Mereside Staff

Ruth Lowe - Nursery Owner

I have always had a passion and love for children and I recall stating and thinking many times, while our daughter was at her Nursery, about improvements that could be made both on the customer service and care side. This combined with my wanting to be my own boss and be able to provide a quality service were the catalysts for our looking at and choosing to purchase Mereside Farm Children`s Nursery.

I hold a paediatric first aid certificate, have a level 2 in Food Safety and a level 3 NVQ Diploma in childcare.

When I have free time, I love spending time with my family and friends, I play the saxophone and clarinet and also sing in a big band which is something my Dad got me into many years ago, like going to the theatre, adore meals out and finally to try and keep fit and challenge myself I enjoy running, and have completed many half marathons and will be applying for the London Marathon for the last time in 2019, having not been allocated a space for 2013 to 2018.

Chris - Deputy Manager & room manager for Tweenies

I joined Mereside Farm Children`s Nursery in August 2003 and hold an NNEB certificate (It`s the old qualification - The National Nursery Examination Board), in addition to safeguarding children, paediatric first aid and cooking.

Although I have worked mainly in the Tweenie room during my time at Mereside, I have covered and worked in all rooms including the kitchen, but just love seeing the children progress through the different rooms and develop into their own characters, and enjoy helping them learn and bring out their creative flair.

At home, I am kept busy with my family including three daughters and 3 grandchildren and love to spend time with them and then relax on a nice holiday.

My Hobbies include Shopping, going to the gym, socialising, meals with the family and going to the theatre.

Becky - Nursery Nurse - Tweenie Room

I have been in childcare for 4 years, holding a level 2 childcare.  Other qualifications I hold include Health & Social care, peadeatric first aid, safeguarding, L2 autism awareness, handling communication and behavioural difficulties.

I love working with the children and seeing them learn, grow and develop and watching personalities change.

Outside of work I enjoy travelling, shopping, socialising with friends, art and animals.

Rhian - Nursery Nurse - Preschool Room

I hold a level 3 qualification in Children`s Learning and Development as well as additional training to enhance this, such as Paediatric First Aid and Food hygiene.  

thoroughly enjoy working with children as I find the job challenging and rewarding, especially knowing that I am contributing to the children`s growth and development. 

In my spare time I enjoy spending time with friends and family, playing squash 2-3 times per week for a ladies team at my local sports club and most of all caring for my adorable labradoodle Murphy, enjoying long walks in the park with him. 

Nicola - Nursery Nurse - Bank Staff

I hold a level 2 & 3 qualification in Childcare and Education and initially joined Mereside full time in 2003, although left for a few years following the birth of my children, returning in 2012 when they started school full time, on a part time and lunch time cover basis.

When not at work, I love spending quality time with my family and friends, in particular many weekends away in our touring caravan.

I also do the bookkeeping for my husbands and father in laws engineering business in any spare time I get!

Alan Lowe - Nursery Owner

Having spent many years in the corporate world and despite others stating to the contrary, it seems somewhat peaceful spending time at the Nursery, although Ruth & Helen do their best to disturb this peace and my plans with their numerous lists of jobs to be done here and there, and also encourage the staff and children to join in and gang up on me as well :-)

Spending time at the Nursery though is great and although I`m not based in a room, I love seeing the children progress and grow up (very quickly).

When I have the time and my body allows, I love cycling, swimming and going to the gym, in addition to watching sport and enjoy spending time with my family and socialising with friends, although as our daughter grows older my time seems to be taken up acting more and more as a Taxi driver.

Lauren - Nursery Nurse - Tweenie Room

• I`m a qualified level 3 practitioner in early years and I have been at Mereside since March 2018.   I enjoy working with children as it is what I have always wanted to do since I was little.

My hobbies include reading and socialising with friends.

Karen - Nursery Nurse - Bank Staff

I have been at Mereside since July 2017 and I`m loving it! 

I consider myself very lucky to be part of such a lovely team of staff, in such a beautiful setting and not forgetting the wonderful children of course. 

I hold an NVQ Level 3 in childcare and I work

across all of the rooms in nursery.  

In my spare time I enjoy going to concerts, the theatre, shopping and spending time with family.

Shabnam - Nursery Nurse - Bank Staff

I joined Mereside in January 2018 and hold a Level 3 Cache Diploma in Childcare and Education, as well as further training such as safeguarding and First Aid.  It is a dream come true to work with children, I enjoy seeing them reach their full potential and seeing their characters develop as we guide and support them.

Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my family and enjoy travelling to different places, I look after my siblings and friends children on a regular basis and we visit local attractions.

