Grass Roots Nursery Group
Grass Roots Private Day Nursery Tel:01422836280 grassrootsdaynursery@gmail.com
Grass Roots Preschool Tel:01422417659 grassroots.newroad@gmail.com
Our staff
The most important people, as far as your children are concerned, are the staff who are all dedicated and caring, with a wealth of experience. Some of the Senior Leadership Team hold Masters Degree’s in Early Years and Psychology and four of the team are qualified early years teachers. All members of the team are qualified to, or working towards, Early Years Educator Level 3 qualification, appropriate for the care and development of children, as required by Ofsted.
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Additional training is available for all staff to continue their professional development, keep up with new initiatives and to consolidate their areas of expertise (a copy of our Staff Policy can be found on this site).
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New members of staff receive induction training, which includes our Health and Safety and Safeguarding Children policies and procedures and this is reviewed regularly throughout their induction period.
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All members of staff are qualified in Paediatric First Aid and basic Safeguarding Children (which includes Child Protection) amongst other core training that we adhere to as part of our induction process. There is always a senior member of staff present during opening hours.
The Management Team
Lucy
Director &
Executive Nursery Manager
Lucy Pottinger is the Executive Nursery Manager. Lucy has a Masters in Psychology. She has a BA (Hons) in Childhood and Youth Studies and Post Graduate Early Years Teacher Status. She is qualified to level 5 in leadership and management and level 3 in Coaching in the Workplace.
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​Lucy oversee all aspects of the business and both the nursery settings to ensures quality and standards are high therefore providing the best development and learning for the children attending. Lucy's passion is family support and developing knowledge within the community.
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Lucy is the Designated Safeguarding Lead, Deputy SENCo and also an Emotional Health and Well Being Champion for Calderdale. Lucy is on the Starting Well Board for Calderdale, representing the PVI Sector. ​
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Lucy is a mother of four children and one dog, she enjoys reading, long baths, long walks, exploring new places and baking in her spare time.
Caitlin
Nursery Manager
Caitlin is the Nursery Manager at Grass Roots. She has a degree in Early Childhood Studies and Masters in Childhood studies and Early Years. She also has over 20 years experience in childcare.
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Caitlin is responsibile the day to day management of the settings. Caitlin's main passion in the setting is the personal development and welfare of the children and staff, to ensure the best outcomes for all our children and families.
​She is the settings deputy DSL.
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Caitlin has three children, whom she loves to go on adventures with. She also enjoys creative projects and being outdoors.
Andrew
Director &
Operations Manager
Andrew Ridley is one of the owners of the nursery. In 2002, following his retirement after 30 years in the West Yorkshire Police, he enrolled as a student at Leeds University and obtained a BA(Hons) first-class in German and Spanish. He then spent 11 years as a Maths Mentor at Brooksbank School, Elland, where he developed a passion for education.
On his retirement he volunteered in local junior schools, where he recognised the value of early years' education. As a result, he couldn't resist becoming involved with Grass Roots, when the opportunity arose.
He has now obtained a Level 3 Early Years' Educator quailification so that he can help with the development of the children in the nursery.
Andrew's main responsibility, however, is ensuring that all the health and safety standards are being met, as well as accident and incident monitoring.
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In his spare time, Andrew enjoys cycling, reading and spending time with his family
Matthew
Director &
Buisness Manager
Matthew is a Director and Business Manager for Grass Roots.
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He enjoys woodwork and making furniture, many of our items in nursery Matt has created or adapted for us. He also enjoys gardening, he carefully tends to our allotment.
Matt also likes walking and enjoys long walks with Frank, our nursery dog.
Emma
Deputy Manager & SENDCo
Emma is the Deputy Manager and SENDCo across both settings. She is Level 6 qualified with a degree in Childhood Studies and has over 10 years experience working with children and young people. She also has a Level 3 in SEND Support.
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She loves seeing each child develop and grow into confident little learners and letting their personalities shine.
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She enjoys spending time and socialising with my family and friends and she has two fur babies.
Her life is always go, go, go as she and her partner love getting in the car to explore new places especially if it involves a beach day or a weekend caravanning.
Jess
Duty Manager
Jess has worked for Grass Roots since we opened in 2018. She has worked her way up through the nursery and now assists in the office.
Jess has her Level 3 Early Years Educator and Level 5 qualification in Leadership and management and 10 years+ experience of working with children 0-11.
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Jess enjoys spending time with her daughter, partner and family, scenic walks with her dog, and meals out so she doesn't have to clean up.
The Fold Team
Under 2's at St. Peters
Christine
The Fold Room Leader
Christine is Level 5 qualified practitioner and The Folds Room Leader. She is also our lead behaviour practitioner.
Christine enjoys going out with her 4 boys and partner on day trips and walking in the countryside. She also enjoys making things.
Christine has always wanted to work with children and think it is the most rewarding job, knowing that you have made a difference.
Keeley
Early Years Practitioner
Keeley has her Level 3 Early Years Educator qualification.
She worked in elderly care previously for 8 years.
In her spare time she enjoys spending time with friends and family and walking her dog.
Charlotte
Early Years Practitioner
Charlotte is a Level 3 Early years practitioner.
Charlotte has worked in nurseries for many years, and has lots of experience working in the baby room.
