Our staff in Braunton are:

Elizabeth Ashford ~ Larissa Grant ~ Anna Slade ~ Miranda Elliott ~ Lisa Joce ~ Sophie Harris ~ Danielle Ash  ~ Zoe Reid

At Little Fishes we have a dedicated team of staff who are enthusiastic and passionate about caring for children and who are dedicated to helping each child develop and grow ~ both socially and academically.

Certain areas of training, specific to staff roles within the nursery, are undertaken throughout the year to keep abreast of changing legislation and techniques in successful childcare. We are dedicated at all times to the safety and well being of your children and aim to provide them with a safe, exciting and stimulating environment in which to learn through play, the social and academic skills they will need in their formative years.

All staff hold current CRB checks and have undertaken the necessary checks by Ofsted to ensure they are suitable child carers. (Any new staff will, where possible, have already completed their CRB checks. On the rare occasions that this is not the case the new staff are not left alone with children until necessary checks have been completed.)

Larissa Grant – Full-time Manager / Pre-School teacher

We are very pleased to have welcomed Larissa Grant, who joined us in September 2005 in the role of Pre-school teacher for our 3 and 4 year olds and overall Manager of the Braunton branch. Larissa has 17yrs experience in childcare and has extensive experience in managing nursery provisions, her most recent being Manager in charge of 12 staff and nearly 70 children! In that capacity she carried out the planning, teaching and care for her own group of 8 pre-school children.

Larissa was awarded the NNEB qualification in 1989 and has since gone on to achieve the NVQ A1/A2 Assessor Qualification, whilst working towards her Advanced Diploma in Childcare and Education. She also has extensive training in the Foundation Stage Curriculum and Child Protection certificates and has undertaken a variety of training courses including Speech Therapy and Behaviour Management courses.

During Spring & Summer 2006, Larissa completed various courses including ‘0-3:Introduction to Schemas’, and ongoing training in the new style Ofsted regulations.

In November 2007 she completed the ‘NVQ4 in Early Year’s Childcare & Education’ and updated her Paediatric First Aid in March 2008

Larissa currently lives in Chivenor with her husband and 2 daughters, aged 10 and 14.

Anna Slade – Deputy Manager & Full-Time Supervisor (Under 3’s – Tweenies Room)

Anna joined us in February, 2005 as Supervisor for our 1 to 3yr olds, taking on the additional role of Deputy Manager in 2006

Anna has o ver 10 years experience working with children and has achieved the CACHE Certificate in Childcare and Education and BTEC National CACHE Diploma in Nursery Nursing. (NNEB). She has recently completed her NVQ4 in Early Years Care and Education.

Anna has completed various courses including ‘0-3:Introduction to Schemas’ (05), ‘0-3:The 2 year old in the 3&4yr old Setting’ (06), ‘SEN:Signs Supporting Speech’ (06), and a ‘Manual Handling’ course, ‘Anti-racist practice (07) and Equal Opportunities (07)

Anna has worked in a variety of childcare provisions and has experience working with both able-bodied and disabled children of various ages. She enjoys organising and supporting the children in challenging and fun play activities and has been working particularly with the very young in recent years.

A calm and patient individual, Anna currently lives in Braunton with her partner. She enjoys spending time at her parents’ farm, cycling and camping when the weather allows! Anna also enjoys body-boarding, yoga, thai-chi and socialising with friends. 
  

Miranda Elliott – Full-time Supervisor (Under 1’s - Babies Room)

Miranda joined us in 2005 as Supervisor for our very young ~ babies under 1yr. Miranda has over 9 years’ experience working with babies and has achieved the Level 4 qualification ‘Certificate in Early Years’ Practice. Prior to this she completed the ‘CACHE certificate in Childcare and Education’, ‘Working with Children in the Early Years’ and Supporting Children’s Learning in the Early Years’. She has recently completed the ‘Foundation Degree in Early Years’ through the Open University and is currently studying towards a BA in Early Years. In addition she holds a current Paediatric 1st Aid qualification and Essential Food Hygeine certificate and has completed workshops in ‘Early Emotional Development and Attachment’.

Since Autumn 2005 Miranda has completed various courses including ‘0-3:Here’s Looking at You Baby’, ‘0-3:Forming Early relationships with Babies & Toddlers’, ‘0-3:Introduction to Birth to 3 Matters’, ‘Manual Handling’, ‘Child Protection’, and Paediatric First Aid training.

