Evergreen Early Years - Ladyewell

Hi, my name is Joanne, and I am the Nursery Manager at Evergreen, Ladyewell.

I have worked with young children for over 20 years, both in the private sector and as a registered childminder.

I have always had a passion for working with children and, after completing my NWOS in 1994, this is the career path I chose and have followed ever since. I became a manager in 2014 and have managed two nurseries, gaining valuable experience in supporting children, families, and staff.

Outside of work, I enjoy swimming, reading, and spending quality time with my family. I especially love spending time with my two beautiful granddaughters.

What I love most about my role is seeing children learn, grow, and achieve new milestones every day.

Hi, my name is Susie, and I am one of the Deputy Managers at Evergreen Ladyewell, as well as the Pre-School Teacher.

I have worked in early years education since qualifying as a teacher in 2006. Before having my son in 2011, I taught in Reception, where I had the privilege of supporting many children as they learned to read and began their writing journey.

I am a mum to three teenage children. After taking some time out when my son was at pre-school, I returned to early years and became part of the management team at several nurseries across the Lancaster and Morecambe area.

Before joining Evergreen, I worked as an inspector in the early years sector, a role I held from 2020. I have also had experience supporting children with additional needs, which continues to be an area I am passionate about.

Outside of work, I enjoy singing and playing music as part of a brass band.

Hi, my name is Alison Astley, and I am an Early Years Teacher at Evergreen Early Years. I lead on Pre-School, the curriculum, and SEND.

I have been a teacher for over 20 years and hold a BA (Hons) degree in English. My belief that a child’s love for learning begins in the early years has led me to work at Evergreen, supporting our youngest children at the very start of their learning journey.

I am passionate about helping children to become confident, happy learners who develop strong language skills and a natural curiosity through everything they do.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family, including long walks on the beach and in the woods with my husband, our two daughters, and our dog, Obi.

Hi, my name is Laura Davy, and I am one of the Managers at Evergreen.

I have worked in Early Years since 1997 and bring many years of experience to my role. I hold a Level 5 qualification in Childcare Education, Leadership, and Management.

My role at Evergreen is to oversee the quality and consistency of the care and learning provided across our three settings. This includes supporting the team to access learning and professional development opportunities to enhance their practice. I also lead on internal operations and support the nursery owner with wider nursery developments.

Outside of work, I enjoy reading, cycling, spending time outdoors, and crocheting.

Hi, my name is Amy Bate, and I am one of the Deputy Managers at Evergreen Ladyewell.

I studied at Cumbria University for three years, where I achieved a degree in Working with Children and Families. I have always been passionate about working with children and supporting them to have the best possible start in life.

In my role, I strive to give my best in every aspect of my work and am fully committed to supporting children’s learning and development. My aim as a Deputy Manager is to provide all children with a happy, nurturing, and fulfilling learning experience, while also supporting colleagues to do the same.

I put 100% and more into ensuring that every child at Evergreen is supported to achieve their full potential.

Hi, my name is Rachel Howlett, and I am the Team Leader for the 0–2 age group at Evergreen Ladyewell.

I have a calm and caring nature and truly enjoy working with young children, supporting them as they learn and develop as individuals. I particularly love reading to the children and bringing stories to life by creating imaginative storytelling experiences. I often use a range of props and, most importantly, encourage the children to join in and become part of our story-time adventures.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends and have a strong love for horses, having had riding lessons from an early age.

Hi, my name is Kirsty, and I am a Level 3 qualified Nursery Practitioner and Senior Practitioner at Evergreen, working within the 0–2 age group.

I have always enjoyed working with children and take great pleasure in supporting them as they learn and develop as individuals.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family and taking my daughter on outings. We love going swimming at the weekends, playing in the garden, and exploring new places together. I also enjoy going on holidays with my family.

I have always had a love for animals and have had pets from a young age. I currently have a dog called Poppy and two rabbits named Pumpkin and Storm.

Hi, my name is Laura, and I work within the 2–3 age group at Evergreen Ladyewell.

I have previously studied Health and Social Care and went on to achieve my Level 2 Apprenticeship in Early Years. Alongside raising my family, I have also started my own cleaning business.

I am kind and compassionate and have a strong passion for supporting children as they play, create, interact, and explore within a positive and nurturing environment.

Outside of work, I enjoy reading, socialising, and spending quality time with my children.

Hi, my name is Holly and I am an Early Years Apprentice at Evergreen.

I am currently completing my Level 3 qualification in Childcare and Education, having previously studied a Level 2 course in Hairdressing at college.

I enjoy supporting children as they learn and develop, and I am enthusiastic about building positive relationships within the nursery.

Outside of work, I like going to the gym and spending time with my family and friends. I also have a love for food — especially chocolate!

Hi, my name is Sophie, and I am the Nursery Cook at Evergreen.

I hold a Level 2 qualification in Catering and Hospitality, as well as a Level 3 qualification in Childcare. I am excited to combine both roles by supporting the children’s learning through mealtimes and baking activities.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my partner, family, and friends. My favourite hobbies include going to the gym and enjoying walks.

Hi, my name is Sharon and I am an Early Years Assistant at Evergreen.

I am conscientious and reliable and have over 25 years of experience working in childcare. Throughout my career, I have worked across a variety of settings, including schools, small and large nurseries, and as a childminder.

My role at Evergreen is to help maintain a safe, clean, and welcoming environment for the children. This includes caring for the settings through cleaning, organising rooms, managing laundry and clothing, and resetting kitchen and bathroom areas.

