OUR TEAM
Wildlings would be nothing without the our highly qualified and dedicated team to inspire the children and help them learn. We have three qualified teachers, and a Level 3 Forest School Leader, as well as a number of practitioners who have worked in Early Years Education for over 10 years.
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We maintain lower than required adult to child ratios in order to ensure all children have the dedicated time and quality interactions that they deserve.
We are committed to building a strong team of passionate, knowledgeable practitioners who really care about children and share in our unique ethos. We believe in Continued Professional Development and our team are constantly striving to build upon their knowledge and skills. One member of staff is currently completing an NPQ in Early Years Leadership and Management, 2 others are undertaking the Early Years Professional Development Programme during 2023. As a team we have been working towards becoming an accredited Confident Communicators setting. We also believe in sharing our knowledge and skills with others. Jasmin, who joined the team as an apprentice, has now completed her Level 2 and 3 Early Years Educator training with us and Lynne is completing her Early Years Teacher training with us.
CATE
Manager
SENDCo
Qualified Teacher
Level 3 Forest School Lead
Designated Safeguarding Lead
I am a qualified teacher with over 15 years experience. I also have experience of working with children with learning differences and pride myself on being an inclusive practitioner.
I live in Belper with my husband, three boys and a tank of tropical fish. I joined Wildlings around three years ago but my youngest two attended, so I have been around for a while!
I studied for a degree in Psychology and during the holidays volunteered as a support worker for children with Autism and at summer camps for children with life limiting illnesses. When I finished university I went on to work at a school and diagnostic centre for children with Autism. During this time I realised that my heart lay in working with children and supporting their development so decided to go into teaching.
I completed my PGCE in Bristol specialising in early years, science and literacy. After a couple of years teaching I became leader of a Foundation Stage unit in inner city Bristol with around 300 children from Nursery up to Year 1. With many children speaking English as an additional language, living in flats and having troubled backgrounds, I became passionate about the benefits of outdoor learning.
We spent 12 glorious years in Bristol but when my oldest son was a toddler we made the decision to move North to be nearer to family and, settled in Belper. At this time I decided to take a break from teaching full time so that I could spend time with my boys, particularly as my middle son has been in and out of hospital. Then, a couple of years ago the opportunity came to join Wildlings which suited us perfectly and I haven't looked back!
I am passionate about quality early years education and and inspiring every child to reach their full potential. In this ever changing world, I believe it is of the utmost importance that we provide children with an environment in which they feel safe and secure enough to follow their desire to explore, create, vocalise and to inspire creativity, resilience and independence. By following a child’s lead and responding to their natural curiosity, the best type of learning will take place through their own initiated play.
I love learning more about how best to support the children and have completed my Level 3 Forest School Leader training, an NPQ in Early Years Leadership and a qualification in supporting the development of speech and language.
Outside of work we enjoy visiting the beach and spending time in the countryside. I love pottering in the garden, cooking and trying my hand at crafty things when I get time between the swimming/ music/ riding lessons with the boys! I have recently started doing a bit of canoeing and climbing with my oldest too which I would really like to do more of.
CLAIRE
Business Lead
Deputy Manager
Qualified Teacher
I live in Crich with my husband and our three children.
I've been involved in education all my professional life; I was a secondary school history and sociology teacher for 11 years. I have been an Assistant Head of 6th Form and a Head of History. I've also taught English as a volunteer in Thailand, India and Ecuador and worked with a Primary School in Peru on developing their heritage education programme.
I took a career break while my children were very young and my interest in the Early Years was sparked by this time seeing the sense of wonder and curiosity that they approached the world with. ​
I joined Wildlings in September 2019 as Admin Assistant. I started working with the children in September 2020 and joined the management team as Business Lead in May 2021. I have recently completed a diploma in Early Years Development.
I love my time with the children, following where their natural curiosity leads and have learnt so much with them and from the wonderful Wildlings staff team. I feel so fortunate to be part of such a special setting.
LUCY
Level 3 Practitioner
Communication and language lead
I live in Ambergate with my husband our little boy Eddie and our daughter Erin as well as two cats.
After leaving school I worked as a nanny and house keeper for just over a year. I then spent almost 9 years working as an office administrator but dreamt of working with children.
After a challenging year in 2015 I decided to make the career change and started my Early Years journey. In 2018 I qualified as a Level 3 Early Years Educator. I have recently completed a year long Early Years Professional Diploma and Level 3 training in speech and language development. I am now leading whole staff training to ensure that the whole setting is a communication friendly environment and we are hoping to gain accreditation for this very soon.​
​I joined Wildlings in January 2020. I really do enjoy coming to work each day as we are so lucky to work in such a unique and inspirational setting. Watching the children grow and learn is food for my soul.
ALISON
Level 3 Practitioner
I have been working at Wildlings for over 22 years now so during my time I have seen many changes and developments. I now have two grandchildren who I enjoy spending time with and both attend Wildlings.​
In my free time I enjoy walking my 3 dogs in the countryside. I also have a large Bengal cat, a tank of various tropical fish and 3 very fluffy alpacas.​
It is a privilege to work in such a unique setting. No day is ever the same! I love spending time in our beautiful woodland and it is a privilege to be able to support the children in the Early Years as I feel that we're giving them the best possible start.
