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.)

Elizabeth Ashford – Nursery Owner/Manager

Elizabeth has been working with children for over 16 years, with experience as a nanny and nursery nurse, as well as raising her own two children. She has set up and run Little Fishes Soft-PlaySkool in Braunton since July 2002 and continues to carry out the daily administrative duties, having weekly management meetings and remaining closely involved in the management of Braunton branch. Elizabeth has replicated the play-based ethos established at Little Fishes, Braunton with the opening of Little Fishes Soft-PlaySkool ~ Fremington and provides the same excellent quality care, exciting activities and play opportunities by building a like-minded team of lively, enthusiastic staff to care for the children in a safe, stimulating environment.

Elizabeth has completed her NVQ4 in Leadership & Management , NVQ3 in Early Years Childcare and Education and has achieved certificates in Child Protection Training, Top Tots: Physical Play, Observation and Assessment Training, and Conflict Management. She has completed a RoSPA course on Risk Assessment and playground maintenance and is constantly reviewing her own and her staff’s training needs, to provide the best possible care for your weenies.

She has also completed:

• Paediatric 1st Aid Training (November, 04)
• Basic Food Hygiene (January, 05)
• Inclusion : Children at Early Years Action 
• FSC : Planning for the Foundation Stage Curriculum
• Fire-fighting and fire protection training
• Management workshop (June, 05)
• Birth to 3 Matters course entitled ‘An Overview of Working with Parents and Carers’
•  0 – 5 : Introduction to Schemas (February, 06)
• Inclusion : SEN & the Disability Act (March, 06)
• Ofsted information update (June, 06)
• Early Years Foundation Stage training (June 07, January 08, April 08)

Elizabeth is currently studying towards the NVQ4 in Early Years Care & Education and also an Open University Degree.

Laura Standen ~ Deputy Manager & Full-time Pre-school Supervisor

Laura has been working with children for over 9 years. She achieved the BTEC First Diploma in Caring and then went on to complete the NVQ 3 – Early Years Care and Education and the BTEC National Certificate in Early Years. In addition to this Laura has also completed specialised training for Birth to 3yr olds ~ ‘Working with Under 3’s a practical approach - How babies Learn’, ‘Treasure Baskets & Heuristic Play’, Music & Sensory Play.

Laura has achieved her First Aid for Childcarers in 2003, bringing this up to date with a refresher course in First Aid Skills Training in 2004. She has also completed the Food Hygeine Certificate and courses in FSC : Planning for the Foundation Stage Curriculum and Inclusion : Children at Early Years Action. She has also done Fire-fighting and fire protection training.

In July 2006 Laura completed NVQ3 in Leadership and Management. In November 2007 she also completed NVQ4 in Early Years Childcare & Education.

• FSC : Playing with Sounds (January, 06)
• Back Care Awareness (March 06)
• Inclusion : Lets All Play (March, 06)
• Paediatric 1st Aid (Jan 06)
• FSC : Knowledge & Understanding of the World (June, 06)
• Ofsted information update (June 06)
• Child Protection (November 06)
• Managing Individuals and Teams (Nov 06)
• Give Us a Game (Jan 07)
• Early Years Foundation Stage training (June 07, April 08)

Laura is a very adventurous and outgoing person, having returned from a 6 month sabbatical in New Zealand prior to starting with us, and now lives locally in Fremington village. In her spare time, Laura enjoys outdoor activities such as riding her mountain bike and dog-walking. She also attends kick-boxing classes two evenings a week for self-defence and to keep fit but to relax Laura enjoys reading, going to the cinema or just being with friends and family.
 

Sarah Blanche ~ Part-Time Nursery Nurse

Sarah has been working with children for over 16 years. She achieved the NNEB Diploma in Nursery Nursing and has worked in a variety of childcare provisions during her career ranging from Nanny to Primary School, Day Nursery, Pre-school and Special Needs Schools. Sarah has spent the recent years working pre-dominantly in the Day Nursery setting with children between the ages of 3mth to 5years, and has had one-to-one responsibility working with children with Special Educational Needs.

Sarah has gained a wealth of experience bringing up her 2 young children and has achieved her Red Cross Adults Certificate in First Aid. She has also completed courses in Fire-fighting and fire protection training.

