Staff (ID 1077)

• Mrs Laura Field
  Manager, Designated Safeguarding Lead, Forest School LeaderKey Person, Fire Officer
  Mrs Laura Field

  I live locally with my 3 teenage sons, a gheko, 2 cats, Waffle the dog, some chickens and 2 tortoises. My favourite place is West Cornwall, kayaking to secret beaches and cooking on camp fires.

  In 2008 I volunteered to run a parent led nursery in North London when my boys were little and then qualified as an Early Years practitioner. I have worked in Early Years ever since. My children were wildlings and grew up outside most of the day in woods and on the coast. I formalised what I observed about their development outside with my Forest School Leader qualification and brought my love of all things outdoors to Sunny Hill in 2015. In 2019 I was delighted to take on leadership of the new Sunny Hill Nursery.

  What Makes me Unique

  I love flower arranging

  I don’t like wearing socks

  I’m not good at trying new foods

  Qualifications

  BA Hons Anthropology

  L3 Diploma in Pre School Practice

  L3 Forest School Leader

  L3 Basic Food Hygiene

  Paediatric First Aid

  Advanced Safeguarding Lead

  Leiths Certificate in Food and Wine

  FSA Allergy training

  Tiny Talk Signing and Communication

  CACHE Assessor, Diploma in Early Years

• Mrs Heather Finlay PAN
  Deputy Manager, Designated Safeguarding Lead, Behaviour Management Lead, Key Person
  Mrs Heather Finlay PAN

  From an early age I wanted to work with children. Having attended the Norland Nursery as a child there was only one place I wanted to train. Since becoming a Norlander, I have worked with many private families and nurseries in London and Somerset. My highlights at Sunny Hill include being introduced to mud sliding and the Christmas Nativity.

  I believe every child deserves the best start to their education and I treasure being part of their journey with all the mess and fun that goes with it! I have a huge collection of children's literature and my favourite author is Shirley Hughes. Cooking with the children and introducing them to new flavours and textures is always fun too.

  What Makes Me Unique

  I dont like pen lids being left off

  My favourite colour is blue

  I love being by the sea

  Qualifications

  Professional Associate of Norland (PAN)

  Norland Diploma (continually updated)

  National Nursery Examination Board

  Associate, Royal Society of Health

  Advanced Safeguarding DSL

  Paediatric First Aid

  Tiny Talk Signing and Communication

  L3 Basic Food Hygiene

  FSA Allergy Training

  CACHE Assessor, Diploma in Early Years

  Consultant in sleep, feeding, transitions, routines, travelling abroad with children, children's anxiety, preparing for a new baby, party planning

• Miss Phoebe Carey
  Key Person
  Miss Phoebe Carey

  I have wanted to work with children in some way, since the age of 15. I have learned so much in my first 2 years at Sunny Hill and know I want to qualify as an Early Years Practitioner. I have now started my L3 Diploma in Early Years. I love being outside with the children and having the freedom to explore around the grounds. At home, my time is spent with friends, family and my dog Winnie.

  What makes me unique

  I love listening to music and podcasts, specifically True Crime, whilst painting.

  My favourite colours are green and brown

  Olives are my favourite food and I love every type of cheese

  I adore spending time with my friends, family and my dog, Winnie.

  Qualifications

  BA Hons Education Studies

  Level 2 Safeguarding Children

  Level 2 Food Hygiene and Safety

  Food Allergy Awareness

  Paediatric First Aid

  Emergency First Aid at Work

  Currently studying L3 Diploma in Early Years

• Miss Shannon Bastable (Miss B)
  Key Person
  Miss Shannon Bastable (Miss B)

  For several years I worked in summer and sustainable camps across America and in Cornwall. I have developed a passion for learning in the outdoors and providing healthy and exciting new experiences for children, be that through Forest School or general sport and exercise. I practise yoga and mindfulness and am glad to have brought this and my love of physical activity into the nursery. I have recently completed the Somerset Active Sports Partnership programme for Sunny Hill.

  What Makes Me Unique

  I love reading fantasy books and pub quizzes

  My favourite colour is blue

  I cannot function without my daily intake of coffee and chocolate.

  Qualifications

  BA Hons Education Studies

  L3 Award in Childcare and Education

  Paediatric First Aid

  Tiny Talk Signing and Communication

  TEFL Distinction

  Currently completing L3 Diploma in Childcare and Education

• Miss Georgie Bingham
  Key Person, SENCO
  Miss Georgie Bingham

  I grew up locally and am an old Bruton Girl, spending my prep years in this very spot at Sunny Hill. After working in a nursery in London I returned to my roots in Somerset. I am passionate about inspiring and having fun with the children whilst they learn through play. I enjoy introducing science activities, such as exploding elephant toothpaste, allowing the children to ask questions and wonder. I am currently writing and illustrating my first children’s book about honey bees.

  What Makes Me Unique

  My favourite cake is carrot cake

  My favourite book is We’re Going on a Bear Hunt

  I don’t like mushrooms

  Qualifications

  Early Years Foundation Stage Teaching

  BA Hons Education Studies

  Level 4 SENCO Diploma

  Level 3 BTEC Teaching and Learning in Schools

  Level 3 Supporting Verbal pupils with Autism Spectrum Disorder

  Paediatric First Aid

  FSA Allergy training

• Kate Hathway
  Forest School leader
  Kate Hathway

  I am Kate, the Forest school leader.

  Forest schooling enables children to develop in a way that is natural to them as well as being comfortable in the outdoor environment.

  I love seeing children’s confidence grow as they learn through play and acquire new skills.

  Previously I had a smallholding in Galicia and ran a fashion textile agency although now I mainly dress in waterproofs.

  I go wild swimming in a quarry every week, am mum to a lovely teenage boy and have a tendency to sing random songs.

  Qualifications

  Level 3 Forest school leader

  Outdoor adult and paediatric first aid

  CACHE L1 Early Years

  BA Hons Fashion

• Jenny Williams
  Lunch Time Supervisor, Housekeeper
  Jenny Williams

  I love chatting to the children whilst we eat our lunches together and then playing with them outside after lunch. The nursery is a wonderful place and we all laugh a lot! When I am not at the nursery I am at home looking after all my animals and listening to vinyl records. I love music from the 60's and early 70's.

  What makes me unique

  I know far too much about 60's records

  I am restoring an old dolls house

  I love custard!

• Miss Abigail Comer
  Key Person
  Miss Abigail Comer

  I completed my apprenticeship at Sunny Hill and after a year abroad it is wonderful to back as a qualified practitioner full time. I have had a wonderful time working for Camp America and then on a Disney Cruise ship for 6 months. I still love all things Disney.