Meet the Team

Claire Patmore

Manager

Claire has been a Nursery Practitioner for 18 years, and qualified with an NNEB with Distinction qualification in 1993.

She has continued to refresh and update her training over the years in order to keep up with the ever evolving world of childcare.

Claire has always worked in the private sector and has vast experience with all age groups between 0 and 5 years, having room-managed all base rooms from babies to preschool in Senior Management positions before taking over Woodlands as Manager in 2001. 

Claire splits her working day between dealing with the everyday running of the nursery based in the nursery office, and working on the nursery floor supporting her staff and spending much valued time with the children.

Claire is proud of her strong and dedicated staff team and the excellent reputation that Woodlands Day Nursery and Preschool has built up in the local community over the years.

Carly Dart

Deputy Manager

Carly qualified with a BTEC National qualification in childcare in 1998, and has also always worked in the private sector.

She joined us at Woodlands in 2001 as Deputy Manager following an 18 month period at another day nursery gaining valuable experience.

Carly is supernumerary within the nursery and spends her time between working on the nursery floor with the team and working alongside Claire in the Office.

As well as being our Deputy Manager, Carly holds the positions of Deputy Special Educational Needs Coordinator, Fire Marshall and Behaviour Management Coordinator.

Jason Waters

Nursery Chef

Jason has been a qualified Chef (City & Guilds) for the last 22 years, and joined us in July 2008 bringing with him a huge wealth of knowledge and experience.

Karen Bell

Room Leader

Karen joined our team in 2004 after qualifying with a Diploma in Preschool Practice.

Karen is currently Room Leader of our Pine room which cares for children aged 2 to 3 years, as well as holding the hugely important role of Health and Safety Co-ordinator for our setting.

Gemma Hodgkin

Nursery Practitioner

Gemma joined is in April 2008 and worked very hard to successfully gain both her NVQ Levels 2 and 3 qualifications through training with our own ‘Casterbridge Academy’.

She then became a permanent qualified member of our team - we are very proud of Gemma as she was our first successful NVQ candidate to qualify at Woodlands.

Abbey Bullar

Nursery Practitioner

Abbey joined us in 2009 and has a CACHE Level 2 & 3 in Childcare & Education - Abbey currently works with the 2 to 3s within our nursery.

Abbey has successfully established herself within our team and is enjoying her time at Woodlands, learning lots and building upon her childcare experience every day.