Director & Primary Teacher with EYFS Specialism
Designated Safeguarding Lead
Apprentice & Student Mentor
Paediatric First Aid & First Aid at Work trained
Level 6
Jen
I began my working life as a Nursery Nurse in a private nursery in South Wales. After two years, I became a private Nanny caring for a family of four children. Their ages ranged from 3 months to 10 years old, at the time. They all continue to be part of my extended family more than twenty-five years later.
I returned to education to study an Access Course in Art & Design before completing my BA(Hons) in Primary Education with QTS. My two specialist subjects were Art and Physical Education with Early Years as my choice of age phase specialism.
My first seven years of teaching took place at a school in Cowbridge in South Wales. While at ‘Y Bont Faen Primary School’, I taught in reception and year one before running the attached nursery. When my husband decided to relocate for work, we chose to move our young family to this beautiful part of England.
During the next seven years I worked as a class teacher in Brackley which led to becoming EYFS Leader. This included the role of Manager of the Speech & Language unit attached to the school. I also took on the role of student mentor and became a Teacher Governor. A new opportunity and exciting challenge took me to a school in Bicester where I opened a new nursery linked to the school while continuing to teach reception and lead the EYFS for the last few years. After inheriting the setting with a ‘Requires improvement’ judgement, I had the pleasure of leading a wonderfully dedicated EYFS team and together we raised standards and gained a judgement of ‘Good’ in recognition of our ethos, passion and hard work.
I live with my husband Ian, daughter Antonia and son Aidan with our two black Labradors. We all enjoy walking the dogs in the nearby fields and watching films together. For many years our Sunday mornings were spent at the Rugby Club where Ian has been a volunteer coach for many years and Aidan was usually found trying to improve his goal kicking skills! Now that both children are grown adults, we continue to love watching rugby and spending time together around university breaks and working commitments.
