Evergreen Early Years - Garstang

Hi, my name is Steph, and I am the Nursery Manager at Evergreen Early Years Garstang.

I am a dedicated and experienced Early Years professional with over 15 years of experience working with children across a range of educational settings. I hold a Level 6 qualification and completed my PGCE before moving into nursery management. I have also achieved the NPQ in Early Years Leadership, which has further strengthened my knowledge and passion for leading high-quality early education.

Throughout my career, I have had a variety of experiences, from delivering educational visits at a working farm to teaching and working within both school and nursery environments. I am passionate about creating meaningful learning experiences for children and leading a team that provides the very best start in life.

Outside of work, I enjoy walking, particularly in the Lake District, and spending time reading psychological thrillers and self-development books.

Hi, my name is Becca, and I am the Deputy Manager at our Garstang setting.

I have worked in Early Years for eight years and have always been passionate about supporting young children in their learning and development. I chose to work in Early Years because I believe the foundations built during these important early stages help shape a child’s confidence, curiosity, and lifelong love of learning.

One of the most rewarding parts of my role is watching children grow in independence and seeing their unique personalities develop within a safe, caring, and nurturing environment.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time outdoors, baking, and making the most of time with my family and friends.

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 role, 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.

Hi, my name is Sarah, and I am a Senior Early Years Practitioner at Evergreen Early Years Garstang.

I have worked in Early Years for nearly 20 years across a variety of settings, including baby rooms, toddlers, pre-school, and childminding. I have always loved working with children and actually started babysitting for my cousins when I was 14, which is where my passion for working in Early Years first began.

I have two children of my own, who are now 17 and 15, and we live in Garstang with our pets — Jess the dog, Luna, Bella and Flora the cats, and Buttons and Biscuit the rabbits.

Outside of work, I enjoy walking, attending exercise classes (especially boxercise!), and getting creative with my Cricut machine, making different crafts.

The best part of my job is watching the children grow and develop through their early years and knowing that I have played a small part in supporting them along the way.

Hi, my name is Gemma, and I am a Level 3 qualified Early Years Practitioner

I have worked in Early Years for 16 years. During this time, I have worked with a range of age groups across two different nurseries, gaining valuable experience supporting children at different stages of their development.

I find working in Early Years incredibly rewarding and love supporting children as they learn, grow, and thrive during these important early stages. One of the most special parts of my job is seeing the excitement on children’s faces when they finally achieve something they have been working hard to do.

Outside of work, I have two children who keep me very busy. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family, going on holidays, reading, and crafting.

Hi, my name is Jodie. I am an Early Years Practitioner at Evergreen Early Years Garstang.

I have been working with children for over a year. I find the role incredibly rewarding and love supporting the children as they grow, learn, and make progress every day.

One of the things I enjoy most about working in Early Years is that no two days are the same. I particularly enjoy planning fun activities with the children and spending time outdoors exploring and learning together.

Outside of work, I enjoy walking my three dogs, Bella, Bailey, and Ted, and spending time with my friends.

Hi, my name is Taya. I’m an Apprentice at Evergreen Early Years.

I have a degree in Musical Theatre, and I am currently completing my Level 3 Early Years Apprenticeship. I have been working in Early Years for just under a year, and the time has flown by as I have loved every minute of it.

As the big sister to four younger sisters, caring for and supporting others has always been a big part of my life. I really enjoy helping children learn, grow, and celebrate their achievements, no matter how big or small.

Outside of work, I enjoy all things performing arts and love a good karaoke session while cooking dinner.

My favourite part of the job is those little “lightbulb moments” when a child achieves something new or learns a skill they have been working hard on.

Hi, my name is Cath, and I am currently studying for my Level 3 qualification at our Garstang setting.

I have worked in Early Years for over a year and have loved every minute of it. I am currently based in the Under Twos room, where I really enjoy caring for the children and getting to know their individual personalities as they grow and develop. Supporting them in these important early stages is something I find incredibly rewarding.

Outside of work, I spend a lot of time at the stables caring for and riding my three horses, which is something I am very passionate about.

Hi, my name is Steph D. I am an Apprentice at Evergreen Early Years, Garstang.

Before joining Evergreen, I worked as a qualified chef for 15 years while also being a full-time mum to my now 10-year-old son. I am currently studying towards my Level 3 apprenticeship in Childcare here at Evergreen and am really enjoying developing my skills in Early Years.

I love being part of the children’s journeys, watching them grow, learn, and develop their own unique personalities. It is incredibly rewarding to support them as they explore and discover new things each day.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my horse and going on adventures with my son. I also love catching up with family and friends at weekends.

One of my favourite things about working at Evergreen is that every day is a learning day, and I enjoy visiting our sister nurseries and learning new skills from other practitioners across the Evergreen team.

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.

Hi, my name is Hannah and I am a Level 3 qualified practitioner. I began my career in childcare in June 2021, completing my apprenticeship before progressing to a Room Leader role in my previous nursery.

I am passionate about working in Early Years, particularly with children under two. I love supporting them as they grow, reach important milestones, and begin to develop their own unique personalities.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, as well as going on walks with my dog, Casey.

Each day, I strive to create a happy and nurturing environment where children can enjoy their time at nursery, while working in partnership with parents to ensure the best possible outcomes for every child.

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 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.