Our Staff

Our aim is to provide children attending Great Wood Farm with the support of qualified, passionate and committed staff. We are proud to have such a highly qualified team, we have 11 staff who are qualified teachers or Early Years Professionals/Teachers, and a further five with degrees, creating a graduate led team across the nursery. We have 13 Forest School Level 3 Leaders who work across all ages of the nursery.

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  • zentangling staff wellbeing

Ofsted commented ‘All staff have a thorough understanding of their roles and responsibilities to meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Leadership of the nursery is exceptional. Staff are well qualified and experienced. This has a positive impact on the outcomes for children.’

A Key Person system operates in each room. A key person will be your main point of contact and help your child to become settled, happy and safe.  They will be responsible for your child’s care, development and learning and take note of your child’s progress, sharing this with you via Eylog.

The Team at Great Wood Farm

Directors                   

Kathryn Spence (Office Manager)

Charlotte Littler (Office Manager) - BSc (Hons) Countryside Management, Forest School Leader Level 3

Kate Robinson (Manager, Lead Practitioner, SENCo) - BSc (Hons) Countryside Management, Early Years Professional Status, Forest School Leader Level 3

Farmer

Brian Spence (aka Farmer Brian!)

Deputy Managers      

Laura Donoyou - BA (Hons) Illustration, Cert III Early Years Education and Care, Diploma Early Years Education and Care, Early Childhood Teacher Status 

Emma Lock - NVQ (CACHE) Children and Young People's Workforce - Level 3

Pedagogy Lead Teacher

Jessica Jack - BA (Hons) Woven Textiles, Post Graduate Certificate in Education (Primary), Forest School Leader Level 3

Education Administrator

Robyn Burley - BA (Hons) Education Studies, Diploma Level 3, Early Years Teacher Status, Forest School Leader Level 3

Kindergarten Badgers              

Fiona Warren (Room Leader) - BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies, Forest School Leader Level 3

Lydia Holt - (Assistant Room Leader) BA (Hons) Early Years and Education, Postgraduate Certificate in Education (Primary)

Emily Alderson  - BA (Hons) English Language and Linguistics, Qualified Teacher Status, Postgraduate Certificate in Education (Secondary)

Charlie Hames - Level 3

Claire Hewitt  - BSc Marine Biology, Qualified Teacher Status, Forest School Leader Level 3

David King - BSc Marine Biology, PGCE in Primary Education, Forest School Leader Level 3

Isobel Rigley (Babies and Toddlers SENDCo) -  Level 3

Jane Brown - Level 3

Lara Thompson

Kindergarten Foxes  

Sheryl Schofield (Room Leader) - CACHE Diploma Level 3, Forest School Leader Level 2

Emily Lee (Assistant Room Leader) - BA (Hons) Childhood Studies 

Charlie Hames - Working towards Level 3

Kitty Bailey - BA (Hons) Fashion Atelier, Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Workforce, SENDCo, Forest School Leader Level 3

Lyndsey Hollingworth - BTEC Level 3

Natasha Hinch - BEd Primary Education with QTS

Nicquita Murray  - BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies, Forest School Leader Level 3

Robert Marlow  - Forest School and Outdoor Learning Lead Educator, Forest School Leader Level 3 

Talia Ratcliffe 

Kindergarten Hares

Sammy Hawkins (Room Leader) - Diploma Level 3, Forest School Leader Level 3

Bryony Charles (Early Years Teacher) - BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies, Qualified Teacher Status 

Beth Mair - Working towards Level 3 Early Years Educator, Level 3 in Teaching and Supporting Sport in Primary Schools

Grace Moxon - Apprentice Early Years Practitioner

Toddlers                   

Emily-Mae Lane (Room Leader and SENDCo) - BTEC Level 3

Laura Sale - (Assistant Room Leader) - Level 3 NVQ Children's Care, Learning and Development

Sharon McGown (Early Years Teacher) - BA (Hons) Applied Studies (Early Childhood), Early Years Professional Status

Allie Abbott - BA (Hons) Sports Education and Psychology, PGCE with QTS (currently on maternity leave)

Dee Forster - Foundation Degree in Early Years, Forest School Leader Level 3

Jennie Evans - NNEB National Diploma in Nursery Nursing

Lily-Ann Baker 

Maddy Baker - T Level Education and Early Years

Summer Shaw

Babies              

Michelle Farmer (Room Leader) - Level 3

Lauren Hall (Assistant Room Leader) - Level 3 Early Years Educator

Steph Barker (Assistant Room Leader) NVQ Level 3, Forest School Leader Level 3

Andrea Lake - Early Years Teacher - BA (Hons) English Literature,, MA Heritage Education, Qualified Teacher Status, Forest School Leader Level 3

Georgia Andrews  - Level 3 in Children's Play, Learning and Development 

Georgina Bates - Level 3

Justine Pitt

Louise Alexander

Jennifer Blakeman - BA(Hons) Ancient History

Judi Allsopp

Rachel Newton - CACHE Certificate in Childcare and Education Level 2, Working towards Level 3

Rangers

Robert Marlow (Room Leader)  - Forest School Leader Level 3 

Sammy Hawkins (Room Leader) - Diploma Level 3, Forest School Leader Level 3

Beth Mair - Working towards Level 3 Early Years Educator, Level 3 in Teaching and Supporting Sport in Primary Schools

Dee Forster  - Foundation Degree in Early Years, Forest School Leader Level 3 

Grace Moxon - Apprentice Early Years Practitioner

Natasha Hinch - BEd Primary Education with QTS

Social Media Assistant

Totty Schofield - Early Years Teacher Status

Kitchen

Rachel Collins (Catering Manager) 

Daniel Baker (Catering Assistant)

Faye Stockdale (Cleaning and Catering Assistant)

Lisa Baker (Catering Assistant)

Nicole Whiting (Catering Assistant)

Office Administrators

Sara White 

Jackie Bishop

Natalie Tudor

Floaters

Becca Watkin - Level 3, SEN Level 2

Ella Ward 

Jessica Player

Katie Allen - BA (Hons) Education Studies

Lani Fletcher  - Level 2 Early Years Practitioner

Zoe Elsom - BA (Hons) Professional Studies in Early Childhood, PGCE, Qualified Teacher Status (Currently on Maternity Leave)

Maintenance Manager 

Joe Hornblow - BSc Biological Science (Ecology & Zoology), Forest School Leader Level 3