Meet the Team
Rachel – Owner
I am the Director and Co-Owner of Forest and Coastal Nurseries, working alongside Katrina Brown. I have worked in childcare for over 20 years and feel incredibly privileged to play a part in shaping young children’s early experiences.
I am passionate about giving every child the best possible start in life, providing a nurturing environment filled with love, care, fun, and the freedom to simply be a child.I believe that children learn best when they feel safe, happy, and valued,
and I am committed to creating a setting where every child can grow in confidence and develop at their own pace.
I am equally passionate about supporting my team, ensuring they feel appreciated, motivated, and given every opportunity to develop their skills and progress in their careers. By fostering a positive and supportive environment for both children and staff, we create a nursery that feels like a true community.
Katrina - OWNER
I am the Director and Co-Owner of Forest and Coastal Nurseries, working alongside Rachel King. Together, we have grown all three of our nurseries from strength to strength and remain committed to continually developing
and enhancing each setting to provide the very best experiences for our children and families. We are passionate about creating enriched learning opportunities that inspire curiosity, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning. Our focus is on providing exciting, nurturing environments where every child can thrive, explore, and reach their full potential. As a mum and grandmother, I understand the importance of providing children with a safe, caring, and stimulating environment. I am deeply passionate about my work and the ethos that underpins our nurseries. I take great pride in creating extensive and engaging learning spaces that support children's development, wellbeing, and individual interests, while fostering strong partnerships with families and the wider community. My commitment is to ensure that every child receives the highest quality care, learning opportunities, and memorable experiences during their early years journey.
Millie
I am the SENCO of Pegwell bay nursery and also help at DNFS, I hold a level 3 certificate in Early years SEN Coordination. I work closely with children and staff to ensure that every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential.
ANITA - AREA MANAGER
I am the Area Manager across our three settings and have worked in childcare for over 12 years. During this time, I have worked in a variety of roles and progressed throughout my career, gaining valuable experience along the way.
I am passionate about supporting all children, with extensive experience in SEN, and enjoy helping children reach their full potential. I also enjoy supporting our staff teams and management to provide the best possible experiences for children and families.I love working across all three settings, as each offers something unique while sharing the same values and ethos.
Carly
I am the administrator for pegwell bay nursery, I have worked in nurseries for many years and I currently complete the administrative tasks for the nursery and help new parents enrol here at our nursery.
hannah n - dEPUTY mANAGER
I have been working in childcare since 2016 and am currently a Deputy Manager at Pegwell Bay Nursery. I enjoy working with children of all ages and supporting their development at each stage. Over the past few years, I have taken on a range of leadership responsibilities and am excited to bring these skills and experience to Pegwell Bay Nursery.
hannah- nURSERY MANAGER
I am the Nursery Manager at Pegwell Bay Nursery, leading our dedicated team to provide a safe, nurturing, and inspiring environment for all children. With over 15 years of experience in childcare, I bring a broad range of knowledge and perspectives to my role. I am passionate about supporting both children and staff to reach their full potential, and I take pride in building strong, positive relationships with families while ensuring every child receives high quality care and learning experiences.
LUCINDA
Lucinda I have always wanted to work with children since my early teens when I started volunteering for Girl Guiding. In 2021, I completed my university degree in Primary Education and earned my Qualified Teacher Status. I have had the privilege to work with children from all age ranges and supported those with additional needs.
I made the decision not long before I joined the team to work with young children and it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! I love helping the children discover new things and overcome challenges to reach their goal, and seeing the joy in their faces is such a huge bonus!
VICKI
I work in the baby room, helping to create a calm, nurturing environment for our youngest children. I bring a wealth of experience to my role, having previously worked as a Behaviour Lead for 18 years and alongside SEN teams supporting children with additional needs. I have also worked as a Family Practitioner, supporting families with newborns and helping parents to build confidence, I have also ran a nurture group training. I enjoy using my experience to support both children and families as they begin their early years journey.
Chloe
I have been working with children within an early years setting for over 7 years. I have worked with children from 6 months to 5 years, whilst also supporting key stage 1 when completing my level 3 diploma in childcare. Throughout my career I have built strong relationships with children and their families which I look forward to continuing to do at Pegwell.I am a caring and patient person who has always had a passion for early years and helping children learn through play and achieving their goals. I come from a very caring and supportive family, which made me want to project some of that energy to inspire young children’s lives and make a difference to their development. In my free time you’ll either find me in the gym, spending time with friends and family or shopping!
SEANA
Maddie
Hi, I'm Maddie. I am completing my Level 3 apprenticeship here at Pegwell Bay Nursery. I was previously working for 4 years as a PA for various friends and family, providing care for young Children with SEN and SEMH needs. I strive to progress as far as i can with my skills, in hopes to become a SENCO, so i can provide equal opportunities for children of any background or needs.