BECCI
Level 3 Practitioner
I’m Becci. I’m a wife, and mother to two boys. I’m an early bird as in I like to see the sun rise. In my spare time I enjoy doing scrapbook making, baking, playing football, flying kites and generally just doing things with my family.
I’ve always loved being outside and since a young age have been part of the scouting family and become an leader at 18 until I had my boys.
I achieved my level 2 childcare over 15 years ago and then completed my level 3 while working full time in a nursery.
I’ve been at wildlings since January 2020. When I first visited the setting I was overwhelmed by the unique approach that they have to children's learning.
I enjoy doing crafts, being outside and being part of the children's role play.
JASMIN
Level 3 Practitioner
Hello, I’m Jasmin. I've lived in Bullbridge all my life, surrounded by my family- we all live next-door but one to each other!
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I originally knew I wanted to work with children when I did my work experience at Fritchley CE primary school. I was also inspired by the kids club staff on holidays. I was amazed by what they were able to accomplish, sparking interest and curiosity in the children there and this led to me wanting to be part of supporting children in every day opportunities myself.
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I started my journey at Wildings during my level 2 childcare practitioner training. I immediately fell in love with the in the moment planning approach and how the staff really cared for the children they were supporting. Working outdoors with Wildings has sparked my interest in the wildlife around me, making me more aware of nature and what it has to offer. I have recently completed my Level 3 childcare diploma as an apprentice and I have loved the opportunities that wildlings staff and children have given to develop as a childcare professional.
LYNNE
Qualified Early Years Teacher
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
I joined Wildlings in January 2021 after completing my Masters Degree in Childhood at Derby University. Prior to this, I achieved a first class degree in Creative writing and Early Childhood Studies. Throughout my studies, I have focused on both traditional and digital literacies, gender identity and children's rights. I am passionate about nurturing the unhurried child and helping to deliver a holistic and nurturing educational experience for our young.
Before coming to Wildlings, I spent time volunteering in schools as a reading role model and in a stay and play setting.
I don't have much time spare as I am parent to a lively 6 year old, but I am enjoying making time to learn macrame and the art of forest bathing, alongside developing my bush craft as part of this wonderful team of practitioners.
EMMA
Practitioner
Hi, I’m Emma! I live in Matlock with my two teenage children, Jack and Eliza, and my furry Lakeland Terrier, Pippin, who’s always ready for an outdoor adventure. I’m a lover of chickens, an enthusiastic veggie grower, and someone who finds endless joy in all things bee related. I’m passionate about connecting people with nature—whether it’s through a buzzing pollinator-friendly garden, a forest adventure, or inspiring children to discover the wonders of the outdoors.I’m currently studying for my Level 3 Forest School qualification, building on a year I spent as a Learning Through Nature Trainee with Derbyshire Wildlife Trust. Over the past year, I’ve run Nature Tots, where little ones explore the magic of nature through fun, hands-on activities, and worked with schools to develop wildlife-friendly gardens that spark curiosity and create lasting green spaces.With a background in garden design and horticulture, I also volunteer with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust and for more than three years, I’ve been a "Nature on Your Doorstep" expert with the RSPB, helping families and communities transform their outdoor spaces into thriving habitats for wildlife.Whether I’m designing school gardens, running forest school sessions, or tending to my own veg patch, my mission is simple: to inspire people of all ages to connect with the natural world and discover how rewarding it is to care for it. I hope to continue inspiring others through my work at Wildings, helping even more children embrace and enjoy the wonders of nature.
BEX
Practitioner
I'm Bex, and I live locally with my partner, our dog Leo, our rabbits and guinea pigs! Sometimes we look after children at our house, and we have fun going out and about on adventures together.​
I'm quite new to Wildlings but I've worked in schools, nurseries and play schemes for the last 15 years, much of which has been supporting children with additional needs which I have loved. While working in schools I gained NVQ Level 3 Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools, and later studied BSc Occupational Therapy at the University of Derby. After this, I started working in Early Years which I enjoy because it allows us as practitioners to be child-led and to support children to develop holistically. I was excited to join Wildlings to be able to combine this with my love of the outdoors!
It's a privilege to spend time with our Wildlings and see how calm, resilient and creative the children are. It gives them unique opportunities to develop in all areas and I love watching them change and grow. After working in some larger settings I really appreciate the low ratios and small groups because we have more time to spend with each child and really get to know them. It really shows in the lovely relationships between the staff and children. The team is very skilled and I'm enjoying learning along with the children - I learn something new every day!
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KATIE
Level 3 Forest School Lead
Qualified Teacher
Hi, I'm Katie. I have two young children, aged 2 and 4, and I love watching them learn from the world around them. During lockdown we were so thankful for our garden and access to the local woods in Waingroves. It made a real difference to us to be able to get outdoors easily during those tricky times. I want to help enable more children to spend time outdoors, learning from nature while they play and explore.
I studied for a degree in Oceanography, went on to do a Primary PGCE and I'm now continuing my learning with the L3 Forest School Leader training. Before having children, I spent two years living in India and taught in a local school there. As well as travelling, I also enjoy reading, baking, camping, walking, photography and music.
I'm looking forward to working with the Wildlings team and getting to know all the children and families there. The hall is so calm and nurturing and the woods are such an awe-inspiring natural playground. What a wonderful place to grow and learn together!