Staff

We have a team of 5 enthusiastic and dedicated staff who are all parents and well qualified in Early Years Education. Between them, they have clocked up nearly 30 years of working at the pre-school (and this doesn’t even count the years that their own children attended) and almost 70 years of childcare experience. All our staff are committed to the pre-school and all its children, past and present.

Key Workers
When your child joins the pre-school, they will be assigned their own ‘Key Worker’ to help them settle in as well as give them, and you, a name and face to go to if necessary from day one. The key worker monitors your child’s progress and all key developments and planned individual next steps are recorded in each child’s individual profile book which you are welcome to see at any time.

Meet The Staff:

Playgroup Manager and Special Needs Coordinator

Sue Williamson

Sue has been at the pre-school for the past 9 years, the last 3 as Playgroup Leader and Special Educational Needs Coordinator. Both her twin girls, who are now 13, attended the playgroup as children as well. Outside of the pre-school, she has been a Scout Leader for 30 years and is a Level 1 Athletics Trainer and Coach at the Ilkley Harriers.

Playgroup Deputy Manager

Sarah Ramsden

Sarah has been at the pre-school for nearly 5 years. She was originally a Speech and Language Therapist before retraining as a Primary Teacher. She took a career break to raise her 3 children, who are all now of school age, and prior to the pre-school she taught in a nursery in Otley.

Playgroup Practitioner

Sukie Blackburn

Sukie has been at the pre-school for over 12 years. She has 2 children who are now 18 and 21. She came originally to the pre-school to do 2 years work experience and liked it so much she never left! She has a Diploma in Preschool Practice. Away from the pre-school, you may spot her in the background of various TV programmes as she is a ‘Supporting Artist’ (TV Extra).

Playgroup Practitioner

Gill Iley

Gill has been at the pre-school for nearly 3 years. She has 2 children who are 9 and 15, both of whom attended the pre-school when they were younger. She has an NVQ3 in Childcare Learning and Development. Away from the playgroup, she has been a Brownie and Guide leader for the past 7 years and a Junior Church leader in Addingham for 10 years. In addition, she is a trained Bereavement Support worker for adults and in the past 2 years has qualified as a Bereavement Support worker for children up to 18. She is our Charlie Dimmock of the pre-school as she is a dab hand at helping the children grow their own vegetables.

Playgroup Practitioner

Isabel Hogan

Isabel originally had an established career in music and media in London but whilst pregnant with her daughter decided to retrain as a classroom assistant and childminder. In 2008 she followed her heart to Yorkshire and moved to Ilkley where she continued her OFSTED registered childminding. Her daughter, now 5, attended the pre-school and when the job opportunity arose to work there a year ago, she gladly took it. She is trained in Paediatric First Aid and is qualified in her NVQ3 in Childcare Learning and Development. She still has a passion for music and actively encourages singing and dancing within the pre-school.