Blue Bell Staff

The staff at Blue Bell Woods have a wealth of early years experience and we have a very highly qualified team.  

All staff and volunteers at Blue Bell Woods have a current DBS (police check).

Nerys Evans ~ Proprietor and Nursery Manager
Paediatric First Aider,  Designated Safeguarding Lead

Qualifications: NNEB, Level 4 in Children's Care, Learning and Development, Advanced Diploma in Birth to Three Years, Child Protection, Paediatric First Aid

Nerys qualified as a Nursery Nurse in 1991 and worked in day care for many years as a Nursery Manager. She lectured on the NNEB course at Warwickshire College, as well as setting up two nurseries and two out of school clubs. Nerys has also worked in Rugby as a Childminder and in an Out of School club in a local school. She has five grandchildren and her passion is to provide high quality childcare in a caring and stimulating environment. 

Julie Alsop ~ Deputy Manager and Pre-School Coordinator
Paediatric First Aider, Designated Safeguarding Lead, Time to Talk Champion

Qualifications: Level 3 Diploma in Early Years Care and Education, Foundation Degree in Early Years, Time to Talk, Paediatric First Aid, Child Protection, Food Safety, Channel Awareness, Behaviour Management, Down’s Syndrome Awareness

Julie has over twenty years experience working in the Early Years sector. She was the Manager of a Day Nursery for eight years and has also worked in a Children's Centre. Julie is extremely knowledgeable and skilled at supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities. Julie has two grown up children.

Kat Stapleton ~ Office Manager
Data Protection Coordinator

Qualifications: NNEB, Level 4 In Children’s Care, Learning and Development, Child Protection, Health & Safety, Makaton, Channel Awareness,  Prevent, Behaviour Management, Down’s Syndrome Awareness

Kat has worked in Early Years for over twenty-five years. She worked as a Nursery Nurse in Nerys' first nursery and then alongside Nerys for thirteen years in a Day Nursery as Office Administrator.  Kat has also worked as an Early Years Assessor, Tutor and Internal Verifier. Kat has three children and she believes that babies and children's early experiences are the building blocks of life.

Caroline Todd ~ 3rd in Charge and Over 2s Coordinator
Paediatric First Aider

Qualifications: Level 3 Registered Sick Children’s Nurse, Level 4 Certificate in Early Years, Paediatric First Aid, Child Protection, Food Safety, Channel Awareness, Behaviour Management, Down’s Syndrome Awareness

Caroline is an extremely experienced and qualified practitioner who worked as a Sick Children’s Nurse for twenty years, and was Deputy Manager of a Day Nursery for nine years. Caroline has a wealth of experience in working with young children and families and has two grown up sons.

Anita Love ~ 3rd in Charge and Over 2s Coordinator
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator (SENDCO), Paediatric First Aider

Qualifications: Level 3 Diploma in Children’s Care, Learning and Development, Paediatric First Aid, Food Safety, Child Protection, Channel Awareness, Behaviour Management, Down’s Syndrome Awareness, Numicon

Anita works with the two year olds. She is an experienced Early Years practitioner; she has worked in a Children's Centre, Day Nursery and Pre-School, as well as an Early Years Assessor. Anita is our Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator (SENDCO) and has attended many training courses to enhance her knowledge and skills in supporting children and families.  Anita has two grown up sons.

Elsie Peters ~ Nursery Nurse
Paediatric First Aider

Qualifications: Level 3 Diploma in Early Years Care and Education, Makaton, Paediatric First Aid, Safeguarding, Food Safety, Channel Awareness, Down’s Syndrome Awareness

Elsie is an extremely experienced Nursery Nurse who has been working in Early Years settings for over 20 years. Her previous roles include working in a Pre-School and also in a Toddler Unit. Elsie has two grandchildren.

Rachel Porter ~ Senior Nursery Nurse
Paediatric First Aider

Qualifications: NNEB, Paediatric First Aid, Safeguarding, Channel Awareness, Food Safety, Behaviour Management, Down’s Syndrome Awareness, Prevent Duty

Rachel qualified as a Nursery Nurse in 1996 and has been the Deputy Manger and Room Leader of a Baby Unit in a large Day Nursery. Rachel works part time with the babies, and has two sons.

Kayleigh Johnston~ Senior Nursery Nurse

Qualifications: NVQ Level 3 in Children’s Care, Learning and Development, Safeguarding, Food Safety, Channel Awareness, Prevent Duty

Kayleigh has over fifteen years experience of working in Day Nurseries, working with young children and their families. Kayleigh works three days a week in our Baby Unit, and has one child.

Reanne Sykes ~ Nursery Nurse
Paediatric First Aider

Qualifications: Level 3 Early Years Educator, Makaton, Paediatric First Aid, Safeguarding, Food Safety, Channel Awareness, Behaviour Management, Down’s Syndrome Awareness, Prevent Duty

Reanne joined us as an Apprentice in 2014, and now she is a fully qualified Nursery Nurse. Reanne is a dedicated and enthusiastic member of the staff team and she works with the Pre-School children. 

Inderjit Kaur Rai ~ Nursery Nurse
Paediatric First Aider

Qualifications: Level 3 Early Years Educator, Safeguarding, Food Safety, Prevent Duty, Paediatric First Aid

Inderjit achieved a first class Batchelor of Education at Punjab University College over twenty years ago where she went on to work as a teacher in India. She has experience of working with all age groups, working in a range of Early Years settings in the UK. Inderjit works with the children aged two years and over.

Monica Watts  ~ Nursery Nurse
Paediatric First Aider

Qualifications: : Cache Level 3 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools, Paediatric First Aid, Child Protection, Behaviour Management, Down’s Syndrome Awareness, Food Safety, Prevent Duty

Monica is experienced in working in schools and nurseries. She is bilingual in Spanish and English and is a valuable member of our team, providing Spanish lessons for the Pre-school children and supporting the lunchtime routine. Monica has one son.

Sarah Braithwaite ~ Nursery Nurse and Nursery Cook

Paediatric First Aider

Qualifications: NNEB, Paediatric First Aid, Safeguarding, Food Safety, Food Allergy Awareness

Sarah is our cook and freshly prepares a two course meal and high tea for the children throughout the nursery. Sarah is extremely diligent at following children's special dietary requirements.

Xanthe Smith ~ Nursery Apprentice
Paediatric First Aider

Qualifications: Working towards Level 2 Early Years Practitioner, Food Safety, Safeguarding, Prevent Duty, Paediatric First Aid

Xanthe is an enthusiastic and conscientious member of our team. She is currently working towards her childcare qualification and works in the Baby Unit.

Chloé Croston ~ Nursery Assistant

Qualifications: BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care, Working towards Level 3 Early Years Educator, Safeguarding, Prevent Duty

Chloé has experience in working as a Nursery Nurse Practitioner with babies and children aged 6 weeks to 4 years. She is a motivated member of our team and is due to complete her Level 3 Early Years Educator qualification this year.