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Our Staff

Director – Gemma Gittins – Director of Childcare and General Manager

Hello and welcome to Best Friends Childcare Centre Ltd website. I am the proprietor at Best Friends Childcare and we have a sister nursery at Samuel Ryder Academy. I have 22 years experience at all levels with the last 16 years being in a management role.
I am self-motivated and a positive individual, who can either work on my own or within a team.

I have a great rapour with, children, staff and parents and enjoy a challenge. To achieve my full potential I set myself personal goals and encourage this amongst my staff. Trust and motivation of staff is paramount in creating a great team. I am ambitious, reliable and capable of bring comfort, support, guidance and help to the profession I am dedicated too.

I am passionate about my job, making sure that I go above and beyond in making sure that all parents are happy, content and secure in leaving their child within our care.

Gemma Gittins

Emma Blanchard – Assistant Manager – Lion Room

I have worked at Best Friends Childcare Centre for eight years. I initially joined as a student before being offered a full-time position. I began my career here working in the Older Bay which I thoroughly enjoyed, I now work in the Baby Room which is an enjoyable new challenge as well as my promotion to Trainee Assistant Manager, I am currently expanding my qualifications doing my Level 3 in Management.

I enjoy planning new and fun activities to encourage the children to explore and engage in, and love to see the children learning new skills every single day. I will continue to work with both staff and parents here to ensure that Best Friends Childcare Centre is a happy, safe and secure learning environment for each child.

NURSERY PRACTITIONERS

Charlotte Blackwell –  Senior Nursery Practitioner – Cubs Room

I have been a part of the Best Friends Team since June 2015, completing my NVQ Level 2 and 3 in Childcare. I look forward to learning more and bringing this into the nursery to develop the children to their full potential.
I love being a part and watching the children grow and develop and being part of their development watching them grow into bright individuals.

Charlotte Blackwell

 

Gemma Watt – Assistant Practitioner – Lion Room

I joined Best Friends Childcare Centre September 2017, I have found the team really supportive with the transition of learning new ways. I have 2 children of my own and have a wide range of experience from other nurseries I have worked.

I love helping the children develop and explore their surroundings on a daily basis, being part of their learning styles and process brings me so much joy. Each day is different and full of fun, laughter, excitement.

Natalie Baker – Trainee Assistant Practitioner – Lion Room

I joined Best Friends in January 2020, I will be starting my level 3 in the coming months, I have a daughter and have loved watching her grow and play. I have wanted to work with children and am enjoying the new challenge of getting to know the children and watching them learn and develop.