Monday to Friday,
8.30am to 3.30pm.
01245 329 529
Guys Farm Road,
South Woodham Ferrers
CM3 5NB

Meet The Team

The Team

All staff receive statutory training in Safeguarding and Paediatric First Aid. We are a very experienced team guided by our core values and a passion to excel in the profession; Continual Personal Development (CPD) is important to us. We are all mums ourselves (many of our children attended the Preschool), and we all strive to provide high quality Early Years education, working in partnership with parents and carers, to achieve an environment in which all children feel safe and secure, and can reach their full potential.

Penny Carey

Penny Carey – Director – Manager

Penny joined Elmwood Preschool in 2002 as an Early Years Practitioner. She holds a CACHE Level 3 in Preschool Practice and is now the Managing Director of the setting. She is also the Designated Safeguarding Lead and the named SENCo (Special Educational Needs Coordinator). Penny manages the day to day running of the setting, ensuring standards are maintained as necessary to the requirements of OFSTED (Office for Standards in Education).

Natasha Ewer

Natasha Ewer – Director - Deputy Manager – Supervisor - Practitioner

Natasha qualified in childcare in 1996 with a Diploma in Nursery Nursing, NNEB Level 3, progressing to Senior Nursery Nurse in 1997. She became Deputy Manager in the 3-5’s room in April 2000 at a nursery in Basildon, where in 2005 she was promoted to Nursery Manager. After joining Elmwood Preschool in 2013, Natasha subsequently joined the Management Committee as Director in October 2016. She runs our Rising 5's class 'Little Learners' and also fulfils the role of Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead for the setting.

Jane Davies – Director - Office Manager

Jane joined Elmwood Preschool in February 2012, just a few months after her son left the setting to start school, and joined the Management Committee as a Director in June 2017. She manages the administration and finance functions of the preschool and holds a BA(Hons) in Accounting and Finance.

Louise Tindall

Louise Tindall – Supervisor - Practitioner

Louise joined Preschool in April 2004. Having already gained a CACHE Level 2 in Preschool Care and Education, she went on to complete the CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Preschool Education in September 2010. Louise supervises in both the Preschool and the Rising 5’s Class, Little Learners.

Shirley Bradfield

Shirley Bradfield – Supervisor - Practitioner

Shirley joined Elmwood Preschool as a Lunchtime Assistant in 2011. She now works as a Practitioner (and Supervisor), having qualified in CACHE Level 2 Children and Young Peoples Workforce in May 2014.

Gemma Huddleston

Gemma Huddleston – Supervisor - Practitioner

Gemma has been qualified in childcare since August 2003, when she gained a NNEB Level 3 in Childcare. She worked in day nurseries in Goodmayes and Danbury before joining Elmwood Preschool as a Practitioner in 2017. Gemma also supervises in Preschool.

Natalie Wood

Natalie Wood – Supervisor - Practitioner

Natalie joined Preschool in 2003, working until 2011 when she left to have her second child, returning in September 2020. She studied at South East Essex College where she gained a BTEC National Diploma in Childhood Studies in 2001. Natalie works and a Practitioner and Supervisor in Preschool.

Debbie Truman

Debbie Truman – Supervisor - Practitioner - Lunchtime Assistant

Debbie gained an NNEB Level 3 Diploma in Childcare in 1994, working as a private nanny until starting her own family. In 2006, Debbie gained a CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Home-based Childcare in 2006 and started childminding. She then joined Elmwood Preschool in September 2020 and since joining has also obtained a SENCo. Level 3 qualification.

Roxanne Lane

Roxanne Lane – Supervisor - Practitioner

Roxanne started working at Elmwood Preschool in February 2020 as a Lunchtime Assistant and in 2023, gained a NCFE CACHE Caring for Children and Young People Level 2 qualification, now working as a Practitioner.

Lynsey Wilkinson

Lynsey Wilkinson - Practitioner

Lynsey joined Elmwood Preschool in September 1995 and in May 2014 qualified with a CACHE Level 2 Children and Young People's Workforce (QCF).

Paulette Adelizzi

Paulette Adelizzi–Swain - Practitioner

Paulette joined our preschool in 2006. She completed CACHE Level 2 in Preschool Practice and then in 2010 went on to achieve the Level 3 qualification.

Lois Bassett - Practitioner

Lois qualified with a Diploma in Nursery Nursing in 2000 before going on to gain a Level 4 BTEC Professional Diploma in Hospital Play Specialism. She worked in hospitals for ten years, first in a local A&E department and then as a Hospital Play Specialist at Great Ormond Street. Lois then went on to work as a Community Nursery Nurse with local Surestart and Health Visitor teams before joining Elmwood Preschool in April 2024 as a Practitioner.

Kellie Allen - Practitioner - Lunchtime Assistant

Kellie joined Elmwood Preschool in November 2022 as a Lunchtime Assistant and has since gained a NCFE CACHE Caring for Children and Young People Level 2 qualification and is now also working as a practitioner.

Dionne Croker - Practitioner - Lunchtime Assistant

Dionne holds a BTEC National Diploma Level 3 in Childhood Studies and has previouly worked as an LSA in a primary school. She then joined Elmwood Preschool in June 2024 to cover Maternity leave, after which she accepted a permanent Practitioner role.

Claire Brant – Practitoner - Lunchtime Assistant

Claire joined Elmwood Preschool in September 2020 as a Lunchtime Assistant and has since completed a NCFE CACHE Caring for Children and Young People Level 2 qualification, now also working as a Practitioner.

Jenny Hardy

Jenny Hardy - Practitioner - Lunchtime Assistant

Jenny holds a CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Childcare Practice and worked at Elmwood Preschool for many years as a Practitioner. Since February 2022, Jenny has taken a step back to spend more time with family but still covers sessions and lunch sessions when required.

Elisha Clarke