Danielle Cartledge

I have worked in Early Years for over 10 years in various roles such as deputy manager in the UK to the nursery leader in the UAE at two separate nurseries. I have an excellent understanding of the EYFS curriculum and have the enthusiasm and drive to support and develop a team. I have an excellent understanding of planning and making sure all needs and abilities of children are met and in my current role as well as previously in the UK I have overseen inclusion and students of determination making sure their needs are being met and that appropriate IEPs are in place.

I am passionate and hardworking and always make sure myself and my team work to the best of our abilities for the best of the setting we are in.

Al Forsan Nursery Aldar Academies 

Early Years Teacher

Promoted to Nursery Leader and FS1 Year Group Leader AY 21-22

August 2019- till present 

I am currently working as an early year’s teacher and nursery leader within the setting. I manage a team of 9 teachers and 20 teaching assistants. I work closely with other members of the team including the principal and other senior team members.

I plan for my class on a weekly bases on their abilities and interests. During the Covid-19 lockdown phase the nursery was closed I supported and help to create a platform to enable us to carry on teaching the children virtually. I rolled out the training for all staff and support them the whole way through.

I observe and assess the children in my class on a regular basis so I can help them move forward and develop their skills. I also assess my classroom hot and cold spots using gap strength analysis to see how I need to improve my class and the learning experiences for the children. I have helped to develop the outside learning environment and make it more interactive for the children to enrich their learning experiences.

In my role as nursery leader, I work very closely with the nursery principal and help with the day to day running of the nursery. In her absence I am in charge and oversee the nursery. I work very closely with my team of teachers and provide regular CPD depending on the needs of the team but also invite others to carry out CPD for their colleagues on areas they are passionate about.

I also work closely with admissions to organsie and carry out family open days and enrollment days for the nursery. I also arrange nursery events such as sports day, sustainability week, world nursery rhyme week etc.

I am the SENCO for the nursery and devise IEP’s for students of determination meet with their parents on a regular basis to discuss progress. I also carry out and plan interventions to support the SOD’s.

Since working at Al Forsan Nursery I have helped them to achieve silver status with the ECAT eco-schools program and have rolled out lots of initiatives to encourage both staff and students to become more sustainable citizens.

Shadow teacher

August 2018- August 2019 

I work as a shadow teacher for a young girl who has mild autism. I attend school with her and help her with her learning on a day to day basis. I have helped her to develop her independence and everyday life skills.

I spend the afternoons with her as well and teach her at home, help her develop her social skills by taking her to play areas and classes. I also do fun and stimulating activities as well to continue her learning and development.

Private teacher for Emirati family.

September 2016- August 2018

I teach and care for 4 children, from 10 months through to 4 years of age.

I plan daily activities for the children that are based around the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum. I support the children with learning English. I teach them practical life skills such as cooking, dressing themselves and personal hygiene skills. I prepare reports on their progress and development and keep learning journeys with pictures. I liaise on a daily basis with their mother and keep her updated on their progress and development.

Little Haven Nursery Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates.

Pre-school Teacher August 2013-March 2015

Promoted to Lead Teacher March 2015- July 2016

Within Little Haven nursery I have taught children from age 2 years up to school leaving age.

I worked with an international curriculum and have helped to implement and train staff using the curriculum which is focused and based on the children’s rights.

I planned for my class on a weekly basis and based my planning on their likes and interests and use observations to support my planning.

On a termly basis I wrote reports for parents informing them of their child’s development and progress.

I gave curriculum training to our sister nurseries at the start of the term I planned and carried out the training and gave advice to other team members.

I worked alongside the nursery manager and support her and give her advice when needed.

Lead teacher role

Supporting and giving the teachers advice and guidance.

Ensuring that the curriculum is being carried out in the correct format and following the pedagogy.

I taught pre-school class of children aged from 3 years to 4 years helping to prepare them and get them school ready.

I worked closely with the operations manager in running the nursery.

I gave tours and curriculum talks to the parents.

The Fun Factory Woking

Deputy manager Jan-13 till August 13. 

I helped to set up the Fun Factory nursery when it first opened.

I ran the pre-school class and taught them to the EYFS guidelines.

I kept observations on the children and kept their learning portfolios up to date.

I worked alongside the manager to manage the nursery and on occasions she was absent I would oversee the running of the nursery.

I supported and guided my team to ensure that the children were being offered the best possible start in life.

Campus kids Day nursery 

Nursery nurse to room leader to third in charge to deputy manager. January 2007- December 2012

• I started as a nursery assistant and have worked my way up to be a room supervisor whilst being at Campus Kids.
• I worked in the baby room with children from 3months -15months I was made room supervisor of the baby room in August 2010. And then I was the room supervisor in Pre-school for just over a year.
• I have a very good knowledge of the E.Y.F.S and I have been looking into how the revised edition is going to affect my practice.
• Kept childrens profiles up to date and attend parents evening and write reports for their parents so they can see their progress.
• I am trained in baby sign, makkaton and baby massage.
• I provided one to one for three children who had special additional needs. One child had global development delay and the other had fragile X syndrome with autism and a child with down syndrome. I worked very closely with their families and created IEPs (individual educational plans) and worked with other professionals who supported the families and the children. I was also the special educational coordinator for the nursery.
• I was the fundraising coordinator for the whole nursery and organize fundraising events throughout the year helping various charities.
• I was promoted to deputy manager within my nursery and have been doing the day to day running of the nursery. Working with parents and dealing with any enquires they had.
• I also managed the staff team on a daily basis. I held room supervisor meetings with the senior team and ensure they are running their rooms effectively and I monitored this by supporting them and carrying out regular room audits to monitor their progress.
• I also ran the nursery when the manager was away from the setting.
• I undertook a Deputy Manager Development Programme to help me progress further and learn more about Kidsunlimited as a company.
• I was responsible for Payroll for my setting.
• I also managed the waiting list and forecast registers and offer out places to prospective parents.
• Managing orders and work through nursery financial packs on a monthly basis.

July 2007- December 2007

Little Harriers Day Nursery

Trainee Nursery Nurse

Working with 16 months- 2years old children.

I did planning for the group on a regular basis.

I also worked in the different rooms in the nursery.

I also wrote reports for my key children.

NVQ Level 2 in Children’s Care, Learning and Development January 2009 JACE Training Apprenticeship.

NVQ Level 3 in Children’s Care, Learning and Development January 2011 JHP Training.

Food Hygiene September 2009

Makkaton Trained November 2010.

Pediatric first aid Trained July 2010-updated January 2015-Updated 2020, updated 2021

Health and Safety qualified September 2011

SENCO training with local authority 2012

CPLO trained 2012 updated 2022

Foundation degree Early Years Care and Education from Kingston University July 2013

Early Childhood Studies BA (Hons) with Derby University Competed September 2022 2:2.