Staff Team

All staff have undergone extended checks with the Disclosure and Barring Service as a condition of their employment at the setting, and each qualification is checked against the Government’s qualification register Ofqual.

The staff team

Lisa Burkett – Manager

Lisa joined the team at St Mary’s Pre-school in 2003, became the Leader/Manager in 2007, and the Owner Leader/Manager in 2018. She has a CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Pre-School Practice. She ensures we meet all our statutory requirements, takes responsibility for Health and Safety and Behaviour Management, and is our Lead Designated Person for Safeguarding. Lisa completes regular training in many different areas within Early Years in addition to the statutory Paediatric First Aid, Child Protection, Prevent Training, Food Hygiene and Special Educational Needs. She is our Level 3 qualified Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo).

Susie Alderson – Deputy Manager

Susie joined us in 2008, she holds a NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Pre-school Practice and a CACHE Level 2 in Understanding Children and Young People’s Mental Health.     She is trained in Paediatric First Aid, Child Protection, Prevent Training and Food Hygiene. Susie has a BSc (Hons) Degree in Psychology and a MSc Degree in Occupational Psychology. She also has a Diploma in both Reflexology and Nutritional Therapy and has her own business practising both. In May 2019 Susie qualified as a Personal Trainer and runs regular Paracise(TM) exercise classes as well as health and well-being workshops. She can be found on Facebook at Susie Alderson – Healthy4life.

Vicky Drury

Vicky joined us in January 2018, she is a Level 6 qualified teacher with a BA Degree in Music and postgraduate Certificate in Education. She is our Deputy Designated Person for Safeguarding. She is trained in Child Protection, Prevent Training and Food Hygiene. She is also a private piano tutor offering tuition to both adults and children. Vicky was previously the Deputy Manager of the Berkhamsted Baptist Church Pre-school until it’s closure in July 2017.

Nicola McDonald

Nicola joined us in March 2021, she holds an NCFE CACHE Level 3 Award in Childcare and Education, she is trained in Child Protection and Prevent training, and paediatric first aid. Nicola was a member of the Metropolitan Police Service for 30 years, retiring from the force in September 2019.

Simon Burkett

Simon joined us in April 2023. He has joined us as an unqualified member of staff, but has undergone training in paediatric first aid, safeguarding, and prevent training. We are extremely lucky to have a male assistant in our Pre-school, he is immensely popular with the Pre-school children and parents and staff alike, and brings a different dynamic to the activities we offer. He hopes to gain his qualification in childcare and education in the coming year.

Sarah Vodden

Sarah joined us in September 2023. She holds a degree in Early Childhood Studies, in addition to her Level 3 Diploma in Pre-school Practice. She started her Early Years career at the Berkhamsted Baptist Church Pre-school before moving to Australia. She then moved to Switzerland where she led the Reception class at the Haut-Lac International School for 6 years until moving back to the UK in 2023. She is trained in paediatric first aid, safeguarding, prevent training, and food hygiene.

Sandra Emery

Sandra joined us in September 2024. She holds a City and Guilds NVQ Level 2 and 3, and is trained in paediatric first aid, safeguarding and prevent training, and food hygiene. She has previously worked in a day nursery, and held various positions as a full-time and part-time private nanny.

Madeleine Humber

Madeleine is in her final year studying to be a Speech and Language Therapist at UCL (University College London). She is kindly available to offer cover work when available, and is keen to spend her time with children, particularly to gain further experience with children with speech and language delays or disorders, or children with additional or special needs. She also has a masters degree in Psychology, specialising in children’s mental health. She worked at Egerton Rothesay School for 2 years, between her degrees, working with children with special educational and medical needs.

Summary

We are very proud of our happy, dedicated, well qualified team. We have a wealth of experience in childcare and education between us, and we thoroughly enjoy what we do. We are also able to draw from other skills and attributes to offer experiences, support and knowledge to children and their families in other areas, providing a fabulous level of support to the families and not just the children in our care.