• 0 – 3 : Introduction to Birth to 3 Matters
• 0 – 3 : Heuristics and Treasure Baskets
• 0-3 : Here’s Looking at You, Baby (January, 06)
• Inclusion : Including children with ADHD (January, 06)

Sarah lives locally with her family. In her spare time she enjoys going to the gym, walking her dogs, socialising and spending time with her family.

Vanessa Harmer ~ Part-Time Under 3’s Supervisor
Vanessa is currently on Maternity Leave
 
Vanessa joined us in August 2006 initially providing cover for Michelle’s maternity leave and became a permanent member of staff in September 2007.

Vanessa comes to us with an NNEB Diploma in Nursery Nursing and over 8 years’ experience working with children. She has worked with different age groups ranging from Birth to pre-school age and has also worked with children with Special Educational Needs.

During this time Vanessa has continued training and holds a CACDP Level 1 Certificate in British Sign Language, Health & Safety Executive 1st Aid at Work and has completed Makaton Vocabulary Workshop No 2

Vanessa lives in Barnstaple with her husband and twins, Kea and Chuck. She enjoys Kite Flying, Horse Riding, Cycling and Swimming
 

Beverley Mitchell ~ Full-Time Nursery Nurse

Beverley has been working with children for over 12 years. She has achieved the CACHE level 2 in Nursery Nursing and has worked in a variety of childcare settings. She has had experience of working with all age groups and takes particular interest in Health and Safety issues. Beverley is eager to continue her training and will shortly begin the NVQ 3 in Childcare and Education.

Bev has completed her Fire Extinguisher training.

• 0 – 3 : Behaviour Management (November, 05)
• 0 – 3 : The 2 yr old in the 3 & 4yr old setting, (December, 05)
• Back Care Awareness (March, 06)
• FSC : Curriculum Guidance (March, 06)
• Social, Emotional & Behavioural Difficulties (April 07)

A lively and enthusiastic member of the team, Beverley currently lives in Bideford with her husband Phil and their 2 dogs. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with family and friends, listening to music and reading.
 

Judy Williams ~ Acting Supervisor 0-3yr olds
Judy is currently taking on the role of supervisor during Vanessa’s maternity leave

Judy has joined our setting as a nursery assistant in September 2005. She has completed her BTec National Diploma in Early Years and also a GNVQ in Health and Social Care. Judy has enjoyed working with a variety of age groups from 9mths to 8yrs old and has experience in planning for the Foundation Stage Curriculum and also worked as assistant childminder with the birth to 3yr age group.

Judy has also completed her First Aid at Work certificate and covered an extensive Child Protection element whilst studying for her BTec qualification.

As Supervisor for Under 3’s, Judy is working particularly with the babies and has completed many courses including

•  ‘The Importance of Environment for 0-3 yr olds’
• ‘Child Protection’, ‘Foundation Certificate in Food Hygeine’
• ‘First Aid for people in Childcare Environments’
• Early Years Foundation Stage training (June 07, April 08)

Judy lives locally with her family and enjoys walking and playing badminton. She is a calm and happy individual who fits in well with our Fremington team.
 

Beau Birch ~ Full-Time Nursery Assistant

Beau joined us in September 2005 as an Apprentice and, on completion of her NVQ2 in Early Years Care & Education, she was taken on as a permanent staff member in September 06.

Beau also completed Emergency First Aid for Children in December, 05 and is currently studying towards NVQ3 in Early Years Care & Education. She has also completed ‘Child Protection’ course and ‘Activities for under 2’s’

Beau lives in Fremington with her family and enjoys babysitting, playing the piano and spending time with friends & family.

Christina Martin ~ Part-time Nursery Assistant

Christina joined us in July 05 working voluntarily over the Summer and achieved her Millenium Volunteers Award in September 2006 after completing more than 200hrs of voluntary work in various settings.

She then continued with us as an apprentice, achieving her NVQ2 in Early Years Care & Education in June 2007, and is now a permanent member of staff with us. Christina also holds a certificate in Paediatric First Aid.

Christina lives in Bideford with her family and, in her spare time, enjoys going fishing with her boyfriend.

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.