Meet The Team!

Say hello to the friendly faces behind the fun!

Our nursery team is made up of a brilliant bunch of early years professionals who are passionate about helping little ones learn, laugh, and grow. Whether it’s leading a messy play session, comforting cuddles after nap time, or sparking curiosity during story corner, our staff are always ready with a smile.

Each team member brings their own flair — from creative crafts and catchy songs to expert knowledge in child development and learning through play. Everyone is fully trained, highly qualified, and, most importantly, genuinely loves what they do.

We pride ourselves on creating a warm, safe, and welcoming space where children feel at home and parents feel supported. We work closely with families to make sure every child’s experience is as unique and joyful as they are.

Scroll down to get to know the team.

My name is Katrina. I became Nursery Manager, DSL and SENCO and co-owner with Rachel in 2018.

I have loved working with children in a managerial role for the past 17 years. I have worked with children with autism and also children from disaffected backgrounds who have presented with varying needs and difficulties. Initially I worked at Stone Bay Special School before transferring over to The Royal Harbour Academy where I managed the Alternative Curriculum Centre.

I love helping children, watching them grow and develop into confident people. I love making a difference however small, and will go that extra mile to support all children to believe in themselves.

I am a kind, caring and passionate person who will also endeavour to do the best for all children. My ethos is that if I can make a difference to one child, I’ve done my job.

I am the proud mother of Lois and my step son Tom and have a beautiful grandchild Willow.

Qualifications include NVQ 3 and 4 in caring for children and young people.

My name is Rachel and I’m a proud mum of three children. From the very beginning, I knew that if I was going to create a nursery, it had to be the kind of place I’d feel confident and happy sending my own children to.

I began my childcare journey 18 years ago as a childminder, and in 2017 I took over Pegwell Bay Nursery. Over the years, I’ve grown more and more passionate about watching children flourish as they progress from babies through to school age. It’s such a privilege to be part of their early years, helping to give them the very best start in life.

I’ve always dreamed of running a forest school, as I believe outdoor learning and play are incredibly powerful for children’s development. When I discovered Deal Nursery and Forest School, I knew the setting was perfect — the grounds provide the ideal environment for children to explore, learn, and grow.

Hello. My name is Anita and i am proud to be the Manager and SENCO here at Pegwell Bay Nursery.

I've worked in childcare since 2014, and from the very beginning, i have always had a strong desire to work in a nursery setting. Over the years, i have gained experience in a variety of roles, steadily working my way up within nursery environments. Becoming a manager was a long held dream of mine, and i feel incredibly privileged to now lead a team that shares my passion for giving children the best possible start in life.

Throughout my career, i've developed a particular expertise in supporting children with additional needs. I'm passionate about creating an inclusive environment where every child is given the right support to thrive, grow in confidence, and reach their full potential.

I would describe myself as passionate, dedicated and always ready to support both the children in our care and the wonderful staff i work alongside. I look forward to continuing to create a nurturing, inspiring and inclusive environment for all families at Pegwell Bay Nursery.

Hello. My name is Hannah and i have started at Pegwell Bay as the new Manager.

I have many years of experience working with children and families and I am passionate about creating safe, nurturing and inclusive environments where every child feels valued and supported. I have held senior roles including Deputy Manager, Designated Safeguarding Officer and Special Educational Needs Lead, and I enjoy building strong, trusting relationships with children, families and staff. I previously lived in abroad, where I taught children, and I love travelling and learning about different cultures. I enjoy bringing this knowledge of other communities into the nursery to help children develop curiosity, understanding and respect for the world around them.

Hello my name is Christina. I enjoy helping children as they begin their journey in education.

I’ve been in nurseries for over 12 years, after completing a level 2 certificate in college. I then completed my level 3 diploma whilst working full time.

I’ve had a break from childcare since becoming a mother myself 4 years ago and I can’t wait to get stuck into nursery life again!

