Area Director
Sarah Whittaker
NNEB Level 4 in Early Years
The heart of Secret Garden
Exceptional people.
Extraordinary care.
Behind every happy child is a team who truly cares. Meet the dedicated professionals whose experience, warmth and passion make Secret Garden such a special place to grow.
Meet our teamThe people who make the difference
Passionate about children.
Dedicated to their futures.
At Secret Garden, we believe exceptional early years education begins with exceptional people.
Our team brings together experienced early years professionals, qualified educators and dedicated support staff who share a genuine passion for helping children thrive.
Through nurturing relationships, thoughtful interactions and a deep understanding of child development, they create an environment where every child feels valued, supported and inspired to reach their potential.
With several members of our team having dedicated more than two decades to the nursery, our families benefit from a wealth of experience, continuity of care and a genuine sense of community.
It’s this combination of professional expertise and personal connection that makes Secret Garden so special.
Leading our nursery
Nursery Manager
Mary Burgess
NVQ Level 4 · Language lead & SEND · Part of the team since 2004
Our wider team
Deputy Manager
Katie Akers
NVQ Level 4 · Part of the team since 2000
Third in Charge
Amy Ayling
Level 3 Qualified Early Years Practitioner
Qualified Teacher
Karen Yeoman
Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)
Nursery Practitioner
Georgia Beeley-Robinson
Level 3 Qualified Early Years Practitioner
Nursery Practitioner
Tammy Newbold
Level 3 Qualified Early Years Practitioner
Nursery Practitioner
Ishrat Kazmi
Level 3 Qualified Early Years Practitioner
Nursery Practitioner
Chloe Musson
Level 3 Qualified Early Years Practitioner
Nursery Practitioner
Judith McIvor
Level 3 Qualified Early Years Practitioner
Nursery Practitioner
April Coxall
Level 3 Qualified Early Years Practitioner
Nursery Practitioner
Angela Manu
Level 2 Qualified Early Years Practitioner
Trainee Practitioner
Ella Burrill
Working towards Level 2
Nursery Cook
Jackie Daniels
Part of our everyday nursery life
A warm welcome awaits.Your journey starts here
Come and see
where their story begins.
The best way to experience Secret Garden is to see it for yourself.
We’d love to welcome you and your child, introduce you to our team and show you how we make every day a special opportunity to learn, grow and flourish.
Arrange your personal tourOr call us on 0115 981 7837.