Staffing Structure

At Little Woodlands, our experienced and carefully structured leadership team ensures the highest standards of care, education and management across the nursery.

We are also supported by a wider team who play a vital role in nursery life, including our Nursery Cook, SEN Support Worker, Domestic Assistants and Senior Admin Officer, among others. Each of these roles has a significant impact on our daily practice and their contributions are greatly valued as part of the Little Woodlands family. Our full Meet the Team document can be found on the Famly app.

Our team is the heart of Little Woodlands. We believe that strong teamwork creates the very best environment for children to thrive. Every member of staff is valued, supported and encouraged to grow professionally, ensuring they feel confident, motivated and inspired in their roles.

We foster a culture of respect, collaboration and appreciation, because when our team feels happy and empowered, that positivity shines through in the care and education we provide every single day.

Director
Manager
Area Assistant Manager
Deputy Managers
Senior Leaders
Room Leaders
Early Years Practitioners
Early Years Apprentices

Staffing

At Little Woodlands, we strictly adhere to the statutory Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) staff:child ratios, ensuring children receive the highest levels of care, supervision and support throughout the day. Our staff:child ratios are 1:3 in our Baby Room, 1:4 in our Toddler Room (although regulations allow for 1:5, we have chosen to maintain the lower 1:4 ratio) and 1:8 in our Pre-School Room.

In addition to our ratio staff, we are proud to have a number of supernumerary team members. Ellie (Director/Manager), our Area Assistant Manager and our Deputy Managers spend designated time out of ratio to focus on leadership, quality assurance and supporting staff and children across the nursery. Louise, our other Director, is also actively involved in the nursery, further strengthening our leadership presence.

We are supported by dedicated SEN Support Workers who are supernumerary, allowing them to provide targeted support where needed. Our Domestic Assistants help with meal preparation, sleep set up and maintaining high standards of cleanliness, enabling practitioners to stay focused on the children.

We are also fortunate to have our wonderful Woodland Angels, who support across the nursery wherever needed — from displays and storytelling to lunch cover and kitchen support. Their flexibility and positivity make a real difference to each day.

Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL)

Our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is Ellie. She is supported by Deputy DSLs to ensure safeguarding leadership is always present and there is consistent cover within the nursery.

First Aid

All qualified staff hold a valid Paediatric First Aid qualification, with additional team members also first aid trained to ensure strong coverage across the nursery. By going beyond statutory requirements, we provide enhanced care, leadership and support for every child.