Staffing Team

I have worked at Sunnybank nursery for nearly 19 years, 10 of this as Manager. I have a passion for Early Years and our profession. 2020, and the global pandemic, has highlighted the overwhelming work we as a sector provide to form the building blocks of our society’s next generation and the need for higher recognition of our country’s Early Years professionals. I am highly skilled and extremely motivated to bring about reforms and change in our childcare sector as a person ‘on the ground’, mentoring a fantastic team of practitioners. I have a particular interest in SEND and communication and language development, being speech and language and SENDCo trained.

Hi, I’m Jess. I started as an apprentice in 2022 and gained my level 3 qualification in 2024. I am currently undergoing my level 5 apprenticeship in Special Educational Needs Teaching Assistant which I should be completing in the summer of 2027. I am the room leader of our Cotton Tails room! I love working with the babies, watching them say their first words and take their first steps is so rewarding. I am also our SENDCo for our 0-3 year olds, this is has been a passion of mine since staring at Sunnybank in 2022. Within the SEND team I specialise in supporting children to develop their communication and language skills.

Hi my name is Iona, I’m Deputy Manager and Curriculum Coordinator. I’m passionate about supporting every child through their stages of development in a calm, nurturing, and stimulating environment. In my curriculum role, I work closely with staff to plan and deliver engaging, inclusive learning experiences that are tailored to each child’s individual needs.

My name is Claire and I am Officer in Charge and the Mini’s Team Leader. Looking after children has always been all I have wanted to do and I am passionate about children learning through play and nurturing environments.

Hi I’m Beth and I attended Sunnybank as young child myself and have many fond memories of my time here. I started at Sunnybank in 2023 as an apprentice and have since gained my level 3 qualification in 2025. I work in our cotton tails room and love to support the babies in reaching their milestones. I enjoy creating bonds with the children to ensure they settle into nursery and their routine. I am also one of our sustainability leads, who ensures that we are doing our part for the planet. This means we are able to complete lots of fun and engaging activities such as gardening, creating bug hotels and making space for wildlife to grow.

Hello My name is Hollie I am a qualified level 3 early years practitioner as well as the student coordinator of Sunnybank day nursery. I love being a part of shaping the minds of the upcoming student practitioners and helping them to reach their goals of becoming qualified early years practitioners. I love being an early years practitioner as I love getting to build up bonds with all the children and their families and getting to watch them grow and develop in different ways, it’s so rewarding seeing how far each child comes during their time with us.

Hi, I’m Megan! I have been working at Sunnybank since 2021 after gaining my Level 3 qualification at college. During my time here I have worked across all 4 age groups and since returning from maternity leave I have now settled back in to our Minis group. My favourite part of my role is creating calm, nurturing and enjoyable environment’s for children to learn, grow and show their individual personalities!

Hi my name is Taylor and I am the Room Leader for our 2-3 year old room, I have also recently taken on the role of acting SENCo for Sunnybank. 
I have worked for Sunnybank since I left College in June 2018 ,before this I was placed here for my baby placement whilst at college around 2017. 
I am passionate about helping children learn and supporting them to reach each milestone in fun and creative ways. 
I enjoy learning and improving on my skills which has resulted in me gaining multiple qualifications over the years including:
L3 in Special Educational Needs Coordinators in Early Years Settings 
The training qualifications I have listed above are very important to me because it has expanded my knowledge and enabled me to support children in ways I never thought possible. I continue to find new ways to enhance my skills and I look forward to meeting new children and their families along the way.

Hi, my name is Alana and I am a team leader here at Sunnybank. I am also the first aid coordinator. 
I have worked in most of the rooms here at nursery and have loved watching the children learn and grow over the different developmental stages.
One of my favourite things to do is get the children engaged in a calming yoga session or encourage them to join in with a dance party – coming from a dance background myself. 
I love sitting down with the children and reading stories, especially engaging ones that the children can join in with as it massively helps with early language skills. A couple of my favourites are The Gruffalo and We’re Going On A Bear Hunt. 
I also love taking the children on trips to the farm, talking about what animals they have at home and introducing them to our nursery pets!

Hi I’m Tamsin and I’m the PANCO at nursery. PANCO is about physical and nutrition co-ordination and how we can support children holistically through this. At nursery im very passionate about children’s physical development and trying to support them with anything physical that they may need. I have undertaken training on physical development called Jabadao. Jabadao is about how our body is our first home and our first language is movement. We are a very physically active nursery who is involved in the smile4life programme, daily mile programme, jabadao and lots more. Part of my role is finding new and inventive ways to challenge the children both in physical aspects and encouraging them to try new things such as food or challenging them with risky play. Children’s physical development is crucial and we want to be able to provide them with endless opportunities to do this and flourish at nursery!

Hi I’m Carley, I’m a team leader and curriculum coordinator at Sunnybank Day Nursery. 

I work in the pre school room and I am extremely passionate in helping children in the room to help support the skills and needed ready for school. I have recently taken part in KCA training which help provide foundations for children for a health developing brains, to help build relationships and help support children building their resilience.

Hello, my name is Katie and I work in the pre-school room. I have worked at Sunnybank since doing my college placement here and I continued to work here during my university studies. In June 2025 I graduated from Sheffield Hallam University as a qualified teacher. I am passionate about watching the children flourish and develop throughout their time at the nursery, and I love to celebrate each child hitting their individual milestones.

Hi my names Freya and I am undertaking an Early Years Apprenticeship at Sunnybank. I’ve always had a passion for looking after children and I’m excited to watch the children learn and create bonds with them as I develop as a practitioner.