All of our staff are either NNEB (National Nursery Examination Board) or equivalent, or participating in the National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) in Early Years and Childcare.
We have a very high qualified staff ratio which far exceeds that of OFSTED requirements. All of our staff are trained in First Aid.
Monkey Puzzle Eltham is a family run day nursery, owned by mother and daughter……Lesley and Vikki, who have a wealth of experience in childcare, learning and development and health and safety standards.
Vikki Aarons Owner and Director
I have a BTEC National Diploma in childcare and education and have worked within the childcare industry for the past 16 years.
I have a vast amount of experience when it comes to running a nursery setting and I am extremely passionate about providing high standards of care and education to children.
I am also a mother myself to two young children, both of whom attended nursery settings during their earlier years. I therefore appreciate first hand, from a parent’s perspective, the importance of meeting children’s needs through providing a nurturing, high quality setting full of unique and wonderful learning opportunities.
I will also be a hands-on manager at Eltham and am very keen to work in partnership with parents as well as build relationships within the local community.
Lesley Chesterton Owner and Director
I have worked alongside my husband, in the Health and Safety industry, running our own Fire Protection company for the last 25 years.
Alongside offering a high standard of care and education to all children, high standards of health and safety within the nursery setting, will always be our main objectives.
I have a huge amount of experience in accounts and HR and I am looking forward to working closely with the nursery staff and in partnership with parents and visitors to the nursery.
Amy Elson
Nursery Manager
I have worked in childcare for the last 5 years, of which the last 2 years I have worked within nursery management. I have experience working with children of all ages in my previous settings, which include day nurseries and private nannying.
For the last 4 years I have been working in two local Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries, one of which I worked along side Vikki Aarons, the Director/Owner of Eltham. I am really looking forward to the grand opening of Monkey Puzzle Eltham and will strive to provide a high standard of care and education for all children and families. I also look forward to working in close partnership with parents.
In my spare time I enjoy socialising with friends and spending time with my family.
Qualifications, Skills & Experience:
– 5 years’ experience in childcare
– Level 3 certificate in childcare
– Level 2 Management qualification
– Paediatric first aid certificate
– Food hygiene certificate
– Safeguarding certificate
Languages:
– English
Kerry
Deputy Manager
I have worked in childcare for the last 13 years and have lots experience within all Early Years aged groups as well as being in team leading and senior managerial positions. Within my time in childcare I have also achieved additional experience as nursery SENCO and hold a qualification in both Baby Massage and Pre-School Yoga.
For the last 4 years I have been working at another Monkey Puzzle where I worked as a baby room leader and assisted the management team. Whilst I was on maternity leave with my Second child, Monkey Puzzle Eltham was being constructed and is very close to where I live and was then given the opportunity to progress and join the newest addition to the Monkey Puzzle family as Deputy Manager.
In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family, I am a mother to two children aged 1 year and 5 years old. We love to go on days out and Family holidays.
Qualifications, Skills & Experience:
– 13 years’ experience in childcare
– NVQ Level 3 in childcare
– NVQ Level 2 in childcare
– Level 2 Team Leading and Management
– Food hygiene certificate
– Safeguarding certificate
– SENCO
– Pre-School Yoga
– Baby Massage
Languages:
– English
Hollie
Baby Room Leader
I’ve been working with children since I was 16 and started my career within the nursery setting in 2013, shortly becoming level 3 qualified. I moved to the area to complete my education degree and built my life here after meeting my fiancé. I enjoy spending my time taking my son to soft play and day trips to the zoo.
Qualifications, skills and experience
- Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Education Studies
- Safeguarding
- Safeguarding children with disabilities
- FGM
Languages:
– English
Lisa
Toddler Room Leader
I have worked in childcare for the last 8 years, of which 3 years I have been working as a room leader working closely with management. I have experience working with children of all ages from 3 months to 5 years. I trained at college doing my level 3 during my course I worked in a range of settings included private nurseries, schools and working alongside nannies. I started working in a private day nursery as bank staff working with all ages before becoming full time member of staff in the 2yrs-3yrs room where I work for 5 years, I then moved rooms to work with babies aged between 3 months and 2 years, while working in the baby room I became room leader.
Qualifications, Skills & Experience:
– 8 years’ experience in childcare
– Level 3 certificate in childcare
– Level 2 understanding autism and understanding nutrition and health
– Paediatric first aid certificate
– Food hygiene certificate
– Safeguarding certificate
– First aid at work certificate
Currently undertaking studies:
– Level 2 Diploma in team leading
– Level 3 understanding autism
Languages:
– English
Ellie Forbes
Nursery Nurse
I am a level 2 qualified nursery assistant. I Qualified from college in July 2017. I have worked in two previous nurseries, I completed my college placement at one and gained my firsthand experience before leaving there to work monkey puzzle Eltham. I cannot wait to work will all ages of children as they help me grow as a practitioner and develop my knowledge within my job role.
Qualifications, Skills & Experience:
– NVQ Level 2 in childcare
Languages:
– English
Ellie Tunstead-Lovelock
Nursery Apprentice
I have recently started my apprenticeship Level 3 Childcare course, with this being my first job within Childcare. I am very excited to widen my knowledge and experience due to my passion for working with children. I have experience of doing work experience in a primary school as well as having 3 younger siblings which has also taught me a lot. I look forward to gaining my qualification and becoming a qualified member of staff.
Languages:
– English
Lauren M
Pre School Room Leader
I have worked in childcare for the last 9 years with age groups ranging from 1 years to 11 years.
I have worked in a preschool setting, private day nurseries and a primary school doing before and after school care.
I have worked my way up from an unqualified nursery assistant to room leader and hope to make more progression over the next few years.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience
– 9 years’ experience in childcare
– level 3 certificate
– paediatric first aid
– food hygiene training
– safeguarding training
– prevent training
– Makaton training
Languages:
– English
Ben Edwards
Nursery Chef
I have worked as a chef since I left school in 2014, in this time I have worked in a range of different establishments from London hotels to local restaurants. My duties at these different places has ranged from food purchasing positions to chef roles, each of which has brought along new challenges.
In December 2017 me and my partner has our first child this led to me wanting to take my career to a new level, whilst staying in the catering industry as this has been my passion since a very young age. I looked for a job different to anything I have done before, this brought me to the Monkey Puzzle in Eltham.
Since starting in May I have been working on the menus and recipes ensuring we are using fresh ingredients and that the children are being given a healthy, balanced and nutritious diet when they are with us.
Qualifications, Skills & Experience:
– 4 years’ experience as a chef
– Level 3 qualified in catering
– Level 2 Food Safety in Catering
– Food hygiene certificate
Languages:
– English
Career opportunities
Monkey Puzzle is committed to providing great career opportunities for its entire staff. We are very keen to ensure that our team of staff participate in training at all levels. Our policy is always to recruit and/or promote internally if at all possible.
Please see our Current Vacancies below:
Qualified Level 3 Nursery Practitioner
Qualified Level 2 Nursery Practitioner
Nursery Chef
For more information on the roles and responsibilities, please click below:
If you think you have what it takes and would like to be a part of our exciting new team, please send your CV to info@monkeypuzzledaynurseries.com
