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Staff |
90% of our staff are fully qualified which is way above the minimum requirements of 50% as specified by Ofsted. Our staff are also fully trained to a minimum of Basic Food Hygiene, Paediatric First Aid training, and Child Protection.
The management team all have First Aid at Work and Child Protection 1 and 2 (basic and intermediate). Our staff are based in one area for the continuity of care for the children. |
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| Director |
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Gemma Jones - Director of Childcare and General Manager
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| Manager |
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Hilda McGrath - Nursery Manager
My aim here is to give all children a sound foundation for life through early development of their potential intellectual, social, emotional and physical skills.
The staff work as an efficient team unit at Best Friends, devoted and contributing to create a home from home environment with a good-humoured atmosphere that is reflected in the overall response and behaviour of the children.
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| Room Leaders |
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Gemma Brown - Room Leader for Under 2's
As head of room I work in the baby room caring for the babies and toddlers. My role is to meet all the individual needs and requirements for all the children. To develop & follow routines, care for the babies which involves feeding, changing, interacting etc. As part of the baby room team we need to work alongside the Birth to Three educational framework, following planning and providing a happy, positive, stimulating environment for the babies to grow and develop. |
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Nursery Practitioners |
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Kerry Hickson
I have a child of my own now, he is 20 months old and he loves coming to nursery with me on Thursdays... I live with my boyfriend and son in Rickmansworth and travel here every Thursday and Friday for work. I have been in childcare for 7 years now and still enjoy my job very much. I love all of the children and I enjoy watching them learn and develop. I like working at best friends so much; it’s a lovely place for the staff and children.
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Dave Farrer
I am currently living in luton with my wife. I did my qualification in Childcare (N.V.Q.level 2) in October 2005, I aim to do the level 3 qualification next year.
I have been at Best Friends since April 2009 and have done a Basic food hygiene course, First aid course and safeguarding children course. I work with the babies and toddlers developing the children to their full potential and individual needs.
I enjoy the challenge of working with the children as each day is different. I bring a different perspective to the children's daily experiences as most of my colleagues I work with are female.
I am hardworking and reliable and I strive to keep learning to reach my full potential which will develop me and the children in the future.
The staff at Best Friends are friendly and have shown me many ways of encouraging the children, planning for the children which will educate and develop them through their Holistic development. Best Friends set a high standard putting childcare first and this is my aim to thrive upon and develop the children too. |
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Emma Blanchard
I live at home with my family. I have 3 sisters and 2 brothers. I worked in a nursery for work experience and enjoyed every minute of it, which made me decide to study at college. I worked at best friends as a student for 6 months, and then I was employed and have been here 7 months. I love all the children here, helping them develop and grow makes me happy that I chose childcare. |
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Jenna Martin
I live with my family in wheathamstead. I joined best friends in October 2008 as maternity cover to work mainly in the older bay. I have become very fond of all the children and I enjoy coming to work as every day is different to the rest. I have really enjoyed working here and particularly enjoy seeing the development of all the children and seeing all the different characters that I see working with children. |
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Darren Pegg
I’ve been Chef at Best Friends since the beginning of September 2009.
I came with a wealth of experience from the catering and hospitality trade, having worked in all aspects of this trade, from hotels and restaurants, to gastro pubs and fast food chains.
I am also a parent, which means I have a good knowledge of children’s specific nutritional needs, and my son attends the nursery so I have a vested interest in providing the best food possible.
My aim is to provide a real focus on food at the nursery, ensuring that the children receive nutritionally balanced homemade food but also supplying the occasional sweet treat.
I chose Best Friends for 2 reasons, the obvious one being that my son is here and I live just across the road, but also I wanted to be part of the great team and childcare provided by the nursery which I have experienced as a parent through both my daughter and son.
Best friends for me is not just a place to work, it’s more like an extended family, the children are great fun and wonderful to have around and my colleagues are more like friends than anything else. |
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