Our Team

Joanne Budge - Executive Head teacher

I am very proud to be the first Executive Head teacher of the Reading Early Years Schools Federation. Bringing together 3 Nursery Schools successfully into one federation has been the proudest time of my career.

Throughout my career I have taught across the primary age range, but my heart has always been with the youngest children and I started working with the Maintained Nursery schools as Head teacher at Blagdon Nursery School in 2015. I am passionate about Early Years Education and ensuring our youngest children get the very best start in their education journey. I am lucky to work alongside 3 talented staff teams who share my passion to drive up standards and provide the best nursery experience that keeps children at its centre. I am married with 2 nearly adult children and a small cockerpoo who helps keep us all entertained. 

Charlotte Jennings - Head of School 

I have worked at Blagdon Nursery since 2008.  I have worked in nearly every room at Blagdon and have loved each one.  I have worked in schools in the Whitley area my whole career; I am now starting to teach the children of pupils I taught many years ago!  I am a qualified teacher; I have a BA in English Literature with QTS status and I also have the NNEB qualification.  I am passionate about Early Years education and the long term impact it has on children.

I live with my teenage daughter.  She came to Blagdon when she was younger; she started in Willows when she was 9 months old.  My hobbies include running, yoga and shopping.

Sam Clifford - Blagdon School Operations Manager

I am NNEB qualified and have been working at Blagdon since 2006.  I was originally a key worker in Blagdon before moving to WIllows to become the Two Year Old Coordinator.  I am now working as the Schools Operations Manager across the whole nursery.  I am also a Designated Person for Safeguarding. I enjoy cooking, being with my family and I love music and dancing.

 

 

Helen Freeman - School Business Manager

I have over 20 years working in the NHS; my last role as a manager for a GP surgery. I also volunteer at my daughter’s school, helping out where needed and have always really enjoyed the school environment. I am married and have a 10 year old daughter. As a family we love being outside as much as possible. We spend a lot of our time in Cornwall with our daughter’s  Grandma and love surfing, paddle boarding and swimming. I am very much looking forward to joining the team at Blagdon Nursery School.

 

Kate Wiggins - REYS Federation Inclusion Manager 

I started in the federation as a teacher and SENCO working at Caversham Nursery School in 2015, having previously worked for 12 years in a primary school. I worked for a while across both Caversham and New Bridge Nursery as SENCO before becoming the Inclusion Manager for the REYS federation in 2020. I now work in all three of our federated nursery schools supporting with SEND. I enjoy working with our amazing staff teams and families and helping to secure positive outcomes for our children. 

Out of work, I look after my family and enjoy taking my cocker spaniel Archie for walks.

 

Leighann Littlechild - REYS Specialist Learning Mentor

I have been working with Blagdon’s children and families for 15+ years, first as an NHS Associate Practitioner and then directly for Blagdon Nursery School. I now work across the nurseries within the REYS Federation with SEND support.

I have really enjoyed working within all of the REYS federation settings, getting to know other children and staff members and ensuring that we are amalgamating great practice and resources throughout them all. I primarily support children with speech, language and communication difficulties but also support children with other areas of SEND need.  I have an NVQ Level 3 Allied Health Professional Support (Speech and Language Therapy) and am a former licensed Baby Makaton trainer. I hope to ensure that the children that we work with will remember us and their time spent with us fondly and that we are able to provide them with great underpinnings for their life’s journey.

At home I enjoy spending time with my family, renovating our old house, upcycling old furniture and looking after our dogs, cats and chickens. 

 

Claire Bambrick - REYS Federation Family Worker

I've worked in childcare since the age of 16 if you know my age then you can work out how long I've been doing this!  I've always been surrounded by children, babysitting and now my career is working with children and families.  I've worked in two previous nurseries and moved to Caversham Nursery School in September 2012.  In 2022 I took on a new role across the Reading Early Years School Federation, so I now work in all three of our federated Nurseries supporting with SEND.                      

If you ask any of the teams, they will usually say you can hear me before you can see me.  I'm full of energy and you can usually find me laughing with friends and family or with a smile on my face.  My favourite quote is “Leave a little sparkle wherever you go” and I intend to do this across the REYS Federation. 

 

Nicoletta Roose - Administrator

I have worked for Blagdon Nursery School since 2014 and have over 30 years knowledge and experience in Education and Sales and Marketing.  I enjoy crafts, theatre going, listening to lots of different genres of music, love a good book or television series I am currently in to Kdramas and Cdramas and their Original Sound Tracks, I have even been to a Kpop Concert at Wembley with my daughter. It is never too late to get involved and explore new experiences!

 

 

Ellie Miller - Teacher and Curriculum Lead

I've wanted to be a teacher since an early age which became a reality when I completed my degree in Bachelor of Education in Primary Education with Upper Second Class Honours at the University of Winchester. I have previously been a teacher in another nursery setting for four years and feel very honoured to continue my teacher career at Blagdon and be working with the wonderful REYS team. I love sharing my passion for music with the children; I rotate bringing in my clarinet, saxophone or flute each week so that I can play pieces of music that link in with our topics and will always end on playing some Disney songs for them as a treat! Teaching about inclusion, kindness and looking after our planet is very important to me as they will be the ones leading the way in years to come. My aim is to inspire awe and wonder in our children for each topic we teach so that our children can link their learning to their everyday lives, value learning and have a fun, rich and meaningful start to their lifelong journey of education. 