I love nothing more than helping children learn through play and I think it’s so rewarding when you see a child grasp a particular concept or master a new skill.
Which is why I took the ECAT (every child a talker) course in my previous nursery and developed a speech and language programme to help children who presented with difficulties in communication.

Gymnastics has always been a huge passion of mine. I hope I can try and bring some of the skills I learnt into the nursery.

I really believe helping children to be active is a great way to boost their learning in other areas of the curriculum.

I have been lucky to have the opportunity to teach all over the world. It is fascinating to learn from different cultures and to adopt best practice from such a wealth of experience. Although I have taught every age group, including adults, Early Years is my favourite.

In the nursery setting you have the freedom to follow the Childrens interests and to support them in developing the skills to begin a life time love of learning.

Hello, my name is Lucy and I joined Pegwell Bay Nursery at the beginning of September 2023.

In recent years I have gained experience in both early years and primary education, I am an NVQ Level 3 early years practitioner and also a qualified teaching assistant.

I am a very patient, calm, creative and enthusiastic individual.

My experience ranges from working with children who are aged 0-11 years, however I feel very passionately about early years education and feel my skills are perfect for this age group.

Supporting children to learn, develop and grow while having fun and forming new friendships is very rewarding and I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to shape and influence the lives of young children and their families.

Coming Soon

My name is Karen, i started working in a nursery in 2016 after having a career change from working in the NHS. I started out as an administrator/childcare practitioner and completed my level 2 Early years educator in 2018 and my level 3 in 2019.

I have recently joined the team here at Pegwell Bay Nursery. I enjoy helping the children learn through play and seeing the look on their faces when they master a skill. Every child is different and learn at their own pace and in their own way, this i will always encourage.

Hello, my name is Mary, I joined the friendly and fun team at Pegwell Bay in 2022.

I have 20 years experience in childcare after deciding on a career change when my two children started their own journey in Primary Education. While at another local setting I achieved my level 2 & 3 in Childcare along with Level 2 in Autism/Challenging Behaviour and various courses relating to early years. During the last 8 years, I was promoted to the Team Leader of the pre-school room. I love working with this age group for their fun (lots of dancing and singing) and questioning of their world and surroundings. It makes me happy watching them continue their next steps into “big school” seeing what they have achieved while in my care.

My name is Marie. I am a qualified level 2 Nursery Practitioner currently doing my level 3. I have always loved working with children, being part of their next steps and watching them grow into unique individuals.

It is always a joy to see the children having fun, building relationships and developing their own skills.

I am a mum myself with a son, step daughter and two grandchildren. I am very caring and family orientated.

I have just recently joined the Pegwell Bay Nursery family and I’m loving getting to know all the children and families.

Hi, im Leah, and i joined the team at Pegwell Bay in April 2025.

I have been working with children for over 7 years and feel so lucky to be in a role that brings me so much joy every day. I hold a Level 3 qualification in supporting teaching and learning, gaining a Qualified Teacher Status in 2024. I also recently completed a postgraduate certificate in Special Educational Needs and Inclusion.

Over the years, i have supported children aged from 6 months to 12 years, but my heart really lies in early years and supporting children with additional needs. Creating a warm, inclusive environment where every child feels safe, seen and celebrated is at the heart of what i do.

I especially love planning messy play activities, whether its sensory trays, painting, or water play, i believe in the magic of hands on learning. I am also a big fan of child-led exploration and outdoor adventures, helping little ones grow in confidence as they discover the world around them.

When i am not at the nursery, you will usually find me enjoying long walks by the beach with my dog, Billy, spending time with my family and friends, or getting lost in a really good book.

Hello, my name is Lucinda and I joined the Pegwell team in January 2024.

I have always wanted to work with children since my early teens when I started volunteering for Girl Guiding. In 2021, I completed my university degree in Primary Education and earned my Qualified Teacher Status. I have had the privilege to work with children from all age ranges and supported those with additional needs.

