Our Team
Our Team
With over 100 years of combined early years care and education experience, Rainbow Teddies Pre-school employs well experienced, competent, caring staff.
Essential Information
- All staff employed by the setting, or any volunteer attending the setting on a regular basis, are vetted and undertake a check through the Disclousure and Barring Service (DBS).
- Staff have Paediatric First Aid Training Certificates.
- All staff are encouraged to attend courses to gain relevant qualifications, to acquire new skills and to up-date current methods and practices.
- The Special Educational Needs and Disability Co-ordinators (SENDCo) update their training regularly to ensure that current practices are employed within the group.
- We also operate a Key Person system whereby all children are allocated a qualified member of staff who will be responsible for liaising with parents, monitoring the progress and coordinating each child’s Learning Journal.
- Finally, Rainbow Teddies provides very good adult-to-child ratios to ensure the safety of the children in its care. The ratio is at least 1 adult to 5 (but usually 1:4) children for under 3′s and 1 adult to 8 children for 3′s and over.
Marie – Manager
“I’m the Manager, SENDCo and Deputy Safeguarding Lead at Rainbow Teddies. I have a Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People’s Workforce and a Level 3 SENDCo qualification. I joined Rainbow Teddies in Nov 2020 and have worked in childcare since 2013. I’m married with two children and one grandchild and have lived in Thornbury for most of my life, in fact I was born in Thornbury Hospital! I enjoy baking and I love to go camping.”
Our Team
Emily
Deputy Manager. Rising School Leader and Curriculum Co-ordinator Safeguarding Lead
“Hi my name is Emily.
I have eighteen years experience in Early Years settings undertaking roles such as teacher, deputy manager, manager and SENDCo.
I trained as an Early Years Teacher and gained my BA (Hons) Initial Teacher Training with specialism Early Years in 2008. I also gained my Early Years Professional Status around this time.
I live in Thornbury with my two children, both boys aged 16 and 10, they both keep me very busy!”
Nichola
Teddy Tots Leader and Curriculum Co-ordinator
Assistant SENDCo
Nichola’s qualifications include a CACHE diploma in Nursery Nursing (NNEB). She has worked in a variety of childcare settings for over 20 years.
“Hi, my name is Nichola and I’ve worked with children for 20+ years. I have two of my own children now and our family roots are in the South East, so it was lovely to get a job at Rainbow Teddies because it’s not just a place to work, it is a family.”
Angharad
Qualified Assistant
Angharad’s qualifications include an NVQ3 in Early Years Care and Education. She has worked in childcare for 18 years, including overseas.
“Hello, I’m Angharad. Big on Sensory Play, Makaton, Yoga and I’ll be seen getting over excited on dress up days aswell!”
Lisa
Qualified Assistant
Lisa’s qualifications include an BTEC Level 3 Early Years. She joined Rainbow Teddies in 2021
“My own children inspire me with their creativity, that helps me add to the fun learning opportunities we share at Rainbow Teddies. I moved to Thornbury with my family in 2020, though we’ve settled right in along with our menagerie of animals and feel like we’ve always lived here!”
Olivia
Qualified Assistant
Olivia’s qualifications include a CACHE diploma in Nursery Nursing (NNEB)
“Hi my name is Olivia. I have worked in childcare since qualifying in 1995, working as a private nanny, childminder and then onto pre-schools. I joined Rainbow Teddies in Sept 2024, although it feels like I have been there for a lot longer as the lovely team of colleagues that I work with make it feel so homely. I grew up in Bristol before moving to Thornbury where I have spent most of my life with my 3 children, and recently moved to just outside the area to Berkeley. My hobbies (when I have time) include baking and decorating cakes, cross stitch, jigsaw puzzles, music, singing and art. I love to share my creativity with the children by offering ideas to make learning fun and I enjoy keeping the love of books alive by reading stories with them.
Kazz
Qualified Assistant
Kazz has a Level 3 in Childcare
“Hello I’m Kazz. I have been teaching and taking care of children for most of my career and I adore it!!
I have qualifications in EYFS Childcare Learning and Development and continue to further my knowledge and skills with extra training in child lead courses.
I have two beautful children, one of my children came to Rainbow Teddies and absolutely loved it!
I’m passionate about gardening, baking and art. I’m also a keen writer and I enjoy making up stories with my children and turning them into children’s books in my spare time.
I was very lucky to be given the opportunity to work at Rainbow Teddies and I am excited for the future ahead here.
Erin
General Assistant
“Hello, my name is Erin. I started to work at Rainbow Teddies as a Gen Asst in 2022 undertaking a bank role but then become permanent staff in 2023. I am currently undergoing training to gain my Level 3 Early Years Educator qualification. It was my daughter that inspired me to work at Rainbow Teddies as she enjoyed her time here before starting school in Sept 22. It’s a rewarding experience to support all the amazing children that come and join in all the fun and creative learning at the pre-school.”
Annie
General Assistant
Annie has a NVQ Level 3 in Child Care and Education.
“I have worked at Rainbow Teddies since September 2016. I have two boys of my own. I have worked in Early Years since 1995.
Jo
General Assistant
“I joined the Rainbow Teddies team in 2017. I’m a mum to three girls who all went to Rainbow Teddies. I have always lived in Thornbury and my girls and I all went to Manorbrook School. I enjoy making greetings cards and I bring my passion for creativity into the setting by designing activities for the children.”
Management Committee
Our pre-school is parent-led. This means that we are run by a Management Committee made up of volunteer parents and carers connected to the pre-school. In line with our Constitution the pre-school cannot exist without it.
The Management Committee is responsible for:-
• managing the pre-school’s finances
• employing the staff and manager of the pre-school
• ensuring that the pre-school has and works towards policies that help it to provide a high-quality service
• ensuring the pre-school works in partnership with the childrens’ parents
We also get involved in a whole variety of other activities including:-
• fundraising to buy additional resources and improve the pre-school
• promoting the pre-school
All parents/carers are invited to the Annual General Meeting which takes place in the first autumn term. During the AGM, nominations are sought for a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer, and other supportive roles, for election onto the Management Committee which meets once a term.
The committee run a Facebook group for current parents and carers so you can be kept up to date with all the latest news. You can also contact the committee here via email chairrainbowteddies@gmail.com.