The Vale Academy Nursery

My Early years journey started when I left school and I have worked in nurseries for over 10 years. I have been working at the vale for a year now.

I have completed my level 3 and level 5 qualifications in Child and Family Studies and I am really passionate about working in Early years.

I love to plan messy play activities for the children at nursery.

I have been part of the nursery since 2006 where I started off as a parent helper. This was when it was more of a playgroup than a nursery.

When the playgroup became a nursery at The Vale Academy in 2012, I started working full time here.

My role includes helping to run breakfast club and covering after-school club when needed. I am also the Safeguarding Lead for the nursery.

I started as a parent volunteer at St Katherines preschool which inspired me to do my Early Year's qualifications. I became a permanent member of staff in 2005 and have been with the nursery ever since through all its changes from St Katherines moving to the now - Vale Nursery - some 17yrs later!

It is so delightful to be part of the wonderful team at our nursery and an absolute joy to take on board our little people nurturing, guiding and gaining their trust leading their first steps of learning through exploration, playing, routines and lots and lots of fun and laughter - It really is a joy and I am so proud to be part of it still!

Hello I'm Miss Smith! I've only recently started working at The Vale Academy Nursery.

I'm really enjoying getting to understand my role as a nursery practitioner. I'm loving spending time with the children getting to know each of them as we do our different activities throughout each week.

I joined the nursery in January 2022. After a long gap away from working within a nursery, I really enjoy my role at The Vale. I really enjoy interacting with the children.

Growing up in Czech Republic, as a daughter of a teacher and a mechanic, I always wanted to explore the teaching industry. After 15 years of retail expertise, I have decided the change my path and follow my dream.

My ability to learn, explore, achieve new goals and challenge myself led me to the Vale Academy. I started to volunteer in the nursery in 2020, which allowed me to become qualified and start in the setting as a practitioner in 2022. My journey only just started, but it already feels like home.

As a mother of two children, my free time is mainly dedicated to them. If time is spare, I enjoy baking, travelling and researching my family roots.

My name is Carly and I've worked in the nursery for 16 months. I was previously a teaching assistant but decided to progress my career into early years. I enrolled to do my childcare level 3 and have loved every minute!

My favourite part of working in a nursery is giving the children opportunities to progress and learn and feeling like your making a difference to their lives. Also getting messy and having lots of fun!

My name is Nikki Dundas and I have been at the Vale Academy for 6 years.

When I started, I was lucky enough to work in Reception which I truly loved. Watching the amazing young people find their individual personalities and interests was a privilege to be part of.

I am now in our Nursery and I’m a firm believer that children learn through play. Being able to support them and their families with this by providing different opportunities and extending their knowledge is a passion of mine!

When I am at home, I can mostly be found frozen next to a football or hockey pitch watching my two children take on the world.

Hello, my name is Kelly Waterman and I have recently joined The Vale Academy nursery as a Learning Support Assistant.

I have 10 years experience of working with children aged 2-5 years in a pre school setting and am NVQ Level 3 trained.

I am enjoying working at The Vale Academy as we are all passionate and caring, and have a real desire to see children learning in a happy and safe environment where the children can learn through play and be encouraged to grow.

My name is Cheryl Wakefield, I am a L3 Nursery Practitioner and have been working at the Vale Nursery for 5 years.

I enjoy the challenge of supporting children to learn and explore in an outdoor environment, influenced by the natural world around them, by helping to run our nursery Forest School.

I initially started at The Vale Academy as a parent helper. This evolved into me working within the Early Years provision for 2 years. I joined The Vale Nursery Academy in 2019 and I enjoy seeing how the children play, learn and develop as they reach their milestones.