Welcome to Orchidale Team
​What do I love about Orchidale?
​Meet Our Manager Jess
From a young age I always wanted to work with children, when I left school I headed to college where I achieved my level 3 and following placements in schools and nurseries- decided that early years was for me! I then carried on my studies and achieved a BA honour’s Degree in Early childhood studies. I have worked at Orchidale since November 2012 and love that no day is ever the same. Throughout my time at Orchidale I have worked across all age ranges- I love watching children explore an activity for the first time, helping a child’s confidence develop, being there to celebrate milestones with them however big or little they may be. I feel privileged to be part of so many little one’s early years and one of my favourite events each year is our nursery graduation.
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My favourite thing about Orchidale is spending time with the children in play, and as manager, I have the privilege of spending time within each room. Being at the receiving end of a child’s passion and curiosity is so precious and that’s why I love working with the children; being the person that they want to share their creation or masterpiece with is magical. Just this week, I was invited by a group of preschool children to come to their café instead of going to “work in my office”. So I happily took my seat at their café before they took my order, marking it down on paper before heading to the kitchen to prepare my order – adding a range of ingredients -sharing them out between each other before proudly bringing back a hot chocolate and spaghetti Bolognese, proudly declaring that will be £2 please.
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I love encouraging an early interest in books, reading to a group of children is one of my favourite activities. It’s a magical experience to share a book seeing the children’s faces light up with enjoyment from the story.
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As a manager, I am passionate about reflecting on our environment and seeing where it can be evolved to next. I am proud of having a team that shares my vision and helps to build a stimulating and curiosity filled environment for the children to flourish. Our most recent development being our expansive outdoor spaces. I truly believe in the quote from Margaret McMillan “ The best classroom and the richest cupboard are roofed only by the sky.”
Meet Our Assistant Manager and Social Media Leader Shannon:
I’ve worked at Orchidale for just over eight years and joined the team to complete my Early Years Teacher Status. I’m now Deputy Manager, an Early Years Teacher, and co-lead of the House Martins preschool group alongside Hollie. I love working with this age — the conversations we have, the stories they tell, and watching the way they see and navigate the world is truly inspiring.
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One of the things I love most about working at Orchidale is that we spend our day outside. I love exploring our natural surroundings with the children — going on walks, learning about lifecycles, discovering different plants, and watching the seasons change up close. We even bring storytelling and maths into nature, turning our outdoor space into a classroom full of endless possibilities. Just the other day in Woodwork Club, we made little autumn people together using the fallen autumn leaves — a perfect mix of creativity, teamwork, and nature-based learning.
My role as the Early Years Teacher isn’t just about leading School Readiness sessions; it’s about helping children feel confident and ready to learn and explore as they prepare for school.
One of my favourite things is seeing the children’s confidence blossom during their time with us. Watching a child who was once a little unsure now proudly share their ideas or take the lead in a game is such a rewarding feeling. Supporting that growth while helping them gain key skills for school makes every day both fun and meaningful.I love working with the House Martins team — we share ideas, celebrate what we’ve learned, and have one goal: to create an environment where children feel safe, valued, and excited to learn.
Being able to try new approaches and support each other means we’re always finding better ways to help the children grow. It’s amazing to see how our enthusiasm for an idea inspires their curiosity, confidence, and joy.
There are so many little moments that make me stop and think, this is why I love what I do — the spontaneous laughter during play, the excitement of a new discovery, or the quiet pride when a child achieves something for the first time.
It’s a privilege to play a part in these early years and to know that, in some small way, we’re helping to build a love of learning that will stay with them as they move on to school and beyond.
