Ecclesfield Nursery
Esther Welsh
Early Years Manager
Esther ran her own very busy childminding business for 12 years and has 3 children of her own. She is Level 3 qualified in childcare along with communication, language and SEN training. She loves reading about new approaches to childcare and past educational pioneers.
In her spare time she enjoys outdoor climbing, abseiling and long walks in the peaks with her children and their dog Ludo. She loves to be anywhere in nature, as it is just so beautiful and peaceful. However she doesn’t do boats as she gets very sea sick! Her favourite animals are highland cows but she is not quite sure if she would want to be one herself!
Esther’s favourite activity with the children is outdoor play. She loves watching the children grow in confidence as they join in with risky play. Her favourite thing about her role is watching the children grow and develop, and she says being part of that process is an amazing feeling.
Her favourite meal is steak and she always has it medium rare/rare as she thinks the fat is the best part – yum! The craziest thing she has ever done is abseiling off a bridge! That’s really impressive!
Caroline Woodcock
Deputy Early Years Manager
Caroline has 25 years of experience in working with children. She holds several qualifications; Diploma in Nursery Nursing (NNEB) Level 3, Early Childhood Studies Level 4, Teaching & Learning Assistant Level 3, Safeguarding Lead & SENCO qualifications. She says the best part of her job is sharing inspiring ideas, so children have the best learning opportunities.
Her favourite place is St. Ives in Cornwall. Caroline loves the stunning sunsets and beautiful beaches with their clear water, and she has made lots of memories there with her family. Bangers & mash is Caroline’s favourite meal, but she loves anything her mum cooks as she is an exceptional cook. Her mum is also her greatest inspiration because she has faced many challenges with her health but overcomes them without losing her spirit and is always smiling and being positive.
Caroline’s favourite activity to do with the children is singing, dancing and reading stories. She loves to make characters come alive in stories using various voices and keeping the children entertained, bringing everyone together and having lots of fun. Caroline says her best qualities are being an effective communicator, a good listener, as well as being patient and a great team player.
In her spare time Caroline enjoys spending time with her family, visiting various places and going on long walks in the countryside. She also loves to relax with her cats and having cuddles. No wonder she would choose to be a house cat if she could be an animal for a day so she could relax and sleep all day and gets lots of cuddles herself.
Fiona Banks
Lead Senior Early Years Practitioner
Fiona has a NVQ Level 2 & 3 qualification in Childcare, is currently working towards her Level 3 SEN/SENCo qualification and has been working with children for 24 years. She says she loves everything about working with children as every day is an adventure and different and she loves to see the children grow and learn something new no matter how big or small. Helping children through the early years of their lives, teaching them new skills and developing their knowledge through playing is simply amazing to her.
Her family is who inspires Fiona the most as they have helped her to become the person she is today, and they continue to push her to be the best she can be. If Fiona could be an animal, she would be a panda because they look cute and fluffy but are totally bonkers! Fiona’s favourite place is the seaside as it brings back good memories of holidays as a child for her and now, she enjoys making more memories with her own family there too.
Fiona’s favourite activity to do with the children has to be either the Skittles experiment or something messy like playing in baked beans! She says her best qualities are being a good team player and hard worker. She likes to make sure she does the best in everything she does and helps and supports the people around her.
In her spare time Fiona likes to go to the seaside, bike riding and visiting her friends and family but most of all, she loves watching her son play football! One of the craziest things Fiona has ever done is cutting her hair really short and then having it dyed red and white like the St George’s flag! Very brave!
Becky Dexter
Lead Senior Early Years Practitioner
Becky is Level 3 qualified in childcare and has 15 years’ experience working with children. Watching the children develop and learn new skills and being part of helping them reach new milestones is her favourite part of her role.
In her spare time Becky likes to spend time with her family and friends and going for long walks. Her parents are the people who inspire Becky the most as they have made her into the woman she is today.
Becky’s favourite activities to do with the children are craft activities as she loves seeing the children have fun and develop new skills. She says her best qualities are being caring, patient and understanding.
Her favourite place in the world is Greece, she spent a lot of time there as a child on family holidays and also had an amazing time there on her honeymoon. If Becky could be an animal she would be a penguin as so they are so cute and make friends for life.
Beth Walker
Senior Early Years Practitioner
Beth is Level 6 qualified in Early Childhood Studies and has been working in baby rooms for the last 2 years.
In her spare time Beth likes to do different sports such as scuba diving, ice skating and climbing. Her favourite place in the world is the ocean as it is so beautiful and mysterious.
Messy play is Beth’s favourite activity to do with the children as she loves the look on the children’s faces when they realise that they are allowed to make a mess and have fun.
Beth would like to be the Genie for a day so she could grant lots of wishes. Her mum’s mac and cheese is her absolute favourite meal. The craziest thing Beth has ever done is wild swimming with dolphins in Egypt.
Seeing the children progress and learn new things such as walking and talking and knowing that she had a part to play in their development is Beth’s favourite thing about her job. She says being able to smile even when things are getting stressful is her best quality.
Emilie Bagley
Senior Early Years Practitioner
Emilie is Level 3 qualified and has 5 years’ experience of working in childcare.
The first CD Emilie ever owned was One Directions first album, she absolutely loves them! If she could be a Disney character, she would love to be Moana and have so much fun exploring the world!
Emilie’s favourite activity to do with the children is anything that is messy because it is so much fun! She says the best thing about her job is learning about the children’s personalities and watching them grow and develop as they get older.
In her spare time Emilie enjoys visiting her family and going for long walk with her sprocker spaniel Reggie. Her favourite meal is her mum’s homemade chilli, yummy!
Gemma Parker
Nursery Administrator
Gemma joined Elmore in November 2021 and has a NVQ Level 3 Qualification in Nursery Nursing.
Gemma loves to spend quality time with her two children and her husband, going for walks, crafting or baking their speciality – rocky road. She describes herself as kind and considerate and says her children inspire her every day.
Her favourite Disney Character is Olaf as he is funny, outgoing and best of all loves all things summer – just like her! The craziest thing Gemma has ever done is going to the top of the empire state building during her honeymoon. For someone who doesn’t like heights it was very frightening!
If she could be an animal she would be a sloth as it would be great to be lazy and sleep all day, something she doesn’t have the chance to do with two children!
