Playmates Pre-school, The Bungalow, Windmill Primary School, Windmill Lane, Raunds. NN9 6LA
Telephone: 01933 460111 Mobile: 07419 332095 Email: raundsplaymates@gmail.com
Meet our lovely team of staff
Learn, laugh, grow...together
Our Pre-school is only as great as the strength and knowledge of our staff so we ensure they are happy in their roles and support them with training opportunities to continuously develop their practice.
All staff members are qualified paediatric first aiders, and hold certificates in safeguarding as part of their core training.
New practitioners are given an extensive recruitment and Induction process and will not join the team until their criminal records check has been processed, verified and recorded. Even then, new staff members are never left alone with any child until our team are confident they pose no threat to anyone in our care.
An effective team comes from strong and passionate leadership. Our senior staff members have gained practical knowledge from both sides, as leaders and parents. Having been involved with Playmates for many years, they started their journeys as active committee members from as far back as 2001, when their own children attended.
Their dedication has seen Playmates rise from a respectable playgroup environment to the highly recommended early years' educational setting it is now.
"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." - Margaret Thatcher
Pre-school Business Manager
Gail Gilbert
Qualified to:
Length of service:
Additional roles:
Business Skills in Early Years
22 years
Safer Recruitment Officer
Early Years' Lead Practitioner
Marrilynn Hazeldine
Qualified to:
Length of service:
Additional roles:
Level 3 in childcare
19 years
Designated Safeguarding Lead
Inclusion Manager
SEND-Co support
Early Years' Deputy Lead Practitioner
Kellie Mayes
Qualified to:
Length of service:
Additional roles:
Level 3 in childcare
Level 3 SEND-Co
15 years
SEND-Co-ordinator
Designated Safeguarding support
Our Bungalow staff provide an environment that promotes learning through play and exploring activities that teach essential skills appropriately, with children experiencing short focused periods to prepare them for primary school.
The children love to share their interests with their friends and staff, often speaking passionately about their everyday lives. Our large garden is open every day and offers lots of opportunity for physical activity and we often explore the local area, collecting resources for further discussion.
Early Years Keyworker Practitioner
Amber Pearce
Qualified to:
Length of service:
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Level 3 in Childcare
1+ years
Keyworker for Red Rectangles
Early Years' Keyworker
Eden Daly
Qualified to:
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Working towards level 3 in childcare
2 years
Keyworker for Blue Triangles
Early Years' SEN Practitioner
Sheryl Jones
Qualified to:
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Level 4 in childcare
1 year
Keyworker and Bungalow SEN support
Early Years Keyworker Practitioner
Claire Durrant-Jones
Qualified to:
Length of service:
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Level 3 in Childcare
8+ years
Keyworker for Purple Diamonds
Early Years' SEN Keyworker
Zoe Cooper
Qualified to:
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Additional roles:
Level 3 in childcare
1+ years
Keyworker for Yellow Circle
SEN Support
Early Years' Assistant
Donna Randall
Qualified to:
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Unqualified but experienced
5+ years
Supply staff to cover absences and holidays
Our Cabin staff are committed to providing a nurturing environment with appropriate care and learning opportunities to our younger children. They access appropriate training to promote an inclusive area where children feel safe to explore their surroundings. The Cabin is overseen by Karen.
Early Years Cabin Lead Practitioner
Karen Howkins
Qualified to:
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Level 3 in Childcare
12 years
Keyworker for Orange Stars
Early Years' Keyworker Practitioner
Sarah McGlinchey
Qualified to:
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Additional roles:
Level 3 in childcare
2 years
Keyworker for Orange Stars
Early Years' Practitioner
Lexi Vickery
Qualified to:
Length of service:
Additional roles:
Level 2 in childcare
<1 year
Will be working towards her level 3 through apprenticeship