Grass Roots Early Years Provision
Grass Roots Private Day Nursery Tel:01422836280 grassrootsdaynursery@gmail.com
Grass Roots Preschool Tel:01422417659 grassroots.newroad@gmail.com
Our staff
The most important people, as far as your children are concerned, are the staff who are all dedicated and caring, with a wealth of experience. Some of the Senior Leadership Team hold Masters Degree’s in Early Years and Psychology and two of the team are qualified teachers. All members of the team are qualified to, or working towards, Early Years Educator Level 3 qualification, appropriate for the care and development of children, as required by Ofsted.
Additional training is available for all staff to continue their professional development, keep up with new initiatives and to consolidate their areas of expertise (a copy of our Staff Policy can be found on this site).
New members of staff receive induction training during their first week of employment, which includes our Health and Safety and Safeguarding Children policies and procedures and this is reviewed regularly throughout their induction period.
All members of staff are qualified in Paediatric First Aid and basic Safeguarding Children (which includes Child Protection) amongst other core training that we adhere to as part of our induction process. There is always a senior member of staff present during opening hours.
The Management Team
Lucy
Director &
Executive Nursery Manager
Lucy Pottinger is the Executive Nursery Manager. Lucy has a Masters in Psychology. She has a BA (Hons) in Childhood and Youth Studies and Post Graduate Early Years Teacher Status. She is qualified to level 5 in leadership and management and level 3 in Coaching in the Workplace.
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Lucy and Caitlin are both Experts for the DfE's pilot Recovery Program and Lucy is on the Starting Well Board for Calderdale, representing the PVI Sector.
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Lucy oversee all aspects of the business and both the nursery settings to ensures quality and standards are high therefore providing the best development and learning for the children attending.
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Lucy is the Designated Safeguarding Lead, Deputy SENCo and also an Emotional Health and Well Being Champion for Calderdale.
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Lucy's passion is family support and developing knowledge within the community. She runs regular workshops for parents among other events.
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Lucy is a mother of four children and one dog, she enjoys reading, long baths, long walks, exploring new places and baking in her spare time.
Caitlin
Nursery Manager
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Caitlin is the Nursery Manager at Grass Roots. She has a degree in Early Childhood Studies and Masters in Childhood studies and Early Years. She also has over 15 years experience in childcare.
Caitlin and Lucy are both Experts for the DfE's pilot Recovery Program and Caitlin supports Lucy's work with the Starting Well Board, attending meetings and inputs into the program.
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Caitlin is responsibile the day to day management of the settings. Caitlin's main passion in the setting is the personal development and welfare of the children and staff, to ensure the best outcomes for all our children and families.
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Caitlin is the settings deputy DSL.
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Caitlin has three children, whom she loves to go on adventures with. She also enjoys creative projects and being outdoors.
Andrew
Director &
Operations Manager
Andrew Ridley is one of the owners of the nursery. In 2002, following his retirement after 30 years in the West Yorkshire Police, he enrolled as a student at Leeds University and obtained a BA(Hons) first-class in German and Spanish. He then spent 11 years as a Maths Mentor at Brooksbank School, Elland, where he developed a passion for education.
On his retirement he volunteered in local junior schools, where he recognised the value of early years' education. As a result, he couldn't resist becoming involved with Grass Roots, when the opportunity arose.
He has now obtained a Level 3 Early Years' Educator quailification so that he can help with the development of the children in the nursery.
Andrew's main responsibility, however, is ensuring that all the health and safety standards are being met, as well as accident and incident monitoring.
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In his spare time, Andrew enjoys cycling, reading and spending time with his family
Matthew
Director &
Buisness Manager
Matthew is a Director and Business Manager for Grass Roots.
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He enjoys woodwork and making furniture, many of our items in nursery Matt has created or adapted for us. He also enjoys gardening, he carefully tends to our allotment.
Matt also likes walking and enjoys long walks with Frank, our nursery dog.
Emma
Deputy Manager & SENDCo
Emma is the Deputy Manager and SENDCo across both settings. She is Level 6 qualified with a degree in Childhood Studies and has over 10 years experience working with children and young people. She also has a Level 3 in SEND Support.
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She loves seeing each child develop and grow into confident little learners and letting their personalities shine.
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She enjoys spending time and socialising with my family and friends and she has two fur babies.
Her life is always go, go, go as she and her partner love getting in the car to explore new places especially if it involves a beach day or a weekend caravanning.
Jess
Duty Manager
Jess has worked for Grass Roots since we opened in 2018. She has worked her way through the nursery and now assists in the office. Jess has her Level 5 qualification in Leadership and management within childcare and almost 10 years experience of working with children 0-11.
Jess enjoys spending time with her partner and family, and scenic walks with her dog.
The Fold Team
Under 2's at St. Peters
Christine
The Fold Room Leader
Christine is Level 5 qualified practitioner and The Folds Room Leader. She is also our lead behaviour practitioner.
Christine enjoys going out with her 4 boys and partner on day trips and walking in the countryside. She also enjoys making things.
Christine has always wanted to work with children and think it is the most rewarding job, knowing that you have made a difference.
Keeley
Early Years Apprentice
Keeley has been working in childcare for nearly a year, she worked in elderly care previously for 8 years. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with friends and family and walking her dog.
Nicole
Early Years Practitioner
Nicole has worked in childcare since leaving school, she is a Level 3 qualified practitioner and has been in child care for over 10 years. She loves her job based in the baby room and is passionate about working with children.
Nicole has 2 children, whom both go to school. She loves to do things on a weekend with her little ones and is a social butterfly.
