeding, KU provides a clear and transparent breakdown, showcasing a deeper commitment to genuine quality. It reflects KU's focus on delivering measurable, meaningful outcomes that speak to the true quality of each individual service.
KU’s commitment to transparency reinforces KU’s position as a sector leader and highlights the opportunity for broader reflection across early childhood education and care on how quality is defined, measured and communicated.
Behind this performance is a team of highly skilled, diverse and dedicated professionals. KU staff reflect the communities they serve and form lasting relationships with children and families. Each KU service delivers a high-quality education and care that is reflective of their local communities and environment.
KU remains grounded in its core purpose: to ensure that every child, teacher, educator and family feels supported, connected and valued.
For more about KU Children’s Services and career opportunities, visit their website.
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