Staff
We are committed to providing the very best care and education for all our children, and we could not do this without having a dedicated and highly qualified team who make every day magical. Our team, known as the Westwards Family, are professional, friendly and approachable with an enthusiastic attitude towards the development of young children. Drawing on a wealth of knowledge and experience, staff ensure that every child feels happy, safe, and secure by building strong parent partnerships and focusing on individual children’s interests. Staff provide a fun curriculum, where learning through stimulating, challenging activities builds a positive ‘Can Do’ attitude to life.
We understand that your child is the most important person in the world, and we only employ staff who are fully qualified, suitable, and trained to work with young children. With a vigorous recruitment and induction procedure, we ensure all our staff hold paediatric first aid and food hygiene. Our staff are enrolled with our online training provider from the very start of their career and receive relevant internal and external training. We have a high staff ratio who are trained to Level 5/Level 6 Degree level, as well as Qualified Teachers.
At Westwards, each member of our team is responsible for their own small group of children, their ‘key children’. Our key person system is robust and provides a secure attachment from the start. Staff observations, assessments and daily activities are uploaded onto our online system for parents to view. Working in the moment and planning around your child’s interests, enables us to ensure every child is at the centre of an individual curriculum. Sensitive, experienced, qualified staff are on-hand to answer all of your questions and our termly focus child meetings give parents the opportunity to discuss their child’s development on a regular basis.
Our Staff Team
SEIJAL – NURSERY OWNER
Seijal graduated with a BA Hons in Fashion & Textile Management and has been privileged to work with top global brands, as well as working with high street retailers. Her 15-year career in Children’s Fashion helped gain a wealth of management experience and business acumen working Internationally.
In 2017 she decided to take a break from her busy career and relocate to the Derbyshire countryside and focus on family life and children. As a mother she was intrigued by nurseries and has always been passionate about children’s development. She commenced her search for a business in childcare, which is when she found Westwards Nursery School which has gone from strength to strength under her leadership. Seijal is passionate about staff development and well-being, helping them to develop their practice and progress as excellent educators. She is focused on ensuring all children are happy, safe and engaged in learning within the nursery. She is a hands-on owner, who works to maintain the excellent reputation of the nursery and strives for staff, children and parents to be happy.
Seijal is currently studying Early Years Educator Level 3 and continuously develops her knowledge in the sector with certified training.
ANNA – NURSERY MANAGER
Anna is a passionate and motivating Early Years Manager, with over two decades of hands-on experience managing the outstanding childcare facilities at Westwards. Anna is highly qualified with a BA in Education studies, a foundation degree in Children’s Services as well as holding an early years professional status.
Having started at Westwards in 1998, Anna has watched the nursery evolve from two rooms on the ground floor, to several rooms over three floors. Anna has worked up from Nursery Practitioner to Nursery Manager, being key to the successful growth and development over the years gaining Good and Outstanding Ofsted ratings. With her wealth of experience, she manages all aspects of the nursery and strives to deliver exceptional, high-quality care and education for young children. Anna is also a mother and has first-hand experience as a Westwards parent, thus helping build excellent parent partnerships.
TIFFANY – DEPUTY MANAGER
Tiffany joined Westwards in 2018, with five years’ experience in other nurseries working with the toddlers. When moving to Westwards Tiffany wanted to extend her knowledge and understanding to work with pre-school children. Since starting at Westwards Tiffany has worked towards her professional development by undertaking the foundation degree in children and young people’s services and gained a level 4 and Level 5. Tiffany’s motivation to succeed and hard work has enabled her to progress from a nursery practitioner to Deputy Manager.
Tiffany strives in strengthening her knowledge and understanding in childcare and instils independence and thinking skills in the children.
DANIELLE – TEAM LEADER
Danielle joined Westwards in 2020 with extensive experience working with various age groups within nurseries and gaining Deputy position in her previous employment.
Danielle has a strong passion for childcare, starting out her career of over 20 years as a level 2 NVQ apprentice. She then progressed to a Level 3 qualification and in 2015 she gained a Foundation Degree in Early Years. Danielle manages the sunshine room team with enthusiasm and a strong knowledge of child development.
Danielle adores working with babies and one of her key strengths is creating secure bonds required for babies to feel safe and thrive in their time in nursery. Danielle recognises the importance of communication and language in early years and leads this through her love of teaching the children new songs and rhymes.
CHERYL – RAINBOW ROOM LEADER
Cheryl joined Westwards in 2020, having worked in early years for 10 years previously. She is passionate about children expressing themselves through music and movement and she has recently completed training through Kimble’s, a programme designed and tailored to meet physical development needs through music and movement. In her spare time, she loves to take her dogs for walks and loves to be creative with diamond paintings. Cheryl enjoys yoga and mindfulness, both of which are practised in the Rainbow Room.
Cheryl’s creative flare, enthusiasm and hard work has led her to further her career as she is now undertaking the room leader position within the rainbow room.
SASHA – FOREST SCHOOL LEADER
Sasha has been with us since she was 3 years old, she attended Westwards as a child in 1998! She has a passion for childcare and holds a Level 3 in Childcare and Education as well a degree in Early Years and Education.
Sasha gained experience through various placements in primary schools and nurseries, before joining us full time in 2018. Sasha has a wonderful warm, caring approach and worked in the baby room for 3 years but made a transition to pre-school in 2021 when she started her Level 3 Forest School training.
Sasha adores the outdoors and is instrumental in developing the outdoor curriculum. Helping children to feel resilient, independent, and happy is her passion.