Millie
Early Years Teacher
Millie started working for us in the holiday club and has since completed her Early Years Teacher Status.
The Paddock Team
2 year olds at St. Peters
Charlotte
The Paddock Room Leader
Charlotte is a Level 3 qualified practitioner.
After 11 years working in health and social care she decided that it was time for a new adventure.
In her spare time Charlotte enjoys exploring the outdoors with her husband, two young daughters and dog. She enjoys camping, caravanning, and, grows her own fruit and vegetables.
Amy
Deputy Room Leader
Amy is a Level 3 early years educator. Amy has worked in nurseries for 3 years and enjoys watching children grow and reach their goals.
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In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her friends and family and often babysitting for her nephew and niece.
Tiarna
Early Years Apprentice
Tiara has just started her level 3 early years qualification. She has a lots of hands on experience with children as I have a big family and a 1 year old.
Jenny
Early Years Teacher
Jenny has previously worked at out of school clubs and has completed her Early Years Teacher Status.
Hana
Early Years Practitioner
Hana is a Level 3 qualified practitioner,
Hana loves spending time with children and enjoys watching them play. Hana finds it very rewarding; being able to help and facilitate children to learn and explore at such an important stage in their development. She loves their curiosity and spontaneity and that i can influence a child's life in such a positive way.
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The Orchard Team
2 year olds at New Road
Savannah
Early Years Practitioner
Savannah is currently working through her level 3 nursery practitioner qualification.
In her spare time she enjoys spending time with family and friends and going to the gym. She used to be a dancer so she is very sporty and enjoy doing sporty activities.
Her goal is to improve children’s lives and in the future she would love to open a charity which helps to raise more awareness for her brothers condition.
The Meadow Team
3 - 4 year olds at St. Peter's
Heather
The Meadow Room Leader
Heather is the Meadow's deputy room leader. Heather has her level 3 early years educator qualification.
She is mum to two energetic boys.
She and her family like to go on walks and find places where we can go climbing. They also love a good movie night!
Racheal
Early Years Teacher
Racheal is a Qualified Early Years Teacher and she has a degree in learning, development and support.
Racheal is really creative and follows the childrens interests with great enthusiasm, making sure that childrens interests are included in the planning helping to keep the children engaged in their learning.
She loves spending her time with her family, they like to be outside walking their dog and exploring the woods.
Janet
Early Years Practitioner
Janet has 10 years of experience working with children, she has her Level 3 qualification in Childcare.
Janet loves the fact that no two days are the same and getting to know all the children's individual characters and personalities. She enjoys being part of scaffolding care and education around individual needs and nurturing children to become well rounded young people.
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As part of her previous role within a school she did a lot of interventions with children with SEND difficulties.
Helping children to learn and grow is something Janet is very passionate about, finding new angles to look at things or adapting to help the children to gain understanding in order to help them flourish.
Courtney
Early Years Practitioner
Courtney is level 3 Early Years Educator here at Grass Roots.
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In her spare time she enjoy training the under 6's at rugby, she has been doing this over the past year.
Courtney enjoys working with children as she likes to help each child grow and develop. She really enjoys being part of the Meadow and Grass Roots team and looks forward to finishing her level 3 and learning the new skills that come with it.
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Alicia
Early Years Assistant
Alicia is currently doing her level 5 early years foundation degree. She has always wanted to work with children as it is a really rewarding job seeing them learn and grow, which is why she coached gymnastics to young children in her spare time because she loved seeing them thrive learning new skills.
The Woodland Team
3 - 4 year olds at New Road
Natasha
Early Years Practitioner
Natasha is an Early Years Practitioner who works part time in The Woodland. Natasha has 6 years experience in childcare and hold a Level 3 qualification.
What interests Natasha about childcare is being able to watch them grow and develop as individuals.
Amy Murgatroyd
Early Years Teacher
Amy is a Qualified Early Years Teacher here at Grass Roots.
Amy leads the teaching and learning within The Woodland alongside Kayla and provides the children with some exciting and stimulating learning activities and resources. She is also Deputy DSL.
Amy lives with her husband, Lewis.
Rochelle Taylor
Early Years Practitioner
Rochelle will be studying for her level 3 in Early Years as an apprentice with Grass Roots. She loves helping the children to achieve their potential and exploring the outside world with them. She loves being part of the Grass Roots team and helping in any way she can.
Rochelle has 6 children ranging between 5 and 17 years old. She loves being a Mum and learning each day the best way to raise her mini adults. She really enjoys being active and teaching her children independence. Crafting is second nature to her and she love being able to share that with others.
Gill
Early Years Practitioner
Gill is a level 3 qualified practitioner and has 22 years experience in childcare.
She has also has 3 grown up children and 2 grandchildren so has lots of hands on experience
Gill likes socialising with her friends and family, and lots of gets togethers. I also enjoy watching sports and walking
Kitchen
Ryan
Early Years Chef
Ryan has a passion for cooking and shows great creativity in his work.
Ryan started in the hospitality industry at around 14 years old and worked his way up from pot washer to catering manager.
Ryan then went on to work seasons for quite a few years, he spent summers working for PGL as a catering manager and was lucky enough to work in a variety of locations such as Wales, Scotland and Paris and spent many winters working in ski chalets in either Austria or France.
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Ryan now resides in Sowerby Bridge with his wife and infant son who attends Grass roots.
Julie
Kitchen assistant
Julie holds city and guilds certificates in catering and she has over 22 years experience of working as a cook in a private day nursery.
Julie enjoys watching her sons play sports,socialising with her friends and spending time with my family. She also enjoys reading.