Management and Staff
CLAIRE HERMITAGE
The Manager of the Nursery is Mrs Claire Hermitage. Claire has been qualified as a B-Tec Nursery Nurse since 1997.
Claire joined Forbury Gardens Day Nursery in June 1997 as a newly qualified Nursery Nurse and had held different positions with all the ages of children throughout the nursery, starting as Room Leader through to Senior Team Leader. She took on the position of Nursery Manager in February 2002. In December 2007, Claire completed a Certificate in Management.
Claire is qualified in First Aid and is one of the Appointed First Aiders in the Nursery. She has a certificate in Health and Safety, Special Educational Needs and Safeguarding Children and has attended various Early Years courses. Claire is determined to ensure that all children at Forbury Gardens Day Nursery are as fully prepared as possible for the transition to schools and other settings. Claire specialises in and oversees the Care and Education for the over 2 year olds. Claire has a little boy called Alfie who also attends nursery.
CHERYL BALLARD
The Deputy Manager of the Nursery is Mrs Cheryl Ballard, NNEB, who has been a qualified Nursery Nurse since 1997.
Cheryl joined Forbury Gardens Day Nursery in February 2001 as a Nursery Nurse working in the baby room, she was soon promoted to the Room Leader and in time became Senior Team Leader. Cheryl was employed as Deputy Manager from May 2002.
Cheryl is also the Nursery’s Health and Safety Co-ordinator, supported by senior staff, and Cheryl is the Safeguarding Children Co-ordinator. She has attended many training courses to help keep up to date and aid her within her role.
Cheryl has attended an Emergency Paediatric First Aid course enabling her to be an Appointed First Aider for the Nursery.
Cheryl specializes in and oversees the Care and learning for the under 2 year olds.
Cheryl has her own little boy called Morgan who also attends Nursery.
YVONNE DUDMAN
Our Office & Building Services Manager, Miss Yvonne Dudman, has been employed from the onset of the nursery opening in September 1991, assisting the,then principal with the initial set up of the nursery. Yvonne is our Catering Supervisor for the kitchen, overseeing the menu planning, ordering and working closely with the Cook and Domestic Assistant.
Forbury Gardens Day Nursery proudly holds the ‘Five Stars for Food Safety Star Rating’.
Yvonne provides the nursery with its many varied purchasing requirements, and is responsible for the administration, fees, accounts, grant funding and all of the maintenance in and around the nursery.
Although Yvonne does not have a childcare qualification, she has vast experience throughout the nursery.
Yvonne has obtained her Food Hygiene Certificate, HACCP and her Emergency Paediatric First Aid Certificate.
NURSERY STAFF
SENIOR STAFF liase frequently with the Nursery Managers and appraisals occur regularly. They can be identified by a different coloured uniform to our usual lilac.
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All senior staff and room leaders are qualified Nursery Nurses with a certificate in First Aid and either a National Nursery Examination Board Certificate (NNEB), B-Tec National Diploma, NVQ level 3 in Childcare or DCE Level 3 in Childcare and education. They will usually have received two years professional training with practical experience in nursery and primary school, the home, day nursery, hospital and special care centres.
The Nursery Assistants are also dedicated and are sensitive to the needs of the individual children. Assistants have a range of experience, some possessing other qualifications, most are in training for NVQ11 or NVQ 111. Staffs are encouraged to participate in courses and further their professional development. Many have attended an Emergency Paediatric First Aid Course. |
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Students from local secondary schools can enjoy observation and some involvement with children as part of their work experience programme.
Regular supply staff are called upon during staff’s extended absence and tend to work in specific area where children are familiar with them.
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The nursery asks that staff are flexible but whenever possible they are assigned to an area where they will develop sound working relationships with other staff, children and parents. The nursery operates a key person system. A key person has special responsibilities for working with a small number of children, giving them the reassurance to feel safe and cared for and building relationships with their parents.
Notice boards in each room help identify the whereabouts of staff. Staff wear name badges, grey sweatshirts and lilac T shirts bearing a logo of our lion, a symbol of the Forbury Gardens Day Nursery and Reading. The nursery is staffed according to the numbers of children present. |
The ratio of staff to children is as follows:
1:3 for babies/toddlers 3 months - 2 years
1:4 for children 2 years - 3 years
1:8 for children 3 years - 5 years.
These ratios allow for adequate care even during staff’s lunch breaks, sickness periods and short holidays.