Our Team
Ruth Smith (BA Hons Childhood Studies) was pleased to take on the role of manager at the new Shining Stars Nursery this August, working alongside the existing team to continue building on the relationships already fostered with their families. Gaining the Early Years Professional status (EYPS) gave Ruth formal recognition of 27 years’ experience working with very young children and encouraging other practitioners to strive towards good quality practice.
Ruth works closely with Julia Wrightson, her deputy, to meet the challenges of everyday life at Nursery. Julia has a cheerful personality that helps to raise a smile on everybody’s face. Julia has worked for 17 years in childcare after starting out as a ‘parent helper’ and then, after gaining her qualifications, moved into a permanent role where she has continued with her professional development to NVQ level 4 in child care and Advanced Baby Practice. Julia enjoys working with children as every day is different.
The existing team consists of a core group of practitioners who have worked with Julia previously, so good team dynamics have been established. Ally Marks has been working in childcare for over 20 years and brings with her a dearth of experience. Ally also started out as a ‘parent helper’ but so enjoyed her time went on to achieve NVQ 3 and Advanced Baby Practice. Ally looks forward to helping the children grow in their self - confidence and resilience that will inevitably help on their journey through life.
Emma Niles also enjoyed her time as a ‘parent helper’ and went on to gain her NVQ level 3 and a permanent role; Emma has a fun, but firm, manner that helps the children to develop their own sense of ‘trial and error’ within a safe environment where it is accepted that we all makes mistakes and we can learn from them. Emma feels that the special bonds that are made between the key – people and their children are crucial to building the trust between the setting and the families.
Jo Hamlyn has worked in childcare for 6 years, reaching NVQ level 4. She enjoys the interactive play that contributes to the children’s learning experiences and has a chatty personality that encourages the children to have a go at all the activities that are offered. Jo feels that she is most happy when the children are able to move from the setting to the school environment as confident learners.
The newest member of Shining Stars team is Laura Chivers who has joined as the Lead Practitioner for the newly opened ‘under 2’ area. Laura has recently gained her BA Hons in Childhood Studies and has almost completed her EYP assessments. Laura has a particular vocation for working with very young children and understands the importance of forging crucial links with the parents to ensure a continuity of care from home to setting; her reassuring manner helps to settle the concerns that new parents have.
Laura is joined in the ‘under 2’ area by Chloe Underwood who has recently achieved her NVQ level 3; Chloe has worked within the setting for 3 years and says that she enjoys working with the team who all look after each other and encourage each other in all that they seek to do. Chloe has a quiet, calm manner that endears her to the young children in her care so that they feel safe and secure in their ‘home from home’.
Working together as team is how we use our strengths and experiences to continue to provide the best quality early years provision for the children and families in our care.
