Our Team

Who works at The Culham Science Centre Nursery & Preschool?

Our children spend their time with caring and gentle adults who are fun to be around and who genuinely love being with them. Our nursery staff know all the children really well.  All our staff are well qualified for their role. Everyone is trained in first aid and safeguarding. All our staff are encouraged and supported in further training in general childcare and in more specialised areas such as Special Educational Needs and also in practical skills like food hygiene. 

Nikki

Nikki

Nursery Manager

I've been manager here since 2006. Over time I've created a fantastic, very capable, highly motivated  and supportive senior management team who are all passionate about giving your child the very best standards in childcare. I've overseen the expansion of the nursery to create a whole new purpose built preschool designed to optimise our beautiful setting; and we are constantly innovating and improving what we do - every day I have members of my team coming to me with suggestions for how we can improve things in large and small ways. I'm very proud of the nursery. I'm lucky enough to have an Outstanding team supporting me and Ofsted agreed in their inspections in 2012, 2015 and February 2020!

I love children and have two grown up boys of my own who I adore spending time with. My husband and I love camping with the boys and enjoy keeping fit. I've been known to like the odd glass of wine as my other passion is cooking. I'm a qualified Primary School Teacher as well as an Early Years Professional and have an Advanced Post Graduate Certificate in Education.  

 

Laura

Laura

Nursery Operations Manager

I'm a qualified Nursery Nurse and have worked at the nursery since 2003; I love my job! I joined the nursery as a trainee and over the years have gained valuable experience in all age groups. I have progressed up to my current role where I am passionate about managing and supporting the staff to provide the best development and care for the children. It's fantastic to get to spend my days with such lovely children and a wonderful staff team and I find it very rewarding. Outside of work I love to spend time with my family, especially my young niece and nephew. I'm a huge spectator sport fan and love to go watch live sport such as tennis at the O2, football, athletics and live shows such as Strictly Come Dancing.

Karlea

Karlea

Assistant Operations Manager

I have been working in childcare for over 15 years now, and I have recently completed my level 5 Early Years Lead Practitioner qualification. I have a passion for supporting the children who have additional needs. I have a bubbly and caring character and love spending time with the children for a cuddle, sharing stories or even getting stuck into messy play with them! Outside of nursery life I am kept busy by spending time with my family, watching my little girl grow and develop, and not forgetting walks with our dogs Fluke and Buster.

Louise

Louise

Babies 1 - Junior Room leader

I have been at The Culham Nursery since 2017, I have qualified as a Nursery Nurse during that time and currently working towards my level 5 Early Years Lead Practitioner qualification. I absolutely love babies! I've always worked with this age group and am fascinated by their early intelligence and by how fast they develop and grow. You will usually find me on the floor with my little ones singing and playing or covered in paint along with the children! Outside of nursery I adore spending time with my nieces and nephews - I'm a big softie and love cuddles! - I spend lots of time with my whole family who I love very much.

Chloe

Chloe

Babies 2 - Junior Room Leader

I joined the nursery in 2019 as a Qualified Nursery Assistant and gained my Level 3 qualification in 2023. I've worked hard to achieve my qualifications and progress to room leader. I've always worked with babies and love to see their individual personalities shine through and watch them grow and develop throughout the nursery. My little boy is also at the nursery here and in my free time I enjoy baking with him and spending time with my family. 

Tafie

Tafie

Wombles - Junior Room Leader

I joined the nursery in 2020 as a Trainee and after completing my level 3 Early Years Educator qualification, have progressed to my current role as Junior Room Leader with the Wombles.
I love the toddler age group as there is never a dull moment when you simply enjoy singing, dancing, exploring and learning about the world with them.
In my spare time I enjoy going out for drinks and food with friends and family.

 

Mollie

Mollie

Tweenies Room Leader

I started at Culham Science Centre Nursery in 2018. Since then I have progressed through from Trainee Nursery Assistant to Room Leader and recently completed my level 5 qualification. Previously I worked with the babies and so I'm really enjoying working with slightly older children. The tweenies grow in independence so much in their time with us, its a fascinating age group and I simply adore encouraging this progression and have so much fun playing with them.
I enjoy spending time with my family outside of the nursery and especially my gorgeous little nieces who I am completely devoted to.

 

Emily

Emily

Lower Preschool 1+2 - Senior Room Leader

I've worked with children for the last 8 years. I've experience of working with children up to age 7 but I'm most at home working with children in early years and ensuring the get the best care and education in our nursery.

Outside of work I've just got a new puppy called Douglas, I love walking him he's such fun. I also love baking. 

Sophie

Sophie

Lower Preschool 3 - Junior Room Leader

I started at the nursery in 2019 with our Toddler age group as a Trainee and have worked hard to develop my career by completing my level 3 qualification and taking a step up to Junior Room Leader of Lower Preschool.  
 
Working with LPS 3 is my favourite place to be as the children still need to be nurtured whilst they are starting to develop their own personalities. They show a desire to explore, learn new things, and challenge themselves on a daily basis which I enjoy being able to support them with.
In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family and keeping busy with the never ending DIY whilst renovating my house.
Alisha

Alisha

Upper Preschool 1 Room Leader

I have worked here since 2019 when I joined as a trainee nursery assistant and I've worked my way up. Preschool is where I am happiest, I love this age group and and have always worked with this age. I really enjoy ensuring the children are ready for the next step in their lives, when they leave us to go off to school. Outside of work I love spending time with my friends and family. 

Beth

Beth

Upper Preschool 2 Senior Room Leader

I have worked here since 2017 starting my career as a Trainee Nursery Assistant. I've worked hard to qualify as a Nursery Practitioner and progress to Room Leader and have most recently completed my level 5 Early Years Lead Practitioner qualification which has helped me to develop my knowledge and share this with the team.

Preschoolers mature so much in their time with us. It's a wonderful age group as the children are developing their fantastic personalities and growing in independence ready for school but cuddles are still needed too! You will often find me singing and laughing with the children as they make me so happy!  Outside of nursery I enjoy going for dinner with friends and family and training at the gym.

Louise

Louise

Nursery Cook

 I started working here in the kitchen in January 2017 and have found that I absolutely love my job. I work very closely with the baby room leaders to ensure our littlest children are well provided for and get a cuddle every now and then! The kitchen is a great place to work, it's a well oiled machine and we manage to feed a lot of hungry children everyday - it's great to see how much they enjoy our food. I like to have fun but work very hard and there is never a dull moment!

Mary

Mary

Assistant Nursery Cook

I have been working in kitchens for the last 6 years and absolutely love cooking! I am passionate about wholesome home cooked food and how important it is to introduce young children to it as early as possible in life and work closely with Louise to ensure the children love our meals!

 I have a thermomix at home so you will find me in the kitchen trying new and interesting recipes at the weekend. My favourite things to cook are curries and cakes! In my spare time I like to do pilates, and running. I ran the London Marathon in 2022 which was amazing! I raised about 1K for crohn's and colitis charity.