our staff

All of our incredible staff are handpicked for their unbeatable ability and experience within Early Years, Childcare and Special Educational Needs. All staff are extemely proactive, have a passion for Early Years and always find ways to go the extra mile for our children and families.

As well as being experts by experience, our staff are highly qualified, with most staff holding a minimum of level 3 in Early Years (or are working towards their level 3 as part of an apprenticeship programme), up to postgraduate and PhD level. All staff have extensive training in:

• Paediatric first aid & defibrillator
• Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND)
• Makaton
• Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
• Speech and Language Therapy (SaLT)
• Behaviour support
• Manual handling
• TEACCH
• SCERTS
• Attention Autism
• Food and hygiene

Some staff have additonal training in:

• Physiotherapy
• Portage
  
• SENCO
• PANCO
• PEG/NG feeding
• Administering medication
• Forest school
• Play therapy
• Child psychology

SEND to Learn Nursery and SEND to Learn Staff have been finalists, highly commended, and winners of several national Nursery World Awards over the years including:

2018

• Working with Parents Award - SEND to Learn Nursery - Finalist
• Enabling Environments - SEND to Learn Nursery - Finalist
• Inclusive Practice - SEND to Learn Nursery - Finalist

2019

• Team Development Award - Northumberland Early Years Network - Winner

2020

• Working with Parents Award - Hand in Hand Parent/Carer Network - Finalist
• Inclusive Practice - SEND to Learn Nursery - Highly Commended
• Nursery Manager of the Year - Kath - Highly Commended

2021

• Newcomer of the Year - Alishya - Finalist
• Nursery Practitioner of the Year - Sarah - Winner

2022

• Early Years Apprentice of the Year - Jack - Winner

SEND to Learn Nursery and SEND to Learn Staff have also won other prestegious awards over the years including:

• 2022 NASEN Awards - Early Years Award - winner

better health at work

our animals

As well as our staff we also have animals in nursery. Cooper is our Therapy Dog in training who lives with Deputy Manager Sarah. At Waterloo we also have our guinea pig Gerty, our rabbit Ovi, our tortoise Flash, our Turtle Mertyl and 4 goldfish. At Briardale we have 2 guinea pigs called Longstaff and Alfie, our rabbit Isabelle, and a giant African land snail.

There are a number of benefits to having therapy animals in nursery because the animals can:

• help teach empathy and appropriate interpersonal skills
• help children develop social skills
• provide comfort, which reduces anxiety and in turn helps the children to gain confidence
• help children learn about caring for others as well as self-care
• teach children about responsibility eg feeding / walking the animals
• encourage communication and team work
• help children overcome difficulties such as emotional, physical, or speech challenges
• help children focus better
  
• help children with their sensory experiences

student placements

Encouraging the next generation of Early Years practitioners is of great importance to us. We pride ourselves in working closely with local schools, colleges, universities and training organisations to offer work placements to those studying relevant Early Years or disability courses. 

If you are looking for a student placement, please get in touch.