Our Staff
Sunbeams place high importance on experience in childcare and employ staff who have many years caring for children. We offer continuing training through NVQ, student placements and relevant courses such as First Aid, Child Protection and Food Hygiene. As required by Ofsted all of our staff receive police checks and our staff ratios are well within the recommended Ofsted guidelines.
Sharon Hale B.Ed.
Nursery Manager
I set up Sunbeams Day Nursery in 1997. After completing Primary Teacher Training in Swansea, I moved to Plymouth and worked as a supply teacher and part time in a nursery. I really enjoyed working with pre-school children and when my old Primary School building in Mitcheldean was put up for tender, my Father and I decided to put in a bid and start our own private day nursery.
Since then, we have extended the nursery to take babies and toddlers and increased our staff from the original four to fifteen. Three of our original staff are still at Sunbeams! It has been lovely seeing children grow up and develop and we now employ two staff who came to us as children. Sunbeams is very much a family business: my sister does the cooking and cleans at the end of the day, my father does paperwork and maintenance, my brother and sons also help with evening cleaning. I enjoy working closely with the children in the nursery and have always maintained a hands-on role. I am lucky to have a close team and good continuity of staff at Sunbeams.
Emma Tucker
Administrator
Deputy Manager
I started my employment at Sunbeams in 2000, previous to this I gained my NNEB and attended Sunbeams on placement. I am now Deputy Manager and team leader for the Learning Ladybirds.
My role involves ensuring our planning folder is kept up to date and monitoring activities to ensure we cover all aspects of the EYFS. I like to encourage active learning and I am famed for my science experiments within the setting, which always gets the children excited! As a mother of pre-school twin boys, I feel the EYFS is very relevant to my home life as well as my work. I enjoy looking at encouraging active learning, finding new ways to encourage children to engage in learning and bringing new experiences into the setting. It is also great to observe children playing independently, forming friendships and exploring on their own terms.
The Learning Ladybirds team all contribute activity ideas and we work closely to plan themes based on what the children are showing an interest in at that time. This can change last minute and we are kept on our toes looking to support their interests.
I really enjoy the variety my role offers and the opportunity to be creative on a daily basis. It is so rewarding to see children really enjoying and engaging in experiences we have planned for them.
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Learning Ladybirds Team: Emma, Sharon, Abby, Beki, Emma, Georgie, Charlotte & Phoebe
Kate Kalus
Busy Bees Team Leader
I started at Sunbeams as a student on a work placement and started working as an employee in 1999. Before this I completed a GNVQ in health and social care and a NNEB in childcare and education.
I enjoy leading my team in Busy Bees, the Toddler room. We are a close team of four and we all contribute to creating a warm, homely atmosphere where the children’s needs come first. There is always a busy atmosphere in Toddlers as they are always on the go at that age. We also make sure there is plenty of time for the children to settle down with a story and have quiet times together as well.
As a mum of two myself, I feel I have a good understanding of both the children’s needs and a parent’s perspective. We ensure we give daily feedback to parents to offer continuity of care between home and setting.
Busy Bees Team: Kate, Aimee, Katie, Phoebe & Charlotte