In March 08 Miranda completed ‘Moving and Handling children with Physical Disabilities’ and in April 08 she attended a course in ‘Social, Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties’

Miranda lives locally in the village and during her spare time she enjoys participating in physical activities ~ regularly attending the gym and exercise classes. She is also a very musical individual and enjoys playing the flute.

Lisa Joce – Full-Time Preschool Supervisor (Preschool, 3-5yrs)

Lisa joined the team in October 2005 and holds a BTEC National Diploma in Early Years. She is enthusiastic and passionate about her role, initially assisting in the Preschool and progressing to Supervisor in 2006.

Lisa has achieved First Aid at Work in 2004, completed a BTEC First Diploma in Public Services and will be undertaking Foundation Stage courses to continue her training for the Pre-school age group. She is currently working towards the ‘Foundation Degree in Early Years’

Alongside her work with children Lisa has achieved the ranking of Company Sargeant Major in the Army Cadets, the highest level of leadership in the under18’s organisation. She has also demonstrated her initiative and organisation in achieving her Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Lisa completed her Paediatric First Aid course in March 08 and attended the child protection course ‘Safeguarding Children’ in April 08.

Currently living in Ilfracombe, Lisa enjoys fitness classes in her spare time. 
  

Sophie Harris – Full-Time Nursery Assistant (Tweenies Room, 1-3yrs)

Sophie initially joined the team in 2004 as a Part-time assistant during our busy lunch-time period. She has now progressed to a full-time position and is working pre-dominantly with the 1 to 3yrs, ‘tweenies’ group. She is trained to NVQ level 2 and has excellent Performing Arts skills. In March 2008 Sophie completed her ‘NVQ3 in Early Years Childcare & Education.’

Sophie has experience in various settings, from Baby-Sitting to Pre-Skool and enjoys working with all the age-groups. A bubbly and enthusiastic member of the team, and has completed courses including ‘Inclusion: Coping with ADHD’

In March 2005 she completed ‘Introduction to Birth to 3 Matters’ and ‘FSC – Playing with Sounds(Phonics)’.
During Spring 2006, Sophie completed ‘Inclusion:Including Children with Social, Emotional & Behavioural Difficulties.’ She has also updated her Paediatric 1st Aid qualification in March 08.
Sophie has a great love of animals, particularly her pet dogs, and lives locally in the village with her partner, Stuart.

Danielle Ash – Part-Time Pre-school Assistant (Pre-school, 3-5yrs)

In March 2006, we were pleased to welcome Danielle as a permanent member of our team, following voluntary work she had undertaken with us earlier in the year.

Danielle has completed her ‘NVQ3 in Early Years Care and Education’. She has previously completed an openings course entitled ‘Understanding Children’ which was through the Open University. She has also completed courses in ‘Behaviour Management’ and ‘Child Protection’. In March 08, Danielle completed Paediatric First Aid training.
Danielle is a very enthusiastic, down-to-earth, confident and organised individual and is enjoying working in the pre-school.

Currently living in the village with her husband Seb and son Isaac, Danielle enjoys spending time with her family, keeping fit and reading. She is also an avid photographer having previously achieved a BTEC National Diploma in Photography.

Zoe Reid – Part-Time Nursery Assistant (Tweenies Room, 1-3yrs)

Zoe joined us in October 2005 under the Modern Apprentice scheme. Following successful completion of her NVQ2 in Childcare and Education in Summer 2006 we are happy to have her join our permanent team as a Part-Time Nursery Assistant in our Tweenies Room.

Zoe has always had a passion for caring for young children and has helped care for her young cousins since birth. She has had experience playgroups and afterschool clubs prior to undertaking her apprenticeship with us and is eager to continue her studies and develop her chosen career in childcare.

Zoe currently lives in Barnstaple with her family and her spare time is often spent babysitting for children aged 5 to 11 during the daytime and evenings. She also enjoys dancing, listening to music and socialising and would love to travel to Australia!

Work experience  

From time to time we are asked by local colleges to provide work experience for students during their childcare studies. These are usually between 1 and 3 weeks ‘block’ placements and any student wishing to undertake a placement at Little Fishes is required to attend an interview to determine their suitability to be around children. If we feel that any student is less than 100% enthusiastic about childcare, or in any way unsuitable to be around your children we reserve the right to refuse the placement. The well-being of your children is our number 1 priority.