A little information about our Staff
All our Staff are dedicated members of a strong team who are passionate about their work and the children in their care. We like to think of ourselves as partners in your child's early education and strive to offer the best service and highest quality education. If you have any questions, queries or problems and would like to speak to us in confidence please contact us on 01933 460111. All our Staff are aware of and strictly abide by a set of Policies and Procedures which includes Confidentiality.
Gail has been with us since 2003 following a year's term on the Committee serving as Secretary and Newsletter Editor. It was decided that the Pre-school needed a permanent body to look after the day-to-day running and aid the Committee in its duty to continue Playmates' success, so Gail was employed to take on the Role.
She is qualified in Microsoft Office and IT and has completed a Business Skills In Care and Early Years Course. Please e-mail Gail or telephone 01933 460111 for more information on starting with us, available sessions or details of funding.
The Staff who work with the children operate on a Keyworker system which means a member of staff is in charge of a small group of children allowing specific targets to be set for each child to ensure they reach their full potential during their time with us. We have five Groups, indicated by colours as follows;
Natasha is Keyworker for the Green Group. She has been our Pre-school Leader since 2005 and oversees all the other Staff who work with the children. She is qualified to Level IV in child care and is planning to study for her Foundation Degree next year. She is also our Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO). Natasha has been with Playmates since 2002 when she joined as a Playgroup Assistant, prior to this she served for a year on the Pre-school's Committee.
Helen is the Keyworker for the Red Group and is qualified to Level III in Child care. She has been with us as a Playgroup Assistant since 2003 and prior to this she served for a few years on the Pre-school's Committee. Helen has recently been promoted to a Senior Assistant role, helping Natasha to support the staff.
Marriylnn started with us in December 2006 and quickly became a very valuable member of staff, impressing us so much that she was soon promoted to the Keyworker of the Yellow Group. She is qualified to Level II in Child care and will continue to attend training courses in the near future.
Lucy joined us early in May 2008 when it was decided a new Keygroup needed to be formed due to the high demand for child placements at Playmates. She is qualified to Level III in childcare and comes complete with a wealth of experience from other child care providers. Lucy is Keyworker for the Orange Group.
Claire started with us in 2006 initially as a relief worker. She has proved herself to be an effective member of staff and immediately started her training in child care by attending and passing her Introduction to Pre-school Practice within her first six months with us. She has now gone on to complete her Level II. She is Keyworker for the Blue Group.
We are all Police checked and hold an Enhanced Disclosure Certificate prior to working with the children alone and regularly after that at three year intervals. New Staff are interviewed, work a trial session and references are sought and absent periods of work explained. All of our Staff are parents themselves and some of their children started their education at Playmates.
