Biddulph Kindergarten

Biddulph Kindergarten opened in January 2024 offering full day care for children aged 8 weeks – 5 years. We have four spacious and well-equipped classrooms and exceptional outdoor spaces including a designated baby area. All children access outdoor play every day at Biddulph Kindergarten providing our children with the opportunity for fresh area and an appreciation of the natural world as it changes through the seasons. We work in close partnership with the Family Hub in order to ensure that the children and families within our setting can access the local services they might need at the earliest opportunity.

Biddulph Kindergarten also offers Before and After School Club for children attending Kingsfield First School and holiday club for children aged 3-11 years throughout the whole of the Biddulph area. The kindergarten feeds to all of the primary schools in the Biddulph area.

All of the children’s meals are prepared fresh, each day on-site by the nursery’s Catering Manager.

The nursery benefits from having onsite parking.

Ofsted Report

Meet The Team

Natasha Richards – Managing Director and Director of Educational Development

I founded the Kindergarten Group with the clear aim of delivering high quality childcare, in an environment where children can flourish and be happy. I started my career in education over twenty years ago and have always had a huge passion for supporting children to become the best that they can be, both academically and in their personal and social development. I have taught children from preschool, right through to students in higher university education and I have a BA Honours Degree in Primary Education, a Masters in Education and have worked as an early years inspector for OFSTED.

I am a proud mum of twin teenage boys, two dogs and a cat. When not at work I enjoy travelling the length and breadth of the country with my family on camping holidays.

Favourite Childhood Memory

As a child I always loved Christmas and still do! Even though I’m the eldest of four children, I’d always be the first one to wake up on Christmas morning, as I’d be so excited to see if Santa had been. I’d sneak downstairs to see if there were any presents, then I’d get my younger siblings to wake up my mum and dad who would insist that Santa hadn’t yet been (secretly hoping for a bit longer in bed), to which my brothers and sister would shout “oh yes he has – Tash has seen all of the presents!” With my own children it’s always been important to me to try and recreate the same magic and excitement of Christmas for them too.

Favourite Children’s Book

‘What Katy Did’ by Susan Coolidge

Favourite Children’s Film

Favourite Season

It has to be winter as not only do I love the whole Christmas season, but I think there’s something really lovely about wrapping up warm in a big coat, scarf, woolly hat and gloves and heading outside for winter walks.

Siblings

I am the eldest of four children, I have one sister and two brothers.

Rebecca Jones – Director of Learning

When I was growing up I used to love helping to look after my sister who is ten years younger than me, which had a big influence on my decision to study child care at college. After I graduated I joined the team at Wolstanton Kindergarten and have since worked at Cheadle and Burslem Kindergartens too. I find the most rewarding part of my role is to see the children in our care develop and learn new skills. And like many of the staff, I particularly enjoy the messy play and outdoor activities that we do with the children as it’s so much fun! In my current position I support all of our staff in their roles and deliver training across the three nursery settings to ensure the consistency and high quality of the care that we deliver.

Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my husband Jake and my little boy Levi and heading outside for walks with my Border Terrier / Jack Russell cross dog Olly (named after Olly Murs!).

Favourite Childhood Memory

My favourite childhood memory would be when my Mum bought my little sister home from the first time. My sister is ten years younger than me so having such a young child in the house brought with it big changes to our family life.

Favourite Children’s Book

‘Guess How Much I Love You’ by Sam McBratney

Favourite Children’s Film

Elf

Favourite Season

I’ve always liked the wintertime the best, as I absolutely love Christmas and my birthday falls at this time of year too. I think it’s lovely to wrap up warm and head off outside for winter walks.

Siblings

I have two sisters and I’m the middle child.

Kirsty Tinsley – Nursery Manager

I actually carried out my first work placement at Wolstanton Kindergarten and loved both the environment and working with children. I have since worked in another nursery setting where I gained invaluable experience working my way up from an Early Years Practitioner to the Nursery Manager looking after two separate settings before returning to Wolstanton Kindergarten. I really enjoy spending time with the children participating in activities especially anything that is creative or messy!

Favourite Childhood Memory

My sister and I spent many a happy weekend at our Nan’s house which was right next to a park, all of the local children would play out there all day until we got called back in for tea.

Favourite Children’s Book

Anything by Jacqueline Wilson

Favourite Children’s Film

I love anything by Disney, but my favourites would have to be Pocahontas and Beauty and the Beast.

Favourite Season

It would have to be the winter time because I love it when the nights start to draw in and you can stay at home and be cosy. I’ve always loved Christmas and now that I have children it feels even more special.

Siblings

I have one younger brother who I am very close to.

Megan McDonald – Deputy Nursery Manager

Growing up I always wanted to be involved with helping out with my two younger siblings, which gave me a natural progression in to working with children. I really love watching the children’s imaginations at work when they play, or when they are involved in activities at nursery. It’s great to see how excited the children get when they try new things, it’s such an incredibly rewarding job. We all enjoy getting involved in the messy play with the children, I think it brings out the inner child in all of us!

In my free time I love spending time with my family and partner, going out for meals and going on countryside walks.

Favourite Childhood Memory

Spending weekends with my family at Cannock Chase and Manifold Valley going for long walks, having picnics and paddling in streams.

Favourite Children’s Book

‘The Faraway Tree’ by Enid Blyton

Favourite Children’s Film

The Little Mermaid

Favourite Season

My favourite season is the summer where I get to enjoy lots of family barbeques and time outside in the warm weather.

Siblings

I’m the second eldest of four children, with two sisters and one brother.

Jade Sherratt - Early Years Practitioner

I do everything that I can to help each child in our care make a smooth and happy transition from home to nursery, as I feel it’s so important that they settle in quickly. I love teaching the children new things, helping them to develop and grow. I particularly enjoy doing the messy play with the children, it’s always great fun and the children absolutely love it.

In my own time I enjoy getting outside mountain biking and climbing hills, I’ve walked up Snowdon and next on my list is Skyfal Peak. When I can I also love to watch live music.

Favourite Childhood Memory

Being made captain of our school cricket team when I was eleven and winning the next match!

Favourite Children’s Book

‘The Boy in a Dress’ by David Walliams.

Favourite Children’s Film

The Incredibles

Favourite Season

Definitely winter with the cold, crisp mornings and the prospect of being able to go sledging when it snows.

Siblings

I’m an only child.

Carol Kempa – Early Years Practitioner

I absolutely love working with children. I believe we play such an incredibly important role in helping to educate the children in our care and to support them in developing their skills. I particularly enjoy teaching the children phonics using lots of enjoyable and engaging activities, after all I firmly believe that learning should be fun!

Outside of work you’ll find me spending as much time as possible with my family, doing a spot of gardening or baking.

Favourite Childhood Memory

I remember picking or ‘scrumping’ apples as we called it from a neighbour’s garden. My friends and I would eat as many as we could, then use the rest to practice catch and to throw at each other!

Favourite Children’s Book

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Favourite Children’s Film

The Wizard of Oz

Favourite Season

My favourite season is the spring, with the evenings starting to get lighter and all of the flowers coming into bloom.

Siblings

I have one older sister.