Abbie - Room Manager - Nursery Nurse - Tweenie Room

I joined mereside in March 2019 and currently work within the Tweenies room and I have worked in childcare since 2015, throughout the years I have gained lots of experience within all age ranges. I love watching the children grow and begin to learn new things! I hold a level 2 and 3 childcare qualification, and also a paediatric first aid and food hygiene certificate.

I spend a lot of my spare time with my nieces and nephews and catching up with friends.

Jenny - Room Manager - Baby Room

I have worked in childcare since April 2018 and have worked with various ages, most recently I worked in a nursery at a Primary School.  I am level 3 qualified and enjoy watching the children learn and develop.  Working in childcare is very rewarding as you are there to experience children`s firsts, like their first steps and words.  In my spare time I enjoy going out with friends and spending time with family. 

Katie H - Nursery Nurse - Baby room

I joined Mereside in August 2019 and I am level 3 qualified.  I love working with children as it is such a rewarding job. 

In my spare time I love shopping and spending time with my family and friends.

Raynor - Nursery Nurse - Pre School

I have been qualified for over 17 years and have a BTEC National Diploma in Childcare.  I have a variety of experience working with all ages and like to feel I make a difference when I see the children and families happy and content.  I am a creative and bubbly person and I really like to sing and make the children laugh.

Lauren - Lunchtime Assistant - all rooms

I`m a mother of twin boys and I have a big family so I am around children of all ages most of the time.  I joined Mereside in February 2020 and I am enjoying the new experiences and taking part in supporting the children`s development.  In my spare time I enjoy trips with my family, shopping and socialising with friends.

Anastasia - Nursery Nurse - Baby Room

I joined Mereside in February 2020 and I am level 3 qualified.  I love working with children as I find it very rewarding watching them learn and grow and being able to support them.  In my free time I like to read, socialise with friends and go shopping. 

Matthew - Nursery Cook

After training as a chef at the college of food in Birmingham, I have over 30 years experience in catering from hotels, pubs, corporate catering and schools.  I look forward to providing the children with a balanced and healthy menu.  In my spare time I enjoy cycling, watching football, cricket and golf and walking my cockapoo Archie.

Hazera - Lunchtime cover assistant

I joined Mereside in December 2020 and hold a level 2 in childcare and level 3 teaching assistant qualification and have carried out further training to enhance my skills such as safeguarding and food safety.

Since 2016 after having my children I worked at a range of settings such as schools, creches, children centres and day nurseries.

I enjoy working around children and we can learn so much from these little people, learning, exploring and having fun together.

When not at work I love to spend time with family and friends, especially my children, taking them on holidays and days out.

Adam - Nursery Nurse Baby Room

I have been in childcare for 9 years and I have a level 2 and 3 in childcare as well as first aid I started working for Mereside in February 2021.

I enjoy working with children because I like to help them to learn and develop, in my spare time I like going out with friends, seeing live bands and festivals.

Sam - Lunch Time Cover - All Rooms

I joined Mereside in September 2021 as a lunchtime assistant. I have worked in childcare for many years and hold a level 3 qualification in childcare and education.

I have 3 children who keep me very busy and in my spare time I enjoy spending time with them, family and socialising with friends, attending music events and stand up comedy gigs.

Claire - Deputy Nursery Manager

I joined Mereside in May 2021 as room leader for preschool room and progressed to Deputy Manager in September 2021. I love working with children and helping them to grow and learn through play and fun experiences. I am outgoing and bubbly and love building relationships with the children and their parents. In my spare time I enjoy spending time with family and friends and going on holiday.

Deanne - Bank staff - All rooms.

I joined Mereside farm in February 2023.

I decided to join Mereside farm to work with children because I enjoy seeing the children grow and progress and having fun.

I like to spend my spare time with my children and family. I am also a mobile hairdresser so I also love my other job of running my own business.

Katie D - Nursery nurse - Preschool

Muktha Choudary - Nursery nurse Tweenie Room

Nursery Nurse - Tweenie Room

Terri Carter - Nursery Manager

I have been in childcare since July 2000 and managed here at Mereside Farm from January 2015 to November 2022, rejoining the team February 2023 following a career break where I was doing Early years tutoring and assessing.

I love seeing how the children grow when with us, and enjoy supporting my team to provide the best care and learning for them.

In my spare time I enjoy spending time with family, watching films and reading.

Helen Woodward-Hatherall

Nursery nurse - Baby room

I have been in childcare now 12 years and I am Level 3 qualified.  I joined Mereside Farm in March 2023.

I love working with children as they bring so much joy and I love that I am a part of their learning and development.

In my spare time I love doing arts and crafts with my daughter, movie nights and watching my son play football.