Charlotte enjoys spending time with her daughter and partner out of work.
Laurie
Early Years Apprentice
Laurie is currently doing her Level 3 Early Years Educator course. This is Laurie's first job in childcare but she says " I love working with children, helping them develop into their happy personalities, watching their curiosity as they play and soaking up all the cuddles.
The Paddock Team
2 year olds at St. Peters
Natasha
The Paddock Room Leader
Natasha has 6 years experience in childcare and holds a Level 3 qualification.
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What interests Natasha about childcare is being able to watch them grow and develop as individuals.
Amy
Deputy Room Leader
Amy is a Level 3 early years educator. Amy has worked in nurseries for 3 years and enjoys watching children grow and reach their goals.
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In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her friends and family and often babysitting for her nephew and niece.
Beth
Nursery Apprentice
Beth is currently doing her Level 3 Early Years Educator course. She has previously worked in a nursery and been a SEND support worker. Beth says "I thoroughly enjoy working with children and watching them thrive in childcare, and it is a very interesting and rewarding job"
The Orchard Team
2 year olds at New Road
Charlotte
The Orchard Room Leader
Charlotte is a Level 3 qualified practitioner and is also doing her forest school training.
After 11 years working in health and social care she decided that it was time for a new adventure.
In her spare time Charlotte enjoys exploring the outdoors with her husband, two young daughters and dog. She enjoys camping, caravanning, and, grows her own fruit and vegetables.
Jenny
Early Years Teacher
Jenny has previously worked at out of school clubs and has completed her Early Years Teacher Status.
The Meadow Team
3 - 4 year olds at St. Peter's
Racheal
Early Years Teacher
Racheal is a Qualified Early Years Teacher and she has a degree in learning, development and support.
Racheal is really creative and follows the childrens interests with great enthusiasm, making sure that childrens interests are included in the planning helping to keep the children engaged in their learning.
She loves spending her time with her family, they like to be outside walking their dog and exploring the woods.
Heather
Nursery Practitioner
Heather has her level 3 early years educator qualification.
She is mum to two energetic boys.
She and her family like to go on walks and find places where they can go climbing. They also love a good movie night!
Tiarna
Nursery practitioner
Tiara has recently qualified as an Early Years Educator.
She has a lots of hands on experience with children as she has a big family and a daughter.
Alicia
Early Years Assistant
Alicia is currently doing her level 5 early years foundation degree in Early Childhood Studies.
She has always wanted to work with children as it is a really rewarding job seeing them learn and grow, which is why she coached gymnastics to young children in her spare time because she loved seeing them thrive learning new skills.
The Woodland Team
3 - 4 year olds at New Road
Amy G
Early Years Teacher
Amy is a Qualified Early Years Teacher here at Grass Roots.
Amy leads the teaching and learning within The Woodland and provides the children with some exciting and stimulating learning activities and resources. She is also Deputy DSL.
Amy enjoys spending time with her daughter and husband
Gill
Early Years Practitioner
Gill is a level 3 qualified practitioner and has 22 years experience in childcare.
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She has also has 3 grown up children and 2 grandchildren so has lots of hands on experience.
Gill likes socialising with her friends and family, and lots of gets togethers. Gill also enjoy watching sports and walking.
Nicole
Early Years Practitioner
Nicole, with over 10 years experience, has worked in early years since leaving school and she is a Level 3 qualified practitioner.
She loves her job and is passionate about working with children.
Nicole has 2 children, whom are both at school. She loves to do things on a weekend with her little ones and is a social butterfly.
Janet
Early Years Practitioner
Janet has 10 years of experience working with children, she has her Level 3 qualification.
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Janet loves the fact that no two days are the same and getting to know all the children's individual characters and personalities. She enjoys being part of scaffolding care and education around individual needs and nurturing children to become well rounded young people.
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As part of her previous role within a school she did a lot of interventions with children with SEND difficulties.
Helping children to learn and grow is something Janet is very passionate about, finding new angles to look at things or adapting to help the children to gain understanding in order to help them flourish.
Rochelle
Early Years Practitioner
Rochelle currently works part time with us Whilst she is studying to be a social worker at university. Rochelle has her Level 3 Early Years Educator qualification, she loves helping the children to achieve their potential and exploring the outside world with them. She loves being part of the Grass Roots team and helping in any way she can.
Rochelle has 6 children and loves being a Mum, learning each day the best way to raise her mini adults. She really enjoys being active and teaching her children independence. Crafting is second nature to her and she love being able to share that with others.
Kitchen
Ryan
Early Years Chef
Ryan has a passion for cooking and shows great creativity in his work.
Ryan started in the hospitality industry at around 14 years old and worked his way up from pot washer to catering manager.
Ryan then went on to work seasons for quite a few years, he spent summers working for PGL as a catering manager and was lucky enough to work in a variety of locations such as Wales, Scotland and Paris and spent many winters working in ski chalets in either Austria or France.
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Ryan now resides in Sowerby Bridge with his wife and son, who attends Grass Roots.
Julie
Kitchen assistant
Julie holds city and guilds certificates in catering and she has over 22 years experience of working as a cook in a private day nursery.
Julie enjoys watching her sons play sports, socialising with her friends and spending time with my family. She also enjoys reading.