Our Story. . .
Bluebells Nursery School is co-owned and founded by Joanna Cox and Kate Benfield who are also the Headmistresses.
Having both worked within the childcare profession for a number of years we wanted to combine our knowledge, skills and experience to create a secure, nurturing environment in which children are able to flourish and grow as individuals.
Active Learning is key to our philosophy. We want children to feel inspired to learn and provide stimulating and challenging experiences for them.
OUR LEARNING PHILOSOPHY
At Bluebells we believe that each child is unique and our curriculum is designed to cater for each individual’s needs.
Active Learning is key to our philosophy, enabling the children to be part of the decision making process and lead their own development. Whether the children are planting herbs in our ‘magic garden’ or blending sounds on the interactive whiteboard, each day they are experiencing and absorbing new things and having an adventure along the way!
We encompass all principles of the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum.
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Communication and Language
Physical
Development
Literacy and Mathematics
Understanding
the World
Expressive Art and Design
MEET OUR TEAM
All of the staff at Bluebells Nursery School hold Paediatric First Aid Certificates, current Enhanced DBS certificates and have attended Safe Guarding and Prevent Duty Training.
Joanna Cox
Joint Headmistress
Joanna Cox has always been passionate about working with children and decided – while still at school – to make it her career. Following a qualification in business studies she gained an NVQ level 3 in childcare and education, while working full-time with children aged between 3 months and 5 years at a leading independent nursery school in Devon. Here, in order to gain as much experience as possible, she involved herself in every aspect of the school. Joanna then moved to London to join two nursery schools where – through sheer hard work and dedication – she progressed from teaching assistant to deputy headmistress.
At the same time she also qualified in paediatric first aid training; child protection training and special educational needs (SEN).
Joanna has always been ambitious to set up her own nursery school, and after achieving an NVQ level 4 in childcare management, she and Kate Palmer, a long-time colleague and friend, launched Bluebells Nursery School in the spring 2011
Kate Benfield
Joint Headmistress
Kate Palmer has always been interested in childcare and the early years. She started her teacher training by studying the Montessori method. This sparked off a passion and desire to start her own nursery school, in which children would be stimulated and excited to learn.
She has worked in independent and state nurseries across London, progressing from Nursery Assistant to Manager. During this time Kate gained further qualifications, including an NVQ level 4 in Childcare Management. She has also taken a number of extensive training courses covering such areas as Active Learning; Special Educational Needs; Child Protection and Paediatric First Aid.
Kate has worked with Joanna Cox for a number of years. They share the same vision for Bluebells Nursery School, planning to create a rich learning environment in which children can flourish and thrive.
Nursery Teachers
Romina LaFuente
Nursery Teacher
Dyana Hichkova
Nursery Teacher
Susannah Ward
Nursery Teacher