I also carry out food shopping for both settings, ensuring children enjoy meals prepared using a variety of fresh and healthy produce.

As an experienced practitioner, I also support the team during busier times by supervising, interacting with, and engaging the children.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, going on holidays, and taking my dog on long walks.

Hi, my name is Danielle Musa, and I am a qualified Early Years Practitioner at Ladyewell.

I have worked in childcare for over 13 years, completing my apprenticeship in 2013 and progressing to Team Lead in my previous role.

I moved into Early Years because I have a passion for supporting children as they grow, learn, and develop during these important early stages.

Outside of work, I enjoy reading, baking, cooking, and spending time with friends and family.

My favourite part of my role is seeing each child reach their milestones and supporting them to grow in confidence and independence.

Hi, my name is Chloe, and I am an Early Years Apprentice at Evergreen.

I have a varied background, including voluntary work in a school supporting young children, experience working with horses, and my most recent role as a Healthcare Assistant within the NHS on a mental health ward. These experiences inspired me to pursue a career in Early Years, where I can support children during such an important stage of their development.

I enjoy watching children learn and develop new skills, and it is especially rewarding to know that I have played a part in their journey and achievements.

Outside of work, I love spending time with my family whenever possible. I have a passion for motorbikes and currently own a Honda CBR650R. I also enjoy reading and writing, and I am currently working on my own book.

My favourite part of my role is seeing the children smile and hearing their laughter. I also enjoy being part of the Evergreen team and watching the setting continue to grow, always keeping the children at the heart of everything they do.

Hi, my name is Emily, and I am an Early Years Practitioner at Evergreen.

I moved into Early Years because I have a passion for supporting children as they grow, learn, and develop during these important early stages.

I am a mum of three, and I enjoy arts and crafts, spending time outdoors, and exploring nature with the children to support their imagination and wellbeing.

My favourite part of my role is creating a positive, nurturing environment where each child feels safe, valued, and encouraged to explore and learn.

Hi, my name is Emma, and I am an Early Years Practitioner at Ladyewell.

I have a background in early years education, with experience working in nurseries since I qualified in 2009.

I moved into Early Years because I have a strong passion for supporting children as they grow, learn, and develop during these important early stages.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time outdoors exploring nature, looking for insects and animals, reading stories in silly voices, and singing with the children.

My favourite part of my role is getting to know each child as an individual and supporting them to grow in confidence as they develop new skills.

Hi, my name is Demi, and I am an Early Years Assistant at Evergreen.

I moved into Early Years because I have a childlike outlook and a passion for helping children learn and have fun during these important early stages.

I am a mum of three, and outside of work I enjoy spending time with my family, exploring nature, and being outdoors.

My favourite part of my role is supporting each child to grow, develop, and enjoy learning in a fun and engaging environment.

Hi, my name is Ruby, and I am an Early Years Assistant at Ladyewell.

I have gained a wide range of experience through various roles, including working as a key holder at a sunbed salon, taking orders at a Chinese takeaway, and working as a chef at Wetherspoons. These roles have helped me develop strong communication skills, responsibility, and the ability to work well under pressure.

I first studied childcare as part of my GCSEs, where I achieved an A*. Although I initially took a different path after this, my passion for working with children led me back to the field when I applied for my role at Evergreen.

I am currently expecting my own little girl, which is a very exciting new chapter in my life. In my spare time, I enjoy painting, colouring, and listening to music. I especially love that every day at work, I am welcomed by happy faces and curious, ambitious young minds.

Hi, my name is Fiza, and I am part of the Business Administration Support team at Evergreen Early Years at all three settings.

I have a background in running my own business as an aesthetic practitioner, which gave me strong experience in administration, organisation, and working closely with people.

I was drawn to the Early Years Sector because I value the importance of supporting families and creating a well-organised, positive environment.

At Evergreen, I support the nurseries with administrative tasks, helping things run smoothly behind the scenes. Outside of work, I’m a mum to two wonderful girls and enjoy spending quality time with my family.

I love knowing that the support I provide helps our nurseries focus on caring for children and families every day.

Hi, my name is Heather, and I’m part of the Central Admin Team supporting all three settings.

I’ve worked in a variety of administrative roles over the years, including running my own business for 10 years, which gave me a strong foundation in organisation, communication and supporting teams.

I have two young daughters who have both attended Ladyewell since they were nine months old, so the nursery is very special to our family. Outside of work, I enjoy going for walks with my two dogs and making memories with my family, especially during holidays in Cornwall and the Lake District.

One of the things I love most about my role is working alongside such a wonderful team. Everyone is so enthusiastic and passionate about helping to shape young minds in the early years, and it’s a privilege to support the important work they do.

Hello, my name is Jackie, and my role at Evergreen Early Years is Family Engagement Lead.

I joined Evergreen in February 2026 after having been at a local Primary School in Preston for the past 26 years, where I was a Family Support Worker. Within that rol,e I have supported many families who have been facing difficulty but who also just felt they needed a listening ear and somebody to talk to. I have also supported the children in school with their learning in many ways.

I decided to move over to Early Years as I felt that I needed a new challenge, and I was lucky enough to obtain my position at Evergreen.

I have two grown-up children, a daughter aged 35 and a son aged 31. I also have a 6-year-old granddaughter. I love family time and making lots of memories with them. In my spare time, I make sure that I continue with my hobbies, which include walking, reading, crochet/knitting, puzzles, yoga, crafts, and baking.

Within my job role, I love that every day is different, and I hope that I can support and make a difference to the families of Evergreen Early Years.