Chiltern Nursery & Training College

I have worked with children and young people for over 30 years and have gained extensive experience through various roles within the childcare and education field. I started my career as a Nursery Nurse and my passion for working with a range of families in different environments took my career in many directions. I have always had a thirst for continuing professional development and have gained many qualifications throughout my journey. As the Head at Chiltern, I am responsible to a Board of Trustees for the overall running of CNTC along with developing and maintaining the highest possible standards of care, education, and training.

I have recently been appointed as the Nursery Manager, having previously been the Deputy Manager for the Under Two department since 2010. After qualifying as an Early Years Practitioner, I completed my BA (Hons) Early Years with The Open University in 2011 and went on to gain my Early Years Professional Status.

Through completing both these qualifications, I was able to extend my knowledge in all aspects of working with the under-fives. This enables me to strive for best practice, supporting and leading my team to achieve this; so the children who attend the nursery can have the best start to their nursery life, empowering them to go on and thrive to achieve their full potential, as they progress through the nursery in preparation for school. Alongside being the Nursey Manager, I am the nursery’s Special Educational Needs Coordinator and in the last year, I have gained the Level 3 Early Years SENCO Award with Reading Local Authority to support my role. I am looking forward to using the skills, experience, and knowledge I have in developing the practice at CNTC.

Since starting my career in childcare after finishing school, I have worked in many different roles. I started as a Nursery Assistant and soon found out I had a passion for childcare and working alongside the children, parents and staff.

After gaining my level 3 childcare qualification I decided to venture into the world of nannying before becoming a practitioner at Chiltern in 2017. I started here as a Room Leader and have had an opportunity to lead two rooms during my time here. My time as a Room Leader has enabled me to gain the knowledge and experience that I needed to reach the next step in my career. I am excited for the challenges ahead of me as I start my new role as Deputy Manager for the Under Two department.”

I have been fortunate to follow my passion and work in childcare for many years. I first came to Chiltern as a supply member of staff and enjoyed it so much that I stayed. I led an over two room before recently taking on the new challenge and role as a Deputy Manager.

I am passionate about providing a caring home from home environment full of experiences and activities which allow children to explore, supporting them to become curious confident learners.

Since beginning my journey over 30 years ago working with children of all ages; babies through to adolescents and up to adults, it’s become my vocation. I feel privileged to have earned roles such as Assistant Head of Home, Deputy Manager/SENCo, Specialist Inclusion and Behaviour Co-ordinator, Nursery Nurse, Childminder, where I’ve continuously built on the skills and knowledge acquired in diverse settings, working alongside such inspiring individuals that children and young people are. To share but a few, I’ve worked with children that are living with ACEs, Attachment Disorders, Early Childhood Trauma, Down syndrome, Autism Spectrum Condition - across the full spectrum, Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, ADHD, Global Delay, SPLD, Albinism, children who are Hearing Impaired/Deaf and SEMH and BSED Mental Health including Self Harm behaviours. I’ve supported vulnerable children with complex needs and have been a Corporate Parent along the way in the most challenging of times and truly loved every minute of all my roles.

After all that I’ve achieved, I know that my true passion lies in supporting every child to emerge and flourish, becoming the most amazing individual that they can and should be, in whatever way that may be. And so, by securing the SENCo role here at Chiltern Nursery, I believe it’s my next step along an incredible journey within the Early Years sector, supporting our babies first steps on through to school readiness, we’re all teaching, learning and developing at every opportunity, all together.