Gillian Whitaker and The Little Ducklings team welcomes you and your child to our setting.
ALL STAFF AT LITTLE DUCKLINGS HOLD A VALID DBS AND HAVE RELEVANT QUALIFICATIONS IN FIRST AID AND SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN.
Gillian Whitaker
As nursery manager Gill opened Little Ducklings Day Nursery LTD in 2004. She is office based but often helps out in both the Ducklings Room and the Mallard Room. Gill has her BA Honours Degree in Children, Schools and Families. Gill is nursery’s Designated Lead Practitioner for Safeguarding and our ELAC (looked after children). Gill is also the nursery’s ENCO (Equality Named Co-ordinator)
Gill shares the role of Cook each week with Sarah Shipp.
Sarah Shipp
Sarah is Deputy Manager and Pre-school Leader. She completed her BTEC National Diploma at Preston College in 1998 and became part of the Little Ducklings team in September 2008. In the absence of Gill, Sarah is our Designated Lead Practitioner for Safeguarding. She also has the roles of SENCO (Special Educational Needs Co-Ordinator) and Behaviour Management Co-ordinator. Sarah has completed her third year at UCLAN earning a BA Honours Degree in Children, Schools and Families. She has also completed further training at Edge Hill University and holds Early Years Teacher status.
Sarah also shares the role of Cook each week with Gill.
Laura Masson
Laura is Deputy Manager and Team Leader in the Mallard Room. She works 3 days a week and holds her Level 3 in Childcare and Education. Laura also holds a BA(HONS) Degree in Children, Schools and Families . Laura is our nursery PICO (Parental Involvement Co-ordinator) and arranges our nursery float for the Children’s Festival each year. In the absence of Gill and Sarah, Laura is our Designated Lead Practitoner for Safeguarding
Vicky Cross
Vicky is the senior Practitioner in the Mallard Room. She works with the preschool children with Jo. She has her NVQ 2 and 3 in Childcare and Education. Vicky has also completed her NVQ Level 2 in Team Leading and has been with us since 2005.
Josephine Hunter-Smith
Amelia Hardman
Olivia Tyson
Leah
Leah has just started with us in 2023 and is doing her modern apprenticeship working towards a level 2 in Early Years. She works alongside Laura Masson, Amelia, Olivia and Sarah Makinson in the Mallard Room with the 2 and 3 year olds.
Becky Townley
Becky is a Senior Practitioner in the Duckling Room, working alongside Laura and Amy to care for the under two’s. She is a qualified level 3 Early years Educator, working towards a level 5 in Early Years.
Laura Bowker
Laura is a qualified Early years Educator level 3 and works alongside Becky and Amy in the Ducklings Room with the under 2’s.
Amy Swindlehurst
Amy is a level 2 Early Years Educator. She is working towards her level 3 qualification. Amy is based in the Ducklings Room, working alongside Becky and Laura.
Sarah Makinson
Sarah is our office administrator and has a level 2 Diploma in Business and Administration. She works part time in the office however, she is now working towards a Level 2 diploma in Early Years, training alongside the Mallard Room team.
Sarah is also our Health and Safety Officer.