Melissa Gerding

Preschool Operations Manager

Melissa is responsible for the overall management of both our Kempshott and Hatch Warren Under Fives settings. Melissa's is a big role which includes, among many other things, supporting and line managing all staff, liaising with the Committee, overseeing safeguarding, health and safety and ensuring we remain complaint under the EYFS framework and Ofsted requirements.

Prior to moving into the Operations Manager role Melissa was the Manager of Kempshott Under Fives and before that she was a Deputy Manager at a large preschool in London. 

Melissa has a dog called Coco (who sometimes pops in to visit the children at preschool) and two children - she is kept busy at the weekends with football matches for both of her children.

Melissa loves her work with children and enjoys seeing them progress during their time at preschool.

Qualifications:

• NVQ Level 3
• Safeguarding Level 3
• DSL Safeguarding Level 4
• First Aid
• The Prevent Duty Trained
• Food Hygiene Level 2
• Level 3 Adult Mental Health: Workplace First Aider

Siobhan Keen

Manager, Level 3
DSL

We welcomed Siobhan in May 2019. She moved from KiddiCaru Nursery in Basingstoke, where she had been working for two years, to join our team at Hatch Warren Under Fives. She was promoted to Manager in February 2023.

Siobhan is passionate about her work with children and enjoys watching them grow and become more independent during their time at preschool.

Siobhan is also the Safeguarding Lead within Hatch Warren Under Fives.

She is kept busy at home with her young son and her step daughter. 

Siobhan was born in London but has lived in Basingstoke for most of her life. She is always on a diet and constantly failing because she loves food too much!

Qualifications:

• NVQ Level 3
• First Aid 
• Safeguarding Level 3
• Prevent Duty Trained 
• Food Hygiene Level 2
• Designated Safeguarding Lead Level 4 

Lisa Knapp

Deputy, Level 3

Lisa joined Hatch Warren Under Fives in 2005 and is our longest serving member of staff. She decided to follow a career in childcare after two of her boys attended Hatch Warren Under Fives. Lisa realised what a great start it was for them and started to volunteer as a parent helper. She then went on to study for the relevant qualifications and officially became part of the team.

Lisa was appointed Deputy in May 2018 - her three children are now much older and she felt ready to take on more responsibility within the preschool. Her length of service is testament to the fact that she absolutely loves her job working with our wonderful children!

In her spare time Lisa enjoys going for long walks with her dog, Jessie, shopping and keeping fit.

Qualifications:

• NVQ 3 Childcare Learning & Development
• First Aid
• The Prevent Duty Trained
• Safeguarding Level 3
• Food Hygiene Level 2

Trace Cameron

2nd Deputy / Early Years Practitioner, Level 3 

Trace is married with two children and lives in Beggarwood. Trace is an amazing member of our team at Hatch Warren Under Fives and she has been an Ofsted registered childminder since 2012. Trace job shares our Deputy role with Lisa and steps up for two days each week to the Deputy position.

Trace is a lively, happy, enthusiastic person, who has a love for children. In her free time she teaches spinning classes and enjoys keeping fit.

Qualifications:

• NVQ Level 3
• Paediatric first aid qualification.
• Safeguarding Level 3
• The Prevent Duty Trained
• Food Hygiene Level 2

Vicky Hailes

Early Years Practitioner, Level 3

Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO)

Vicky joined Hatch Warren Under Fives as an apprentice in January 2022. She has worked in childcare since 2018, and before joining us at Hatch Warren Under Fives she was working at Brighton Hill Preschool. It was her love for working with children that led her to undertake an apprenticeship and she completed her Level 3 in childcare and development in the summer of 2022. She is enthusiastic and passionate about working with children and enjoys building strong relationships with them and watching them grow. Vicky is also our SENCO at Hatch Warren Under Fives.

Vicky has 2 children who keep her busy in her spare time!

Qualifications:

• NVQ Level 3
• First Aid 

• Safeguarding Level 3
• Prevent Duty Trained 
• Food Hygiene Level 2

Jenny Ward

Early Years Practitioner, Level 3

Jenny enjoined a warm welcome back to our team at Hatch Warren Under Fives in September 2022. Jenny was with Hatch Warren Under Fives for many, many years before leaving about ten years ago! Her grandson has recently finished at Hatch Warren Under Fives and Jenny realised how much she has missed working at our preschool. She brings lots of fun and giggles into preschool and the children adore her! Jenny is very passionate about working with children, she loves supporting them grow and progress through their early years journeys. Jenny lives locally in hatch Warren and when she is not at preschool she takes a very active role in her young grandson's life and enjoys spending time with him.

Qualifications:

• NVQ Level 3
• First Aid 
• Safeguarding Level 3
• Prevent Duty Trained 
• Food Hygiene Level 2

Verity Steele

Early Years Practitioner, Level 4

Verity joined our team at Hatch Warren Under Fives in April 2019. She feels very at home in our setting as she worked with us for a number of years before taking time out to be a stay at home Mum. Her youngest daughter attended Hatch Warren Under Fives and loved her time at preschool. It's lovely to have Verity back with us now that her children are older. Verity works between our Hatch Warren and Kempshott Under Fives settings.

Verity has worked in childcare for over 15 years and has worked in a variety of settings including day nurseries, preschools and private nannying. She is passionate about her work with children and enjoys building relationships and watching the children develop.

Qualifications:

• NVQ Level 3
• First Aid 
• Safeguarding Level 3
• Prevent Duty Trained 
• Food Hygiene Level 2

Leah Chamerlain

Early Years Practitioner, Level 2

Leah qualified in childcare many years ago. After starting her career in childcare she then moved into recruitment and HR. After having her own children, Leah began voluntary work at her daughter's preschool, taking on the position of Chairperson for a year. This was her inspiration to return to a childcare role - and we were delighted when she joined Hatch Warren Under Fives at Easter 2023. Leah has an interest in supporting children with additional needs and has completed a number of courses for her development.
In her spare time Leah enjoys spending time with her two children and she also boards dogs who are training to be hearing dogs for the deaf or companion dogs, giving their full time trainers a well earned break.  

Qualifications:

• NVQ Level 2
• First Aid
• Safeguarding Level 3
• Prevent Duty Trained 
• Food Hygiene Level 2

Yvonne Hayward

Early Years Practitioner, Level 3

Yvonne joined Hatch Warren Under Fives in June 2023, having previously worked at Busy Bees in Hatch Warren. Yvonne moved into childcare from a career in retail, and after starting work at a nursery she knew she had found the career she was meant to do.
Yvonne likes to build strong relationships with the children, giving them the courage to try things for themselves, finding their own way and loves to see the sense of achievement on their faces.
Yvonne enjoys reading and this is something she brings with her to the preschool, sharing stories with as many children as possible. Yvonne has 3 children at home that keep her very busy, she also has a passion for going to see live music. 

Qualifications:

• NVQ Level 3
• First Aid
• Safeguarding Level 2
• Prevent Duty Trained 
• Food Hygiene Level 2