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 9-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 the 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 Consortium Multi Academy 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 role at Kirkley I enjoy 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 mostly importantly being happy and secure within our nursery!

Hello, I’m Sarah. I have recently 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 and after bringing up my own children, I feel it is time to pursue my career.

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 pursuing my passion for supporting individual children and their families, and giving them the best possible start in early years. I adore my job and playing a part in children's and families lives. 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, and enjoy promoting wellbeing with my colleagues as well as with the children.  I always knew I wanted to work with children growing up - surrounded by a close extended family there were always lots of babysitting duties!

I enjoy practicing mindfulness and meditation, crafting and spending time outdoors - especially walking by the sea. I love cleaning, sorting and organising, and am a self-confessed Hincher!

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 as a member of the Bank Staff team at Kirkley Nursery since May 2021. I have worked in 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 fruits 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 Apprenticeship Level 3 Early Years Teaching Assistant at Kirkley Nursery Level 3 Early Years Teaching Assistant qualification 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 Kieran and I am an EYFS Level 3 Teaching Assistant. Within the past three years I have been able to achieve a level two certificate, level three certificate, and level 3 diploma in Childcare and Education. Starting late September, myself and Olivia will be studying to achieve a degree in ‘Children’s Care, Learning and Development.’ 

I value the idea of learning through play, as it is the ‘highest expression of human development’ in children. As a whole, I hope that my interaction with your children will have a positive impact in nurturing their natural curiosity, and enrich their growth and learning for the better. I also aspire to be a trustworthy male role model that children can look up to, and I enjoy engaging with children’s play and exploration, especially when it involves lots of imaginative play and running around! 

I am fascinated by the psychology behind children’s learning and behaviour, and this idea of children sharing an innate drive to learn. I’m also a huge fan of Superheroes and Science-Fiction Movies!

Hello my name is Katie, I have joined Kirkley Nursery as on January 2023 as room leader in the Owl room.
I have 20 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 am really excited to be joining a warm and friendly team, and look forward to working with your children to enable for them to learn through a fun enriching environment to give them a good 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 5 year old son who keeps me busy. We enjoy family time visiting the zoo and camping in our caravan