The Team

Working together for the children

At Hardings Nursery & Pre-School we maintain the ratio of adults to children in the setting that is set through Ofsted’s Welfare Requirements. These ratios are 1:8 for three year olds and 1:4 for two year olds. We usually have at least one additional member of staff present and also have volunteers and parent/carer helpers where possible to complement these ratios. This helps us to:

• give time and attention to each child;
• talk with the children about their interests and activities;
• help children to experience and benefit from the activities we provide; and
• allow the children to explore and be adventurous in safety 

We are proud that our Practitioners are all Paediatric First Aid trained and there is a deep commitment within the team to ongoing professional learning and development. We have a low turnover of staff and many of the staff's own children attended Hardings themselves in previous years. We work with local colleges to offer Level 3 Apprenticeships and also work with the local YMCA to offer Level 1 & 2 placements to students. We can also offer voluntary sessions for people studying childcare qualifications subject to a satisfactory DBS check and willingness to complete Safeguarding training within the first 4 weeks of joining us.

Claire Mason and Tina Covill - co-own Hardings Nursery & Pre-School.

The staff who work at/for our setting are: 

Jane McCullagh - Pre-School Manager

Designated Person for Safeguarding

First Aider

Jane has worked at Hardings since 2001. She works all  Monday-Friday and also does our lunch clubs. Jane is a Designated Senior Person for Safeguarding within the setting. Jane is responsible for staff supervision and development and oversees the EYFS provision within the setting.

Key Qualifications / Training: 

- NVQ Level 3 Early Years Child Care and Education

- Level 2 Child Protection Multi-Agency

-  Safeguarding Designated Person (Child Protection)

- Safe staffing lead

- Prevent Duty (Radicalisation)

- Paediatric First Aid

- Food Hygiene & Safety

- Hertfordshire Step-On Behaviour programme

- Shooting Stars Communication

- WELLCOMM Speech & Language

- FGM Training

Delia Jones - Deputy Pre-School Manager and Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO)

Designated Person for Safeguarding

First Aider

Delia has worked at Hardings since 2002. She works Monday-Friday .Delia is our lead for Special Education Needs and Disabilities within the setting and sits on the local SEND consortium group with several other settings.

 Key Qualifications / Training: 

- CACHE Level 3 Children's Care, Learning and Development

- Safeguarding Designated Person

- Prevent Duty (Radicalisation)

- Paediatric First Aid

- SENCO specialist training

- Food Hygiene & Safety

- Hertfordshire Step-On Behaviour programme

- Shooting Stars Communication

- WELLCOMM Speech & Language

-FGM Training

 Claire Starkey - Early Years Childcare Practitioner/Deputy Manager

First Aider 

Claire has worked at Hardings since 2012. She works Monday-Friday and also does our lunch clubs. Claire is our lead Practitioner for "Children Looked After" under the local authority.

Key Qualifications / Training: 

- CACHE Level 3 Children Young People's Workforce Diploma

- Effective Safeguarding Practice

- Prevent Duty (Radicalisation)

- Food Hygiene & Safety

- Hertfordshire Step-On Behaviour programme

- Shooting Stars Communication

- WELLCOMM Speech & Language

- Designated Person for Children Looked After (CLA) training 

- FGM Training

Yvette Meyrick Early Years Childcare Practitioner.

First Aider

Yvette has worked at Hardings since 2012 and completed her Level 3 training with us.

Key Qualifications / Training:

- CACHE Level 3 Children Young People's Workforce Diploma

- Effective Safeguarding Practice

- Prevent Duty (Radicalisation)

- Paediatric First Aid

- Food Hygiene & Safety

- Signing & Makaton

- FGM Training