Meet the Team
All our staff have full and current DBS checks in place.
Jacqui
&
Proprietor
Early Years Provider
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
Brian
Proprietor
Jacqui's career began in Textiles and Ceramic Design following studying Business Studies and Surface Pattern Design, whilst Brian had an eclectic career from farming, haulage, oil industry and the residential care sector. However, after having children of their own, Jacqui and Brian's focus changed and they became heavily involved with their children's schools, running the PTFA and Jacqui became a School Governor. As their own children became teenagers, Jacqui and Brian felt the time was right to focus their career path into Early Years Education and set up Cats Whiskers Day Nursery.
Felicity (Fizz)
Early Years Manager
Designated Safeguarding Lead
SENDCO
BA(HONS)
EYP
Fizz is Brian and Jacqui's daughter. She has a degree in Performing Arts and Music from RWCMD and Coventry University and a post-graduate qualification as an Early Years Professional.
As a qualified percussionist and trained in Musical Theatre and Dance, Fizz brings her passion of the Arts into the nursery, to enable the children to have diverse and exciting creative opportunities.
Caroline
Deputy Manager
SENDCO
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
CACHE Level 3
Caroline has been a part of the Cats Whiskers Team since we opened in October 2000. Her love of science experiments, story-telling and singing with the children make her a much loved member of staff.
As the nursery SENDCO, Caroline supports a number of children and families with their child's development, to enable them to reach the best of their potential.
Carol
Administrator
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
CACHE Level 3
An integral part of the management team, Carol supports all the staff in managing ratios, funding, health and safety, deployment and keeping on top of paperwork. Carol loves a spreadsheet!
She is also a qualified nursery practitioner and the children love when she plays the piano for them to sing along to.
Clare
Under 3's Team Leader
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
Foundation Degree in Early Education
Clare has worked at the nursery for over 10 years, working her way up the team. She loves to cook and the children are able to join in with these activities regularly, which gives them lots of learning opportunities.
Clare oversees the Under 3's Team and supports all the youngest children and their families.
Simona
Baby room Team Lead
CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator
Simona joined the team in 2021. Simona's calming nature, organisational skills and friendly personality make her the perfect addition to the team. Simona is originally from Italy and speaks (and writes) fluently in Italian and English.
Hazel
Nursery Practitioner
NVQ 3 Childcare and Education
Hazel has been at the nursery for over 14 years and is much loved by the children. Her caring nature helps children to warm to her quickly.
Hazel currently works in our baby room 'Apples', but has much experience across the whole nursery.
Megan
Nursery Practitioner
NVQ 2 Early Years Educator
Megan joined the team several years ago and her confidence has flourished in that time. Trained in patisserie, she regularly bakes with our toddlers, which not only helps them to develop their gross and fine motor skills, but means they have something yummy and home made for tea too!
Rudi
Nursery Practitioner
Foundation Degree in Early Years
Rudi joined the Cats Whiskers team following completing her college placements here just before the first Lockdown. Rudi is passionate about Early Years Education and her warm personality mean that children settle in quickly and love spending time with her. Rudi loves to create exciting learning opportunities for the children in her care.
Laura
Nursery Practitioner
CACHE Level 2 Early Years Educator
Laura qualified as an early years educator before having 4 children of her own! 3 of Laura's children came through Cats Whiskers and Laura was keen to join the work family now they are all at school. Laura is currently working towards her level 3 as an Early Years Educator.
Isaac
Nursery Practitioner
CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator
Isaac joined us with several years experience in working in Early Years and working with children who have complex needs. Isaac regularly volunteers at the Dorset Children's Foundation. Isaac loves playing football and it is lovely for the children to have another male role model at Cats Whiskers.
Shannon
Nursery Practitioner
CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator
Shannon has now been part of the Cats Whiskers Team for several years. She has a bubbly personality and a 'can do' attitude, which helps the children to have the same. Shannon is very organised and loves to give the children fun challenges throughout the day. She is a committed and dedicated member of the Cats Whiskers Team.
Lily
Nursery Practitioner
Trainee Early Years Teacher
Lily graduated from Arts University Bournemouth in 2021 with a degree in Animation. She joined the Cats Whiskers team in Spring 2022 and is currently completing a post-graduate degree as an Early Years teacher. Lily loves using her creative skills in activities with the children. Lily was brought up in the South of France and is fluent in both French and English.
Emily
Nursery Assistant
Trainee CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator
Emily joined Cats Whiskers to complete her level 3 Early Years Educators course, following in her twin sister, Jess' footsteps. Emily works hard and is extremely good at very quickly remembering every child's routine. Emily will be working across the nursery while she completes her apprenticeship.
Cat
Nursery Assistant
Trainee CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator
Cat is a mummy of 2 children and having discovered a love of the Early Years decided now was the time for a career change.
Cat will be completing her level 3 Early Years Educator Training here at Cats Whiskers. Cat will be working across the nursery while she completes her apprenticeship.
Greg
Music Specialist
Royal College of Music and Drumtech - London
Greg is Brian and Jacqui's son and, like Fizz, is a trained musician. He is a professional drummer, freelancing for many bands and theatres around the country, but has also done a vast amount of teaching.
Greg, when his timetable allows, provides the nursery with fun and exciting African Drumming and Drum Kit workshops throughout the year.
Zoltan
Tennis Coach
Zoltan coaches the pre-school children at least twice per week throughout the year. He is a LTA tennis coach at Southbourne Tennis Club and it is lovely that there is a large Cats Whiskers Alumni that have continued their tennis journey with him there.
The pre-school children love learning their 'ABC' (Agility, Balance and Coordination) with Zoltan and these skills really help improve their physical development as well as team building and listening skills.
Stewart
Chef
Stewart has joined us following a successful career in high quality hotel restaurants. As he is now a father of 2 children, Stewart wanted to find a chef role that was more suitable around a family lifestyle and stumbled across us. The children love his nutritional and healthy meals that are both delicious and seasonal. Parents love his canapés as parents evenings!
Paige
Nursery Practitioner - Bank Staff
CACHE Level 2 Early Years Educator
Paige is a qualified practitioner who works on a flexible basis across the nursery while she trains to become a nurse. Paige's caring empathy and warm nature make her a brilliant practitioner and we know she will make a fabulous nurse in the future.
Jess
Nursery Practitioner - Bank Staff
CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator
Trainee Teacher - Primary
Jess began working at Cats Whiskers while she was completing her BTEC Level 3 Early Years Educator at Brockenhurst College. Jess is now training at Winchester University to be a Primary School Teacher and returns to Cats Whiskers in her holidays. She is also Emily's twin sister!
Lucy
Nursery Assistant - Bank Staff
Lucy is currently completing a degree in Art in Brighton, but comes back to join us throughout her holidays. Lucy's bubbly and creative personality really inspires the children to get involved and have lots of fun.
Meg
Nursery Assistant - Bank Staff
Meg originally came to Cats Whiskers as a child over 14 years ago! Even back then, her love of music and dance was evident and now she is studying a degree Musical Theatre at Emil Dale Academy. Meg comes back to join us in her holidays and the children love to sing with her.