JADE
I work in the baby room, where I have been based since qualifying. I am passionate about providing a nurturing and caring environment, and I love building strong, trusting bonds with the babies in my care. Supporting their early development and watching them grow is the most rewarding part of my role.
Mary
Hello, my name is Mary, I joined the friendly and fun team at Pegwell Bay in 2022.I have 20 years experience in childcare after deciding on a career change when my two children started their own journey in Primary Education. While at another local setting I achieved my level 2 & 3 in Childcare along with Level 2 in Autism/Challenging Behaviour and various courses relating to early years. During the last 8 years, I was promoted to the Team Leader of the pre-school room. I love working with this age group for their fun (lots of dancing and singing) and questioning of their world and surroundings. It makes me happy watching them continue their next steps into “big school” seeing what they have achieved while in my care.
Jane
I have been lucky to have the opportunity to teach all over the world. It is fascinating to learn from different cultures and to adopt best practice from such a wealth of experience. Although I have taught every age group,
including adults, Early Years is my favourite. In the nursery setting you have the freedom to follow the Childrens interests and to support them in developing the skills to begin a life time love of learning.
Lucy
In recent years I have gained experience in both early years and primary education, I am an NVQ Level 3 early years practitioner and also a qualified teaching assistant. I am a very patient, calm, creative and enthusiastic individual. My experience ranges from working with children who are aged 0-11 years, however I feel very passionately about early years education and feel my skills are perfect for this age group. Supporting children to learn, develop and grow while having fun and forming new friendships is very rewarding and I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to shape and influence the lives of young children and their families.
JULIE
I work in the preschool room and have over 25 years of experience in childcare. I enjoy supporting children as they grow and develop, and it is especially rewarding to see their progress as they prepare for school. I am friendly and approachable, and I enjoy visiting France, bringing back my experiences to share with the children and enrich their learning.
Charlotte B
Hi, my name is Charlotte. I started at Pegwell Bay Nursery in May 2026 after teaching in Thailand for two years, where I learnt alot about Thai culture and society. I have over 12 years experience working in the education sector and I have gained my Level 3 as well as my EYTS qualification.
Early Literacy is very important to me and I enjoy finding new stories to engage young learners and encourage them to explore stories with me.
I have a keen interest in art, history and science, and particularly enjoy creating engaging hands-on activities that allow children to make their own discoveries about the world we live in.
In my spare time I enjoy walking, camping, watercolour painting (and most arts and crafts) and spending time with my family. I'm a firm believer of 'Process over Product' activities, so be prepared for spiders with 12 legs, or a snowman with 8 bodies! It's not about the end but the journey on how we get there!
Marie
My name is Marie. I am a qualified level 2 Nursery Practitioner currently doing my level 3. I have always loved working with children, being part of their next steps and watching them grow into unique individuals.
It is always a joy to see the children having fun, building relationships and developing their own skills.
I am a mum myself with a son, step daughter and two grandchildren. I am very caring and family orientated.
I have just recently joined the Pegwell Bay Nursery family and I’m loving getting to know all the children and families.
MEGAN
I provide flexible support across the nursery, stepping in wherever needed to ensure continuity of care and learning for the children. Having previously worked here full-time, I am very familiar with the setting and team. I am now a qualified teacher working in a school, and I enjoy bringing my experience and skills back to support the nursery when required.
Karen
My name is Karen, i started working in a nursery in 2016 after having a career change from working in the NHS. I started out as an administrator/childcare practitioner and completed my level 2 Early years educator in 2018 and my level 3 in 2019. I have recently joined the team here at Pegwell Bay Nursery. I enjoy helping the children learn through play and seeing the look on their faces when they master a skill. Every child is different and learn at their own pace and in their own way, this i will always encourage.
RYAN
I am currently studying towards my Level 3 qualification as an Early Years Educator. I work across all rooms within the nursery to broaden my knowledge and develop my skills. I particularly enjoy the creativity of the children and find it rewarding to support their learning and development as they grow.
MORIA
I am the lunch cover at Pegwell Bay Nursery, supporting the team and children throughout the day. With over 30 years of experience working with children and families, I bring a wealth of knowledge and a calm, caring approach to my role. I particularly enjoy listening to children’s questions about the world around them and encouraging their natural curiosity.
Contact
Reach out anytime, we're here to help
Phone
Admin@dnfs.co.uk
01304 801714
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Walmernursery@gmail.com
Pegwellbaynursery@gmail.com
01304 375355
01304 695175
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