Our Staff

Keri Standen

Becky Morrell

Kim Umpleby

Becky 

Kim

Sam

Vickie

Kathryn

I have gained my level 3 qualification. I am very busy with 4 children and the family farm but I still manage to be actively involved in my church. I also find time to give respite care to a young lady with special needs.

Tracey Darnbrook

Tracey, an experienced Level 3 practitioner, joined our team in 2018.  She has brought with her  an abundance of ideas and activities that really inspire the children.

Vickie Wrigglesworth

I have worked at Noah's Ark since 1996 when my youngest child left to go to "big school". During that time I have worked my way through the qualifications list, achieving BA(Hons) Early Years​ and Qualified Teacher Status. I have taught Reception & Year 1 in a village school one day a week for the last 5 years.

 I oversee the educational side of things and I am the setting Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator and Manager.  

Keri has a background in youth justice, safeguarding and Children's Centres.  Both her girls attended Noah's Ark and now with them settled at primary school, she enjoys studying, building on her Level 3 childcare qualification.

Sam Nelson

My 2 children attended Noah’s Ark and thus led me onto my career path with playing, supporting and teaching young children. I joined the team in 2010 as an Early Years Practitioner (level 3) and have gone on to achieve a BA (Hons) in Young Children’s Learning and Development. I am designated lead person in safeguarding and also responsible for registration. I enjoy sharing my love of baking and gardening with the children and when harvests are bountiful also sharing the fruit of my labours from my allotment!.

I am a qualified teacher with a specialism in Early Years and have worked at the local Children's Centre.  I have 2 girls who are both at a local primary school and we  moved on to the family farm where we have spent time rebuilding our house. I hope to do some Forest School training in the spring and in the meantime I'm working on providing weather topic boxes and introducing puppets to our children who qualify for extra funded support.

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Kathryn Eckford

I have worked on the Noah’s Ark Team since 2001. My role is Special Educational Needs (SEN) Assistant. I work two mornings a week and help children who require extra support with their language and communication skills. I have attained my Level 2 in Preschool Practice and been on many short language courses over the years. I helped run a Toddler Group for eighteen years and am a Sunday Club Teacher here at Gracious Street. I have two children of my own, one of them having special needs.