Our Staff
Meet our team of dedicated child care professionals
Nikola Masters
Owner and Manager of the Nursery. Nikola is qualified to NVQ Level 4 Childcare Learning & Development, NVQ Level 3 Early Years Child Care and Education and has been awarded 4 prizes over the 12 years in relation to business achievement and attention to training needs as well as guiding the Nursery through Investors in People Award for the 3rd time.
Nikola has been checked and passed by the Criminal Records Bureau to work with young children.
Nikola sits on the committes for the Torfaen branch of the Wales Pre School Provisions Association and Gaer After School Club.
Lisa James
Officer in Charge and Positive Discipline Officer. Lisa started at the Nursery in December 1997 when the Nursery opened and has been in charge ever since. Lisa is NNEB qualified and has recently completed NVQ 4 Child Care Learning & Development and NVQ 3 Management. Lisa's responsibilities include overseeing the Nursery and staff on a daily basis and dealing with any parents queries.
Lisa has been checked and passed by the Criminal Records Bureau to work with children.
Jane Sheehy
Deputy Officer in Charge, Child Protection Officer and Special Needs Officer. Jane has worked at the Nursery since May 1999 and is head of our baby room. Jane is NNEB qualified and has recently completed NVQ 4 Child Care Learning & Development and NVQ 3 Management. Jane's responsibilities include Special Needs Awareness within the Nursery and supporting the Officer in Charge on a daily basis.
Jane has been checked and passed by the Criminal Records Bureau to work with young children.
Clare Farrell
Head of Pre school Group & Team Leader. Clare started at the Nursery in September 1998, qualifying to NVQ 3 Level Early years Care and Education 6 years ago taking over the Pre School Group. Clare assists the Nursery with the educational planning required to achieve Registered Educational status through Torfaen and ESTYN, as well as building the curriculum to ensure the children have lots of fun whilst learning. Clare is currently studing for NVQ 4 Child Care Leaning and Development.
Clare has been checked and passed by the Criminal Records Bureau to work with young children.
Sam Cook
Head of Tots Group. Sam qualified as a Nursery Nurse after training for her NVQ Level 2 at College then completing her NVQ Level 3 in Early Years Care and Education in a child care setting. Sam has been at the Nursery since the beginning of 2007 and works really well with the children under 2 years, helping them develop to their full potential. Sam is currently studying for NVQ 4 Child Care Learning and Development.
Sam has been checked and passed by the Criminal Records Bureau to work with young children.
Sharon Clarke
Housekeeper. Sharon, our most precious cook, started at the Nursery in February 2004. Sharon has a vast experience of catering and has recently upgraded her qualification by achieving Level 2 Food Safety from the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health. It is thanks to Sharons attention to hygiene and good practice which won the Nursery a Bronze Award via Environmental Health Dept Torfaen.
Sharon is currently working towards NVQ Level 3 in Childcare.
Sharon has been checked and passed by the Criminal Records Bureau to work with children.
Vicky Lander
Head of Toddler Group. Vicky started at the Nursery in 2005 and very much enjoys working with the 2-3 year olds. Vicky started at the nursery as an assistant and worked very hard to gain her NVQ 3 Child Care Learning and Education to become the toddler group leader. Vicky is responsible for planning the groups routines and activities to ensure they have lots of fun whilst learning.
Vicky has been checked and passed by the Criminal Records Bureau to work with young children.
Kelly Forward
Nursery Nurse. Kelly studied at college and at the Nursery and once qualified we were delighted to welcome her back as a member of staff. Kelly works with all ages of children and often covers staff leave, sickness and holidays, being very adaptable and getting to know all the children well.
Kelly has been checked and passed by the criminal Records Bureau to work with young children.
Kelly Moyle
Nursery Nurse. Kelly started at the Nursery after qualifing to NVQ level 2 in 2008, she continued with her training at the nursery and sucessfully qualified to nursery nurse standard in March 2010. Kelly works with the under 2's in the baby and tots group.
Kelly has been checked and passed by the Criminal Records Bureau to work with young children.
Shawna Bridges
Nursery Nurse. Shawna joined us after gaining her NVQ Level 2 in Child Care and continued her training towards her NVQ3 until sucessfully qualifying in March 2010. Shawna is based in the toddler and pre school groups working with the children over 2 years.
Shawna has been checked and passed by the Criminal Records Bureau to work with young children.
Jodie Hale
Nursery Assistant. Jodie has been at the Nursery for over four years, first attending via work placement from school on a weekly basis then joining the Nursery as an assistant. Jodie is currently working towards her NVQ level 3 after passing level 2 at the end of 2009.
Jodie has been checked and passed by the Criminal Records Bureau to work with young children.
Rhianne Hobby
Nursery Assistant. Rhianne started at the Nursery in 2008 working alongside the Nursery Nurses in the Toddler group. Rhian studied and passed to NVQ level 2 whilst training at the Nursery and is currently studing for the NVQ3 level.
Rhian has been checked and passed by the Criminal Records Bureau to work with young children.
Natalie Leighton
Nursery Assistant. Natalie joined the Nursery in 2008 and has sucessfully completed her NVQ 2 qualification. Natalie is currently studying for NVQ level 3 and works with the children under 2 years in the baby and tots group.
Natalie has been checked and passed by the Criminal Records Bureau to work with young children.
All staff within the Nursery have access to many educational and informational courses to keep up to date on Child Care issues and all staff have achieved their First Aid and Food Hygiene Certificates. Please see the page Qualifications and Training for more information on recent training attended by our team.