Hello my name is Lucy

I recently joined the Kirkley team in June 2022 as the Nursery manager.

I have worked in childcare for over 10 years in many roles from a nursery practitioner to an area manager supporting 28 other nursery managers.

I have a 11-year-old son called Harry and we love going on adventures and making lots of memories in the school holidays.

Hello, my name is Olivia. I have just finished college where I gained both a level 3 certificate, and diploma, within a CACHE Technical in Childcare and Education, and am studying this further to achieve a degree. I spent time at Kirkley Nursery as my placement and fortunately got the opportunity of working there once I was qualified. I am lucky enough to have a job that I love. My biggest belief in this area is that all children should be provided with equal opportunities, and because of this, I ensure that every child can explore all avenues of play.

One of my hobbies is football. I have played for 10 years. However, I enjoy most sports and keeping fit. This is a passion of mine and helps me to see the importance of children exploring the outdoors and keeping healthy. I have participated in Girl guiding for 13 years and now help to lead a Brownie group. This has provided me with more experience and a larger age range of children to influence. Finally, I also enjoy drawing and painting. This allows me to encourage children to express creativity of their own.

I’m April, I am the Office Manager and also work with the children in rooms when required. I joined Kirkley Nursery when it first opened in September 2020. Before then I worked at one of the Consortium Trust’s primary schools, Barnby & North Cove, in the office for 11 years. Barnby and North Cove Primary School a small village school, which when I started only had 37 pupils and by the time I left we had over 100 pupils on roll.

Joining the nursery allows me to still do the job I enjoy and also gives me the challenge I needed. However, the sacrifice I made was losing all the school holidays! I am married and have two grown-up daughters, so I am slightly out of touch with some of the TV characters the children at Nursery talk to me about. One of the main parts of my roles at Kirkley is getting to know, not only the children but their parents and families too.

Hello, I’m Natalie, and I am the nursery SENDCo (Special Educational Needs and Disability Co-ordinator) and room lead of the Squirrels room (2-3-year-old room). I have spent the last 10 years volunteering and working in childcare. 

I have a BA hons degree in Education and Childhood Studies and graduated with a upper 2:1. I am originally from Glasgow in Scotland but moved to Lowestoft when I was only little!

I love to travel and have been to visit many different places. Australia and Thailand so far have been my favourite! I am excited to see where else I can visit!  I enjoy long walks and like to venture out to explore different beaches, forests and national parks. I have also recently started running 5k’s in my spare time! 

I believe strongly in every child having the opportunity to thrive and, most importantly, being happy and secure within our nursery!

Hello, I’m Sarah. I have worked at Kirkley Nursery for 4 years, having completed an Early Years Educator Level 3 apprenticeship. I love the way that young children see everything with fresh eyes and I believe we can learn from them, just as much as they can learn from us. I have always had a passion of working with young children.

Hello! I'm Louise, I have worked at Kirkley Nursery since we opened in September 2020 and I am based in the Owls room. I have over 20 years’ experience working as a childcare practitioner in day care settings, as well as time spent working at a prison visitor's centre crèche, this was one of my first jobs from college, and certainly prepared me for a career supporting children and their families.

I have a Diploma in Nursery Nursing, Childcare and Education Level 3. I was SENCO for 15 years, which allowed me many opportunities in supporting individual children and their families, and giving them the best possible start in early years. Providing a warm, loving and happy environment is important to me and seeing children develop and flourish gives me joy! I value working in a fantastic, supportive team such as ours here at Kirkley.

I enjoy running and going on walks, especially by the sea and nature areas, spotting wildlife. Those that know me would say I'm just slightly obsessed with cleaning, sorting and organising!

Hello, my name is Maria and I am a Teaching Assistant here at Kirkley Nursery. I am from Poland, where one of my favourite activities was going for trips to the forest, walking and foraging. I still enjoy outdoors and exercise, especially power walking by our beautiful Lowestoft beach.

I have worked with children for many years, including nurseries, schools and children's centres as well as after school clubs. I hold a Level 3 Diploma for Children and the Young People's Workforce: Early Learning and Childcare Pathway. I chose to work with children because I always enjoy seeing their development and progress from the very start!

Hello, I’m Sharon and I have worked at Kirkley Nursery since May 2021. I have worked in the early years since 2013. My first role was volunteering at the local children’s centre for 4 years, helping and eventually leading messy play groups for children and their parents. Being involved in these groups, I realised that I love playing a part in how children develop and learn and explore new environments/experiences, so I completed my Cache Early Years Educator Level 3 Diploma in 2017.

