The Nursery Team

Little Cherubs began in 2000, when Debbie, alongside her husband and growing family, had a clear vision: to create a family-run nursery that would give parents complete peace of mind, knowing their children were being cared for in a safe, healthy and loving environment.

What started as a small 19-place setting in Sydenham has grown into a thriving 82-place nursery, now widely recognised as one of the highest-quality childcare settings in the area. The Sydenham nursery is supported by our Shortlands branch, together forming the Little Cherubs family.

In December 2017, both settings proudly achieved an Outstanding Ofsted rating, firmly establishing Little Cherubs as outstanding childcare providers.

A core value at Little Cherubs has always been investing in people. Many team members have grown and progressed within the organisation — including our Area Manager, Maggie, who joined Debbie in 2000 as a practitioner and has developed into her current leadership role through dedication, training and support. We remain committed to detailed inductions, regular supervisions and ongoing CPD opportunities for every member of staff.

Childcare has evolved greatly over the years, and Little Cherubs continues to adapt, embracing new developments and best practices to ensure the highest standard of care for every child.

On a personal note, Debbie is a proud mother of four and grandmother to four grandchildren — two of whom attend Little Cherubs. Her passion for childcare continues through the next generation, with two daughters within the company.

I joined Little Cherubs in 2015 with a clear strategic vision to strengthen and refine the operational, financial and leadership structures of the business. Working collaboratively with the Directors and Management Team, I played a key role in the rebranding of Little Cherubs, ensuring the setting delivers affordable, high-quality childcare and education, underpinned by an environment that is safe, inclusive, transparent and respectful.

As part of my leadership role, I oversee the financial management and childcare accounts across both settings, ensuring effective budgeting, sustainability and compliance. I am also responsible for the management of the nursery website and social media platforms, supporting clear communication with families and promoting consistent messaging aligned with the nursery’s ethos and values.

Becoming a parent in 2018 has strengthened my understanding of childcare from a parent’s perspective, reinforcing the importance of trust, communication and consistency within early years provision. Two of my own children have attended Little Cherubs and thrived, further supporting my commitment to ensuring that every child receives high-quality, individualised care that meets their developmental and emotional needs.

I am passionate about maintaining high standards across all areas of practice, including safeguarding, staff development and the quality of education. I work closely with the leadership team to support reflective practice, professional development and continuous improvement, ensuring that Little Cherubs remains a nurturing, well-led and aspirational setting where children feel safe, valued and supported to reach their full potential.

I have worked in the childcare sector for over 26 years, beginning my career as an assistant within a preschool nursery. I joined Little Cherubs in 2000 at our Sydenham nursery, where I completed my Level 3 qualification in Childcare and began a long-standing journey of professional development within the organisation.

Over the past two decades, I have progressed through a variety of leadership roles, becoming Manager of the Shortlands nursery in 2004 and now serving as Area Manager across both the Sydenham and Shortlands settings. This progression reflects Little Cherubs’ strong commitment to staff development, succession planning and promoting leadership from within.

In my role as Area Manager, I am responsible for supporting the quality of education, maintaining high standards of practice, and ensuring that both settings consistently meet and exceed the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) requirements. I work closely with managers and practitioners to support curriculum planning, staff supervision, safeguarding practice and continuous improvement, ensuring that children’s learning, development and wellbeing remain at the heart of everything we do.

I am particularly passionate about helping children develop a strong understanding of the world through purposeful, engaging and inclusive learning experiences. I enjoy using imaginative role-play scenarios, such as recreating significant events, alongside singing sessions and cooking activities, to support children’s communication, language, social skills and confidence. Creating an inclusive environment where all children feel valued, supported and able to participate is central to my practice.

A significant career highlight for me was achieving Ofsted ‘Outstanding’, first at Shortlands in 2017, followed by Sydenham in 2018. These outcomes reflected the strength of leadership and management, the commitment of our staff teams, and our shared focus on delivering consistently high-quality childcare and education.

The childcare sector has evolved considerably over the years, and I am committed to staying up to date with changes in legislation, best practice and inspection frameworks. I believe Little Cherubs achieves a strong balance between providing high-quality, family-centred care and rich learning opportunities that support children to develop the skills, independence and confidence they need as they transition into the next stage of their learning.

I have worked within the Early Years sector since 1996, after completing my Level 3 qualification in Childcare. I joined Little Cherubs in 2005 as the Shortlands Preschool Room Supervisor, and since then have progressed through a range of leadership roles within the organisation.

My journey at Little Cherubs has included becoming Nursery Manager of our Sydenham branch, a role I held for 10 years, before returning to Shortlands in 2020. A personal career highlight for me was being appointed Manager of the Sydenham nursery in 2010, followed by achieving Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ status in 2018, reflecting the strength of leadership, teamwork and high-quality practice within the setting.

I am particularly passionate about delivering a creative, engaging curriculum in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). I have a strong interest in junk modelling, which supports children’s creativity, problem-solving skills and independence. I often describe myself as a bit of a DIY Queen, as I enjoy fixing, making and repurposing resources — something that supports sustainable practice and imaginative learning opportunities. I am also a keen gardener and enjoy knitting and craft activities, which I regularly incorporate into the nursery environment.

Building strong relationships with children is at the heart of my practice. I value taking the time to get to know each child as an individual by talking with them about their interests and closely observing their play. This allows me to support staff in planning meaningful activities that build on children’s ideas, extend their learning and support positive outcomes.

I enjoy mentoring and supporting the staff team by sharing activity ideas, modelling good practice and encouraging reflective teaching. Seeing practitioners grow in confidence and watching the positive impact this has on children’s learning and development is one of the most rewarding aspects of my role. .

I have worked within the childcare sector for over 15 years, gaining experience across all age groups within Early Years. Throughout my career, I have progressed through a range of roles, from Nursery Assistant to Senior Nursery Nurse, and now Deputy Manager, demonstrating my commitment to professional development and high-quality practice.

After working within one setting for over 13 years, I felt ready for a new challenge and joined Little Cherubs in November 2020. Since joining the team, I have continued to develop my skills and contribute positively to the leadership and daily running of the nursery.

I am particularly passionate about supporting children’s learning through play-based and hands-on experiences. I especially enjoy messy play activities, as they encourage exploration, creativity and sensory development, alongside singing and action songs, which help to support children’s communication, language development and confidence.

A key highlight of my career has been achieving both my Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications in Childcare, as well as completing training for the SENCO role. This training supports my passion for inclusion and ensures that all children, including those with additional needs, are supported to access learning opportunities and reach their full potential.

As part of my role, I support the leadership team in maintaining high standards of care, safeguarding and practice, while working closely with colleagues to create a calm, nurturing and inclusive environment for children and families.

On a personal note, I am a mum to two children, a daughter and a son, and I also have a cat called Gizmo. Being a parent myself helps me to understand the importance of strong partnerships with families and reinforces my commitment to providing high-quality, family-centred care.