Meet our Team
Our friendly staff team have a passion for working with children. Many of our staff have been with us for years - some for nearly 30 years! This goes to show how much they enjoy caring and nurturing children's development.
We take the ongoing development of our staff seriously in order to maintain high standards and professional safe care. As part of the Rivers CofE Academy Trust our staff receive specialist early years training and share best practice with our colleagues from other pre-school settings.
All staff have undergone and have a clear Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. We also have a Lead for safeguarding and a special educational needs co-ordinater (SENCO).
"St Clements Pre-School has been fantastic for all of my children, they have loved being there. The friendly, caring team have been incredible, they have taught my children so much and given them so many opportunities to grow and develop" Parent feedback
Preschool Manager: Jenny Rouse - CACHE Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People’s Workforce (QCF) Early Learning and Childcare Pathway. Preschool safeguarding lead and SENCO.
Mrs Rouse has been in Preschool for 15 years. Mrs Rouse loves spending time in Cornwall with her family. She loves to go for hot chocolate and cake. Her favourite activity in Preschool is reading stories to the children.
Preschool assistant & key worker: Dawn Shaw - NVQ 3 Early Years Care and Education.
Mrs Shaw has been at St Clements for 27 years and is now seeing ex-pupils bringing their children into Preschool!
When not in Preschool, Mrs Shaw loves to spend time in Croyde Bay with her family and she is also partial to a coffee and walnut cake! Her favourite part of Preschool is the garden and she has helped lots of children to plant and grow over the years.
Pre-school assistant and key worker: Helen Vernalls - NVQ 3 Children’s Care, Learning and Development.
Mrs Vernalls is also a long serving member of staff, at 23 years.
Both her daughters were pupils at St Clements and she now has 3 grandchildren who she loves spending time with. In Preschool Mrs Vernalls loves messy play.
Pre-school assistant and key worker: Rachel Milner - CACHE Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People’s Workforce (QCF) Early Learning and Childcare Pathway.
Mrs Milner claims to love all food, but she must be very disciplined as she has frequently wears a wet suit for her time in Cornwall, surfing and body boarding! When Mrs Milner isn't at the beach with her 2 girls and cuddly dog, she can be found leading the children in Preschool into some very messy play!
Pre-school assistant and key worker: Natasha Graham - BTEC Level3 in Early Years.
Mrs Graham joined us in 2019, although she had worked in St Clements a few years ago, prior to moving away. Mrs Graham's favourite place is London, where she lived for some years and she loves to take her little boy to the zoo. Mrs Graham loves pizza and in preschool her favourite activity is singing and music!
Mrs Graham is currently on Maternity leave.
Pre-school assistant and key worker: Karen Wood - CACHE Level 2 Introducing Caring for Children and Young People.
Mrs Wood also joined us in 2019 and particularly loves the outside area of Preschool, especially the sand pit! She also has a dog who she loves to walk, with her family. Chinese food is always a hit with Mrs Wood.
Pre-school assistant and keyworker: Nicola Taylor - Level 3 NVQ childcare and qualified Teacher.
Mrs Taylor also joined us earlier this year and has made a lot of friends with her excellent cake baking!
When not working in Preschool or creating lovely cakes, Mrs Taylor loves to walk her dog or potter in her very flowery garden. The outside area and particularly all the planting, is Mrs Taylor's favourite part of Preschool.
Pre-school assistant and key worker: Amy Harney - Qualified Teacher.
Mrs Harney joined us earlier in 2022 and has hit the ground running! Mrs Harney loves the creative side of Preschool - messy play and painting in particular! Mrs Harney loves to listen to music and walk, often exploring new places. She is now relaxing after having organised her wedding last summer!