Our Team

Where the passion begins

Passionate, dedicated, and loving, Secret Garden Nursery teachers love their work and it shows in everything they do. Our goal is to make a positive difference on young children who come to Secret Garden Nursery. Our team strives to provide an enabling environment for children so that it encourages natural curiosity, ignites imagination, and instills learning experience.

Our Early Years Educators as well as supporting staff are well trained, approachable, and highly responsive to child’s needs. All of our team members receive training in child protection, first aid, behaviour management and risk assessment.

Every single day children will have made progress, and through use of technology, we keep parents informed and up to date on child’s daily anecdotal evidence and their developmental progress.

Leila

Early Years Manager

Possessing a contagious enthusiasm, Leila has been an amazing asset for Secret Garden Nursery. Her warmth, creativity and drive makes her a great colleague and a perfect fit as a Nursery Manager.

Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS)
BA Hons Applied Psychology with Education Studies
National Professional Qualifications for Early Years Leadership (NPQEYL)
Peadiatric First Aid Trained
SENCO Trained
Safeguarding Trained Level 3
CRB checked and cleared

Storai

Early Years Deputy Manager

With a nurturing personality and hands-on approach towards learning, we are thrilled to have Storai as a part of our team. Her commitment to childhood education and attuned communication makes her the perfect Early Years Deputy Manager.

Early Years Leadership Level 5
Early Years Level 3
Paediatric First Aid Trained
Safeguarding Trained Level 3
DBS checked and cleared

Kim

Early Years Practitoner

With a nurturing personality it is of no surprise that Kim specialises in the gardening activities. She has been instrumental in helping the children understand nature and the world around them.

This hands-on approach provides countless opportunities for the children to strengthen their sensory development, healthy eating, responsibility and patience.

Early Years Level 3
Paediatric First Aid Trained
Safeguarding Trained Level 2
DBS checked and cleared

Valbona

Early Years Practitioner

Valbona is a dedicated and attentive member of the team. She is responsible for caring out the ‘Loose Parts’ activities, establishing creativity and critical thinking.

This is essential in encouraging the children to use their imagination freely - a valued trait in early development.

Early Years Level 3
Paediatric First Aid Trained
Safeguarding Trained Level 2
DBS checked and cleared

Asma

Early Years Practitoner

A degree-qualified Early Years Practitioner with a hands-on, enthusiastic approach and a natural ability to bring energy, warmth, and joy into the learning environment. Asma is recognised for building strong, trusting relationships with both children and families, fostering a sense of belonging and partnership.

With a playful teaching style and a deep passion for early childhood development, she creates a nurturing and engaging atmosphere where every child feels safe, supported, and inspired to explore and grow. Her positive presence and commitment to high-quality care make her a highly valued member of any early years team..

BA (Hons) in Early Years
Early Years Level 3
Paediatric First Aid Trained
Safeguarding Trained Level 2
DBS checked and cleared

Sherrie

Early Years Practitioner

A committed and caring early years practitioner, we are lucky to have Sherrie on our team.

Her calm and consistent approach to learning is reflected to the children’s environment. In addition, she is responsible for our messy play activities, which are essential in fostering curiosity, imagination and exploration - driving early brain development.

Early Years Level 3
Paediatric First Aid Trained
Safeguarding Trained Level 2
DBS checked and cleared

Fatema

Early Years Practitoner

A warm, nurturing, and highly engaged Early Years Practitioner with a strong emphasis on politeness, care, and positive relationships. Known for creating a calm and respectful environment where children feel valued, safe, and supported in their learning journey.

Passionate about nature-based education, Fatema brings a deep love for plants, gardening, and the outdoors into their practice, fostering children’s curiosity and connection with the natural world. With a gentle and attentive approach, they consistently build meaningful bonds with children, encouraging confidence, creativity, and a sense of wonder through everyday interactions and play.

Early Years Level 3
Paediatric First Aid Trained
Safeguarding Trained Level 2
DBS checked and cleared

Keira

Early Years Apprentice

Keira is a warm, friendly, and committed Early Years Apprentice currently completing her Level 3 qualification in Childcare. She brings a calm and caring presence to the setting, building strong relationships with both children and colleagues.

Her excellent communication skills and willingness to embrace the everyday challenges of early years education reflect her genuine passion for the profession. Always eager to learn and grow, Keira is becoming a valued member of the team, supporting high-quality care and learning through her dedication and positive attitude.

Early Years Level 3 in training
Paediatric First Aid Trained
Safeguarding Trained Level 2
DBS checked and cleared

Ashley

Sports Coach

Ashley's invaluable contributions to sports activities are deeply appreciated by children, parents, and teams alike. His dedication fosters a positive environment that encourages teamwork and personal growth. With his unwavering support, every child feels empowered to reach their full potential. Ashley truly makes a difference in the world of sports!

Physical activity is vital in children's all-round development, enabling them to pursue happy, healthy and active lives. Gross and fine motor experiences develop incrementally throughout early childhood, starting with sensory explorations and the development of a child's strength, co-ordination and positional awareness.

Creating games and providing opportunities for play both indoors and outdoors, adults can support children to develop their core strength, stability, balance, spatial awareness, co-ordination and agility.

Gross motor skills provide the foundation for developing healthy bodies and social and emotional well-being. Fine motor control and precision helps with hand-eye-co-ordination, which is later linked to early literacy.

Paediatric First Aid Trained
Safeguarding Trained Level 2
DBS checked and cleared

Mary

Music Teacher

Mary has worked with children since she qualified as a music therapist in 2014 at the Guildhall School of Music. Mary is a parent at Secret Garden Nursery and also works at Camden Therapy Centre with children, young people, and adults.

She plays the harp and incorporates this along with the piano into her sessions at Secret Garden, as well as lots of singing to encourage emotional expression and to support speech and language development, and playing hand-held percussion instruments to promote fine and gross motor skills. The weekly music sessions aim to model sharing and turn taking between children and to introduce them to the fundamentals elements of music and improvisation.

Mary is a registered member of the Health and Care Professions Council.

MA Music (Oxon)

MA Music Therapy

HCPC registration: AS 15020

DBS checked and cleared

Coco

Early Years Practitioner

A qualified Level 3 Early Years Practitioner with a strong focus on health and safety, operational excellence, and efficiency.

She is known for her meticulous attention to detail and ability to maintain a well-organised, compliant, and smoothly run environment. Her commitment to best practice ensures that children are cared for in a safe, structured setting where routines support both their wellbeing and the effectiveness of the team.

A proactive and dependable professional, she plays a key role in upholding high standards across the nursery.

Early Years Level 3
Paediatric First Aid Trained
Safeguarding Trained Level 2
DBS checked and cleared