Our Team
'If I hadn't found such an awesome bunch of people I'd have given up on nursery'
The Ark Association will always put the needs of children first, striking a balance between care, play and learning. The committee, managers and staff are committed to providing the best service they can to the highest standards.
We have a range of qualified staff working in our team from Level 2 to Level 5 Foundation degree. We all work together to give your children the best learning environment. We allocate children with a key worker, who will observe and record the children’s development using an online assessment program called Famly. This is a safe and secure method to show you your child’s learning journey.
Read below for information about some of our staff at Princess Avenue.
Nicola – Manager for Princess Avenue
I have worked for The Ark for over 15 years, and have been in childcare for 20 years. I have worked closely with all ages throughout my career but I do love my Pre-School rooms. I trained as an NNEB and now have a Foundation Degree level 4 in Early Education along with Paediatric First Aid, Safeguarding, Food Hygiene certificates and ECAP Speech and Language training. This list could become quite extensive with training I have took part in. I love our Pre-School trips to forest school where we really do see children come out of themselves. Exploring and investigating the community and our beautiful Environment we live in.
I have two school aged daughters who came through The Ark. They still love coming back during the play schemes. We love spending time outdoors exploring country parks, riding bikes, climbing and anything physical. When I do get a few minutes to myself I love reading and walking.
I have worked for The Ark for over 15 years, and have been in childcare for 20 years. I have worked closely with all ages throughout my career but I do love my Pre-School rooms. I trained as an NNEB and now have a Foundation Degree level 4 in Early Education along with Paediatric First Aid, Safeguarding, Food Hygiene certificates and ECAP Speech and Language training. This list could become quite extensive with training I have took part in. I love our Pre-School trips to forest school where we really do see children come out of themselves. Exploring and investigating the community and our beautiful Environment we live in.
I have two school aged daughters who came through The Ark. They still love coming back during the play schemes. We love spending time outdoors exploring country parks, riding bikes, climbing and anything physical. When I do get a few minutes to myself I love reading and walking.
Hi I’m Kelly. I am a play leader at Princess Avenue nursery. I have worked in childcare for over seventeen years. Fifteen of those years have been with The Ark. I have a level 3 NVQ qualification in Early Years Care and Education. I also have a level 4 qualification in Children's and Young People's Services, Early Years. I have very much enjoyed the opportunity to paint, set up and run my toddler room in the past, along with running a baby room. I have found these roles here very rewarding. I feel strongly about health, well-being, happiness and being kind. I am here to help others.
Hi my name is Zoe, I am a Level 3 Play Leader and senior practitioner and I have worked at the Ark for over 12 years. When I first started I was a lunch time supervisor. After a few months of being a lunch time supervisor I said to myself I want to do more than this. So a year later moved on to do my level 2 and then my level 3. I love working with the children. I feel honoured to watch every child develop and reach their potential makes me happy. We are a great team of staff at The Ark. We are not just work colleagues, we are friends and The Ark family.
Hi, I'm Kat. I have been working in childcare for over 20 years and 9 of those years I have been with The Ark. I have a CACHE (NNEB) Diploma in Nursery Nursing. I love art and listening to music, as well as visiting family and friends.
Hello, my name is Maria. I am a level 3 practitioner and have over 20 years’ experience working with children of all ages. I love my role in caring for the under 2's as I feel so privileged to be part of their learning journey from the very beginning. My children attended The Ark nursery many years ago and from being a parent to practitioner I can see how influential my role is. I am very nurturing, dependable and value building strong relationships with parents/carers. I love cats, rainbows, sunshine, happiness and my favourite colour is yellow.
My name is Dipak, I joined the Ark nursery in March 2019 as a part time General/Maintenance Assistant. My role includes anything from doing the weekly shopping, painting a fence to driving the nursery minibus taking the staff & children on educational forest school trips to Rutland Water. Prior to joining the Ark, I worked for Mars Incorporated for 30 years, manufacturing such brands as Pedigree chum and Whiskas. Since joining the Ark I can see there is so much involved in early child care, from what I see all the staff here do an amazing job ensuring the children are given a variety of learning opportunities and to develop & prepare them for when they go onto fulltime education. My hobbies include keeping fit, playing golf(badly!), snooker and putting my culinary skills to use.
Please read below for information about some of our staff at Burley Road.
Mica- Senior Manager across both Nursery sites.
My name is Mica, I have worked here at The Ark for over 15 years, starting straight from college. I started at The Ark as a newly qualified level 3 with a Diploma in Childcare and Education and have recently completed my foundation degree in Early Childhood Studies, Level 5. I have two children of my own, both of who have come through The Ark with me. I love working with children and working closely with families to build upon providing the best care and education from an early age. I am also the Senior Manager of our Ark Nurseries and a Trustee of The Ark, working to ensure that we continue to follow our ethos and provide a service which is accessible to all.
My name is Mica, I have worked here at The Ark for over 15 years, starting straight from college. I started at The Ark as a newly qualified level 3 with a Diploma in Childcare and Education and have recently completed my foundation degree in Early Childhood Studies, Level 5. I have two children of my own, both of who have come through The Ark with me. I love working with children and working closely with families to build upon providing the best care and education from an early age. I am also the Senior Manager of our Ark Nurseries and a Trustee of The Ark, working to ensure that we continue to follow our ethos and provide a service which is accessible to all.
Charlotte- Deputy Manager and kids club co-ordinator
Hello I’m Charlotte! I am the Kids Club co-ordinator at Burley Road and also The Ark Deputy Manager but I have also worked across both nursery sites in various capacities and teams over the years. This has given me many opportunities and experiences, working with age ranges from 3 months to 11years. I am passionate and enthusiastic about child development and is always dedicated to working closely with our children and their families. My main qualifications include NNEB and a Foundation degree in Children’s Services. I regularly update my training such as safeguarding and first aid and I like to keep up to date with news and events.
Hello I’m Charlotte! I am the Kids Club co-ordinator at Burley Road and also The Ark Deputy Manager but I have also worked across both nursery sites in various capacities and teams over the years. This has given me many opportunities and experiences, working with age ranges from 3 months to 11years. I am passionate and enthusiastic about child development and is always dedicated to working closely with our children and their families. My main qualifications include NNEB and a Foundation degree in Children’s Services. I regularly update my training such as safeguarding and first aid and I like to keep up to date with news and events.
I'm Flick, I have worked at The Ark for over 8 years but have over 20 years’ experience in the childcare industry. I am a level three play leader in the Investigators room at Burley Road which I love! Every day is new and I find this job so rewarding. Baking with the children is my passion
We also have a fantastic Special educational needs co-ordinator (SENDCO) who works across both Ark sites supporting staff with early identification, additional support plans and education/ behaviour plans for children where needed. She works extremely closely with our families to support and assist with concerns or areas of development which are of concern. We have a great working relationship with the SEND inclusion team at the council and also with wider outside agencies such as speech and language therapists, educational psychologists, occupational therapists and other professionals. We aim to support all families and children whatever their needs.
Our Committee
Parents of children attending either of the Ark nurseries are members of The Ark Association and are entitled to vote at the Annual General Meeting. The committee comprises of Trustees and management and they have a legal obligation to run the Association in accordance with its constitution. We are always keen to welcome new faces onto our committee so please get in touch! If you don't fancy being on our committee why not enquire about helping us with our fundraising events instead.
