Staff | acorns-nursery

Meet our team

Our highly qualified and friendly team all bring their own valuable specialisms to the Acorns, be that forest - school skills, arts and crafts, music or sports.
What unifies all our carefully selected staff is their commitment to our vision and values of dedication, enthusiasm and individual care.

All our staff at The Acorns Nursery and Forest School meet the guidleines set by Ofsted, and are constantly upgrading their qualifications.
Janet Irwin and Christina Franks are also trained SENCO's (Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators)
and have extensive experience in supporting children with a variety of needs.

"Staff use their exemplary quality of teaching to build on children's interests and extend their learning continuously. For example, as children enthusiastically explore three - dimensional shapes, they notice that they are looking different to 'normal' shapes, comparing a cuboid to dice they use in games. Staff extend this even further introducing complex shape names such as rectangular prisms which children then use independently in their play."
Ofsted 2019 - 59 Denmans Lane.

Janet Irwin - Headteacher and Founder

Janet qualified as a teacher at Homerton College, Cambridge, studied psychology at London University and has been teaching, and offering support and advice to parents ever since. Janet opened The Acorns in 1985 and still enjoys a hands-on role. She was awarded her Early Years Professional Status and MA in education from Brighton University.

Janet has a TEFL Certificate, a qualification for teaching English as a foreign language. She also holds certificates for Paediatric First Aid and Food and Hygiene. She has recently gained a Level 3 qualification in Forest School Leadership.

Janet has a passion for teaching and also for languages. Speaking fluent French, Janet is working on a language project for children. She is the author of the 'At home with French' and 'At Home with Spanish' activity books for children published by Oxford University Press and also the 'Minilingo' range of audio products.

Christina Franks - Deputy Head and Manager

Christina Franks has been with us for over 10 years. She has a Higher National Certificate in Childcare and Early Years Education alongside an NNEB qualification. She also has a diploma in leadership and management.

Christina has a natural empathy with young children and enjoys circle times, stories and crafting.

She works hard to establish positive relationships with all our parents.

Christina writes our weekly blogs and is responsible for our social media accounts.

Caroline Finney - Lead Practitioner

Caroline joined our team in 2023 and works in our 25 Denmans Lane Setting.

She is a very experienced practitioner who has a Degree in Early Years Education and has gained Early Years Professional Status.

Caroline worked at another nursery locally but took some time out to enjoy family life with her young children.

Caroline brings a wealth of knowledge and ideas to The Acorns.

Katy Danton

Katy joined our team in 2024. Katy has worked in both our settings but is currently working at Acorns 25

She is a level 3 practitioner with a wealth of knowledge.

Katy enjoys spending time outside with the children

Cristiane Robertson

Cristiane joined our team in November 2023.

Cristiane works in Acorns 59.

She is Brazilian and has a level 2 in childcare. She has a young son and is bilingual in English and Portuguese. She loves outdoor play and crafts.

Natalie Drake

Natalie joined our team in February 2024.

Natalie works at Acorns 59.

She has a level 2 in childcare. She is an experienced practitioner who loves doing arts and crafts with the children.

Natalie plays an active role in planning activities for the children each week alongside Mrs Franks.

Anna Chadd

Anna joined us in 2024. She works at Acorns 25.

Anna previously worked alongside Mrs Franks in another setting many years ago and is working hard to gain her Level 3 qualification under the mentorship of Mrs Irwin and Mrs Finney.

Iryna Finko

Iryna joined our team in January 2023 and is Ukranian. She has an MA in linguistics and a CELTA qualification for teaching English as a foreign language She has 2 young children and is bilingual in Ukranian and English.

Iryna works at Acorns 25.

Sophie Mundy

Sophie joined our team in October 2022 to take over the role of Nursery Administrator.

She has worked in admin for many years and brings her skill set to update and simplify our systems. She currently works three days a week.

Sophie also spends time working alongside the children at Acorns 59.

Gaye Neve

Gaye joined us in 2023. She is a very experienced practitioner who has worked with children for over 30 years.

Mrs Neve works in both of our settings after retiring from her role as a teaching assistant in a local school. She offers supply cover.