becky wood – head teacher
Becky Wood has been Headteacher of Wingate Community Nursery School since 2014. Becky came to Wingate in 1998 where she worked alongside Paddy Beels, previous Headteacher, in leading this outstanding nursery school. Visits to Denmark and Northern Italy have influenced their perspective in early years.
Becky was instrumental in establishing Wingate Early Years Training Base, which she leads with drive and passion. She has created films, training packages and documentation based around children’s learning and the Wingate philosophy, aimed at supporting colleagues in exploring early years teaching and learning.
Becky is SENCO and Designated Safeguarding and Child Protection Lead in School.
nichola hesslewood – senior lead teacher and nature school lead
Nichola joined the Wingate team in January 2018, working alongside Becky to lead the school team. She is particularly passionate about children learning outdoors and is excited about her new role as Nature School Lead at ‘The Cottage’ from Autumn 2021.
With support and dedication from a local Community Interest Company, ‘Children in Nature CIC’, we have been able to renovate The Park Keeper’s Cottage at the Welfare Park in Wingate, and create an Outdoor Nature School. Nichola will be based at the Cottage and lead the learning for groups of children who will spend significant time there, alongside their key person.
Nichola is Deputy Designated Safeguarding and Child Protection Lead.
adele chapman – early years educator
Adele Chapman has grown at Wingate, from a nursery child in 1989-90, to a student, and now a valued member of the team, first employed in 2005. Adele is a skillful key person for the red group, whose sensitive, calm, unassuming approach belies the effectiveness and influence that she has on the children’s learning. Adele completed the Foundation Degree in 2012, BA Honours. Adele is also a qualified Forest School Leader and Practice Level 3.
burcu mcghin – early years educator
Burcu joined the team in September 2020 for one year to cover Adele’s maternity leave, taking good care of the red group. She is originally from Turkey and compliments our staff team beautifully. She is really enjoying her time with us and loves many aspects of her work, especially reading stories and singing with children. Burcu is staying with us for at least another year – as green group key person from September 2021.
ange wilkinson – early years educator
Ange joined our team in autumn 2014 and soon became a much loved key person for yellow group. As a military wife, Ange has worked internationally in Early Years since qualifying. She has a real passion for animals, taking a lead role in the care of our Nursery chickens and guinea pig. Ange has a passion for working outdoors and is enthusiastic about saving the planet. She leads a small team of ‘planet ambassadors’.
beata brzezianska – early years educator
Beata, originally from Poland, joined the team in spring 2019 and is key person for the orange group. She is passionate about working with young children and families and is enjoying her work with us. She has a love of outdoors and in particular is enjoying our nature days at the allotment with her orange group children.
mandi lynch – early years educator
Mandi joined the team in September 2020, to become the temporary key person for the blue group, after our lovely Glynis suddenly decided to retire after 28 years! Mandi has stepped brilliantly into Glynis’ shoes and is enjoying her time here as key person for blue group.
karen bell – early years educator
Karen joined the team in January 2018 and works part time, stepping into the key person role every afternoon to release staff out to do planning and learning journal work. However, in September 2021, Karen will become a part-time key person for a group of afternoon children in the purple group.
vicky evans – early years educator
We first met Vicky as a parent, who then became a school governor. When her youngest child went to
primary school, she was so interested in our work, that she offered to work with us as a volunteer – full time! Vicky was encouraged to become an apprentice with us, studying level 3 Children’s and Young People’s Work Force, so that whilst working with us full time, she could gain a qualification. Vicky joined the team as a ‘home grown’ employee in April 2021.
nicola balfour – artist educator
Nicola has worked with us for many years as a creative practitioner. She is an inspirational pedagogue, supporting staff and children on our ‘In2Nature’ Project, on a weekly basis out in the wild. Nicola is full of energy, enthusiasm and passion for working with young children outdoors .. and indoors.
nicola nattress – becky’s PA / school administrator
Although Nicola’s job is that of School Secretary, her role as Becky’s PA is unquestionable. Very efficient in her quiet, unassuming way, Nicola organises and supports, not only Becky, but all the staff, parents, families and children in the nursery. She is invaluable to the running of the school!
pat crick – nursery housekeeper
Pat works as admin to our Childcare organisation and coordinator for the comings and goings of training facilities. Pat also enjoys supporting the children in nursery who stay for lunch. She has been working with us since 2001, working previously as caretaker/cleaner, but is now very much ‘the mother hen’ looking after people and the plants!
alan johnson – caretaker
Alan joined the team in 2020, as Caretaker. Not only is he Abbie’s dad, but he was instrumental in the development of the nursery allotment, heading up a small team of dads to help get the Lottie ship shape for the children to use every day. Alan has slotted beautifully into the team and takes great pride in looking after the School and Childcare spaces, working alongside Susan, our cleaner. Together they take good care of our beautiful building and work with sensitivity to the children’s needs, supporting the role of the educators and the work they do.
jen martindale – cleaner
Jen works alongside Alan, as part of the cleaning team. She originally joined the team in 2017 as kitchen assistant, doing some cleaning on supply, but then switched to the cleaning team full time in June 2021, following the retirement of the previous post-holder. She is really enjoying her work to help create a beautiful, clean environment.
elaine gibson – cook
Elaine joined the team in September 2017, as nursery cook. She works alongside Lynn, the Childcare cook to prepare and make delicious, home cooked meals for babies, 2, 3 and 4 year old children who are here all day. Elaine was originally a parent and has stayed involved in the school ever since.
amy forster – kitchen assistant and dinner nanny
Amy joined the Wingate family in June 2021, to replace Jen. Amy is a mum to 2 children, both who came to our school. She is fitting into the team beautifully and learning a lot from Elaine, our cook.