I made the decision not long before I joined the team to work with young children and it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! I love helping the children discover new things and overcome challenges to reach their goal, and seeing the joy in their faces is such a huge bonus!

I am a very kind and patient person who has always had a passion for helping children learn and grow. I come from a very caring and supportive family and am keen to share my enthusiasm with the children and their families and give them the best nursery experience.

When I am not at the nursery, you will often find me spending time with my family and dogs, going on adventures with my partner or diving into the pages of a really good book!

Hello, my name is Chloe and I joined the Pegwell team in April 2025, as cheeky monkey room leader.

I have been working with children within an early years setting for over 7 years. I have worked with children from 6 months to 5 years, whilst also supporting key stage 1 when completing my level 3 diploma in childcare. Throughout my career I have built strong relationships with children and their families which I look forward to continuing to do at Pegwell.

I am a caring and patient person who has always had a passion for early years and helping children learn through play and achieving their goals. I come from a very caring and supportive family, which made me want to project some of that energy to inspire young children’s lives and make a difference to their development. In my free time you’ll either find me in the gym, spending time with friends and family or shopping!

My name is Megan and i am a qualified Primary Teacher with QTS. I joined Pegwell Bay Nursery in January 2025 and feel privileged to be part of such a dedicated and hard working team, and to work with such creative and curious young children. It truly is such a welcoming environment.

Before this, i worked as a Year 1 Teacher for 2 years, then spent several years travelling and living in Australia. Driven by a desire to deepen my understanding of early childhood development, i returned to the UK last year to pursue a Masters degree in Early Childhood Education.

My teaching philosophy centres on nurturing the whole child, not only academically, but also socially and emotionally.

Coming soon

Hi, I’m Leah. I’m 22 years old and a mum to two little girls who also attend the nursery. Since becoming a mum, I’ve learned that every child is unique in their own way and that it’s important to support each child’s individual needs. I am a very affectionate and caring practitioner who loves to provide a range of fun and engaging activities, and I always treat the children in my care as if they were my own.

I am currently Level 2 qualified and will be completing my Level 3 qualification very soon. I have been working at Pegwell Bay since January 2025, and I’ve loved every minute of supporting and developing the children’s needs and requirements.

I have always known that I wanted to work with children and support their development throughout their lives.

Hi, i am Sophie. I have worked at Pegwell bay since December 2024. I am currently working towards getting my Level 3 qualification in child care through completing my apprenticeship at Pegwell Bay Nursery.

Throughout school i knew that working in early years was something i was very interested in, as i got my inspiration from having a few baby sitting jobs for my neighbours younger children, as well as having lots of younger cousins! I am loving my apprenticeship so far, and hope to be qualified in 2026.

Hi, I'm Maddie. I am completing my Level 3 apprenticeship here at Pegwell Bay Nursery. I was previously working for 4 years as a PA for various friends and family, providing care for young Children with SEN and SEMH needs. I strive to progress as far as i can with my skills, in hopes to become a SENCO, so i can provide equal opportunities for children of any background or needs.

Hello, my name is Carly and i am working at Pegwell Bay nursery doing the administration role. I have worked in childcare for 12 years and i do have a level 3 qualification in childcare, i recently joined the nursery part time to get back into work after having my daughter. I am looking forward to getting to know all the staff, children and parents.

Hi, I’m Michelle. I joined Pegwell Bay and Deal Nursery and Forest School in November 2025 as the new Marketing and Social Media Advocate.

Before joining the nurseries, I spent 26 years working for a charity supporting victims of Modern Slavery in a Safe house setting, where I managed the service and worked closely with vulnerable adults and their children. Supporting people in challenging circumstances has been a huge part of my life, and it’s shaped my passion for compassion, communication, and community.

I’m really looking forward to this new chapter and the chance to work in a positive, creative environment surrounded by children. I can’t wait to capture lots of lovely photos and videos of their experiences and help promote the amazing work happening across both nurseries.