I am a mum of 3 very energetic boys! I love being in the countryside and exploring either by walking or cycling. I enjoy running and feel that exercise can help our mental well-being and like to support the nursery children to run, jump, skip, balance and climb in a fun and safe way. I am also passionate about reading and feel that encouraging children at the nursery to have a love of books at a young age, gives them a solid building block for their future.

Hi, I am Sarah-Jane.  I gained my National Diploma in Childcare back in 1996. I'm passionate about working with children and always love seeing smiles on children's faces.

I have three children of my own and enjoy going out for walks. Also, in my spare time, I'm a Beaver Leader and play a variety of instruments, including flute, saxophone and clarinet. 

Hi, I’m Summer and I have been part of the bank staff team at Kirkley Nursery since October 2020. Before working at the nursery I completed a Cache Level 3 Diploma in Childcare and Education. This is my first ever job, but as part of my course I had lots of different placements, from a baby room in a nursery to a reception class in a primary school. 

I am an avid reader and I love reading stories to the children, especially the books that they know well so that they can join in with some of the words too! I have chosen to work with children as I love seeing children develop skills and knowledge that they will use throughout their entire lives. I also love listening to children whilst they’re engaged in imaginative play, it always makes me smile.

Hello, my name is Leanne. I’m employed as a member of the bank team here at Kirkley Nursery. 

I’ve always had a curiosity for how children learn and develop, especially after having a family of my own. In 2019 I decided it was time to pursue that curiosity and I started to volunteer within a nursery at my local primary school. 

In 2020 when the world stood still, I decided it was the perfect time for me to start and complete a Level 3 Diploma in Supporting Teaching and Learning and a Level 2 in Understanding Autism, while home-schooling two children – I survived (just)!

I’m currently in the process of completing a Level 2 Early Years Practitioner course.

 I’m very much enjoying being at Kirkley and getting to know everyone and to help support all your wonderful children to thrive and achieve their goals. 

At home I love to be in the garden, growing vegetables and fruit with my children. We have 3 chickens and a very large cat. 

I’ll often be found in the woods at Dunwich, den building or enjoying some form of water sports on the boards.  As well as paddle boarding, we also enjoy canoeing and have kayaks.

Hello, my name is Abbie, and I completed my Level 3 Early Years Teaching Assistant at Kirkley Nursery in December 2023.  Prior to this I completed 2 years at college in which I also gained Level 3 qualifications in Health and Social Care and Medical Science.

In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my friends and family, and specifically my dog, Cooper the Cockapoo (who is super cute!). I also used to compete competitively in sports such as Football and Netball for many years and was once scouted to play Netball for North Norfolk which is one of my biggest achievements.

I have a passion for working with children and enjoy encouraging them to fulfil their learning opportunities so they can reach their full potentials. I believe every child’s learning journey is a unique pathway which is why I love working here at Kirkley so much as not only can you help make a difference in the children’s lives, but you are also surrounded and supported by other amazing practitioners!

Hello my name is Katie, I have joined Kirkley Nursery as on January 2023 as room leader in the Owl room.
I have 23 years childcare experience working in a variety of early years settings from private nurseries to childminding.
I have a degree in child care learning and development, I then went on to gain my Early years professional status.
I really enjoy my role at Kirkley Nursery as part of a wonderful, warm and friendly team. I love meeting every child who comes through our doors and planning lots of exciting activities and experiences for them, enabling them the best start to their education.
I love musical activities such as singing and movement sessions. I also like yoga and relaxation exercises with the children. I also love sharing books with the children.
In my spare time I have a 7-year-old son who keeps me busy. We enjoy family time visiting the zoo and camping in our caravan.

Hello, my name is Francesca, I have worked at Kirkley Nursery and Early Year's Centre of Excellence since September 2022 as a member of the bank staff team. 

I have worked with children since 2008 gaining my Level 3 BTEC and BA Honours degree both in Children's Care, Learning and Development and then my Early Year's Initial Teacher Training qualification. I have three children - two daughters and one son that keep me extremely busy. I have continued to work with children both in nurseries and for a woodland/nature play company alongside parenting and I also undertake courses for my professional development.

I enjoy socialising with my family and friends, reading, eating cake, and trying to exercise to burn off the cake. I believe in helping to give children the best possible start in life as I understand how important and precious childhood is.

I have worked in childcare for around 18 years. I started as a childminder, took my level 3 childcare qualification, which led me to work in a nursery, which I loved. I enjoy looking after children, watching them learn, grow and celebrating all their achievements and victories.