Meet the team

Mrs Smithard - Class teacher

Hello, my name is Mrs Smithard and I am the school’s Early Years Phase Leader, which means I oversee the teaching and learning of all children within the Nursery and Reception classes.

After completing my degree in Psychology and Philosophy I undertook a PGCE and accomplished a number of postgraduate qualifications in Autism and Special Educational Needs (SENDco qualification) at UCL. 

It is my job to make sure that everyone who is part of our Nursery family is well looked after, which includes parents. I have over 15 years experience in Early Years and have taught in many Year groups within a Primary School. I have had the privilege of teaching and being part of a school leadership team for over 4 years, working in a variety of roles. Our Nursery Team has worked exceptionally hard to help create a Nursery setting that we would want to send our children to: healthy, safe, inspiring, and enriching, so every child can thrive holistically.       

I really enjoy leading the Nursery Team at Whyteleafe Primary School and welcoming families, so we can work together to achieve the best possible start in your children’s educational journey. In the Nursery it is paramount for children to gain independence through learning and having a supportive team will enable them to be confident and active learners. 

I often describe what we do as being a ‘Magic- Weaving Business’- we get the honour of experiencing priceless learning moments in your children’s lives that make a profound impact and difference in their foundational years. 

In my spare time I enjoy reading, dancing, going for long walks, and spending time with my friends and  family. My two children, who also attend Whyteleafe Primary School, also keep me very busy.  

 

 

Miss Riley - Nursery Teacher

Hello! My name is Miss Riley, and I am thrilled to be working with your little ones at Whyteleafe Nursery. I have over 8 years of experience in early childhood education, and I hold a degree in Early Years Education. Over the years, I have had the privilege of working with children of all ages, from infants to preschoolers, and I am passionate about fostering a positive, engaging, and nurturing environment where every child can thrive.

I believe that each child is unique, with their own strengths, interests, and learning styles. My approach is child-centred, focusing on creating rich, stimulating experiences that encourage curiosity, creativity, and social-emotional development. I work closely with each child to help them build confidence, develop key skills, and discover the joy of learning through play and exploration.

 

Mrs Tidball -  Nursery Teacher

Hello, my name is Mrs Tidball. I have been working with children for more than 17 years now and I qualified as an early years teacher in 2017. Every day I have the privilege of teaching,supporting and caring for the children in our school nursery. Every day is unique and always full of laughter, fun and lots of playdough! I especially love to sing with the children,read stories (funny voices are a must!) and watch with amazement as the children embark on such an exciting and unique learning journey during their time in our nursery. I have always believed that a high quality nursery experience, filled with positive relationships and inviting opportunities for children to learn through play, enables children to grow, flourish and thrive in their early development. I am passionate about my role in helping children to build these strong foundations for all future learning- one lego brick at a time! 

Mrs Smith - Forest School

I am a Higher Level Teacher Assistant at Whyteleafe School and lead all of the outdoor learning and forest school sessions. Every Wednesday, I go over to the nursery and take the children across to Forest School for exciting learning adventures, testing their resilience and practising their skills

 

Miss Jade - Learning Support Assistant

 

Key Person

Once your child starts with us they will be allocated a member of staff who will be their ‘Key Person’. All our Nursery staff will get to know your child well but the Key Person’s role is to help your child settle and be someone they can relate to and rely on when they are with us. The Key Person will identify how your child learns through their play and be responsible for ensuring that the care your little one receives meets their individual needs. The Key Person will be your first point of contact for any questions you might have.

We will inform you of your child’s Key Person once they have been at Nursery for a few weeks. This gives us the opportunity to get to know your child and identify who the most appropriate member of staff is for your child. This is based on the relationship that your child has with the different team members and any additional needs or interests.

At Whyteleafe Nursery we use an online system called Tapestry to make regular observations of your child - we write down what they say and do and take lots of photos to keep you updated with how they are getting on.

We have an open-door policy, so please come in and speak to us if you have questions or need some more information.