Rebecca Smith - Teacher in Cherry Tree 

I started working at Blagdon in September 2020. I have a degree in English Literature and completed my teacher training at the University of Reading. I love reading books, watching films, and everything Disney!'

 

 

 

Trudy Newton - Room leader in Willows

I currently work at Blagdon Nursery as a Room Leader. I started working here in January 2021; I completed my Apprenticeship here and after a spell working in a primary school I was able to come back to Blagdon. I hold a Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Practitioner.  I'm a Mummy, I love to read and I really enjoy taking long walks in the woods.

 

 

Emma Dawson - Room Leader in Willows

I am currently the room leader in Willows.  I have worked at Blagdon since 2009. I started out in the Willows and have been lucky enough to have the opportunity to work in each room. I passed my Level 3 qualification 11 years ago. 

I live at home with my Mum, Dad and my dog Lexi. I like reading, seeing friends, going for long walks or a run, watching movies and spending time playing with my dog.

 

Jayne Taylor - Room Leader in The Orchard

My qualifications include the NNEB and BA Honours in children’s Development and learning 

Since qualifying for my NNEB in 1997 I have worked with children in a variety of settings. I joined the Blagdon team in January 2020 and enjoy every part of my role as an Early Years Practitioner here at Blagdon Nursery School.                     

I am a mummy to three children; two boys and one girl and enjoy spending time with them and my husband when I'm at home.  

 

Hayley Freeman - Teacher in Apple Tree

I have always worked with children in Early Years in a variety of different settings. 

My qualifications include NVQ2&3 in Early Years Care & Education and BA Hons in Children’s Development and Learning.  I am currently training to be a teacher. I came to Blagdon Nursery as a child myself, then my 3 children all came to nursery here too.  I have been working here at Blagdon since September 2019. I enjoy spending time with my family when I am not working. I am now a qualified Teacher.

 

 

Kya Shurvill - SEND Nurture Assistant in Orchard

 

 

 

 

 

Karen Brooks - Nurture Assistant in Willows

I have been working at Blagdon Nursery School since 2017.  Since joining as a dinner lady I have achieved my Level 2 NVQ and have settled into my role in the Willows working with the 2 year olds.  I have three children; two are still living at home with myself and many animals.  In my free time I enjoy walking the dog and going on spontaneous bike rides as I have recently purchased a bike.

 

 

Rachel Scott - Nurture Assistant in Apple Pips           

I have worked at Blagdon for a few years now and I currently work in Apple Pips.  I am Level 2 qualified in Childcare and Level 3 in Social Care; I hope to gain more qualifications.  Working with children with SEND was something I have been really interested in doing for a while and after raising my family I decided this was definitely what I wanted to do.  I have four children of my own and they take up most of my time, but I do enjoy spending evenings making personalised items.  I enjoy spending time with my family and friends and going for a run when I can!         

 

Cara Cook - Nurture Assistant in Orchard

 

 

 

 

Priya Dennis - Nuture Assistant in Orchard

                   

 

 

 

                                                   
Daniella Reynard - Nurture Assistant (Maternity Leave)

I have worked at Blagdon since January 2022.  I have worked in various different nurseries as well as local Children's Centres.  I have worked in various different roles throughout my career and have worked up to NVQ Level 5.  I love to travel the world and have spent time in Africa volunteering with different charities.

 

 

Rhian Hughes - Nurture Assistant in Apple Pips 

I have worked at Blagdon nursery since 2018 as a lunchtime assistant and a nurture assistant.  I have got a Level 2 childcare qualification.

I have two children aged 13 and 8, and I enjoy going camping and spending time with my family

 

 

 

Femi Scott - Nurture Assistant in Orchard

 

 

 

 

Elaura Richardson - Nurture Assistant in Willows

 

 

 

 

 

Lisa Mylum - Casual Nurture Assistant

I have worked at Blagdon for 14 years, mostly working with SEND children, which I really enjoy.  I have three grown up children, on of which still lives at home, and three grandchildren.  I love walking, swimming and holidays.

        

 

 

 Leah Panter - Casual Nurture Assistant

 

 

 

 

Mary Campbell - Breakfast Club and Lunchtime Assistant

I have worked at Blagdon for very many years as a Lunchtime Assistant and in Breakfast Club.  I have seen very many changes over the years and have enjoyed seeing families return to Blagdon through the generations.

 

 

 

Debbie Hickey - Nurture Assistant in Apple Pips and Lunchtime Assistant

I have been working at Blagdon Nursery as support staff since January 2018. I am a fun-loving mum of four who has been working with children since leaving school. Some fun facts about me are that I support Arsenal (don’t hold it against me!) and love a good Cadbury’s Twirl!!

 

 

 

Nicola Anderton - Lunchtime Assistant and 1:1 support for a child

I have just joined Blagdon Nursery in February this year as a lunchtime assistant. This is my first role working with young children, but since having my own 2 boys I knew it was a path I'd love to take.  Both my sons came to Blagdon come here, and they both loved it here!  When I am not working, I'm creating special memories with my boys; we love a good day out! 

 

 

Mandy Hutson - Lunchtime Assistant

I have just joined Blagdon Nursery as a lunchtime assistant; before starting here I had a similar role at a local Primary School.  My daughter came to Blagdon a few years ago and loved the nursery!  

 

 

 

Chloe Gibbons - Lunchtime Assistant

I'm a fun loving mum of 3 who previously worked in childcare before I had children of my own.  I have my Level 3 Early Years Practitioner and I am very excited to be back working.  I enjoy spending time with my family and musicals.

 

 

 

      Amina Mejri - Apprentice