All our tutors are vocationally qualified and have, or are studying for, full teaching qualifications. Most of them worked as early years practitioners before starting to train other staff, and all keep up to date with regular professional development days at nursery settings. They are:
Lindsey Ayling
Lindsey is our Learner Support Manager, and also tutors and assesses our apprentices. She has an NVQ level 4 in children's Care, Learning & Development and is completing a teaching diploma. She specialises in the foundation stage.
Sara Bright
Sara is a manager in the training team and her main role is to tutor at level 2 and assess at level 2 and 3. She is in the second year of her teaching diploma and is completing an NVQ level 4 in children's care, learning & development. Sara is responsible for health & safety risk assessments, and also supports numeracy.
Cat Caller
Cat is our training administrator.She has completed level 2 and level 3 Apprenticeships in children's care, learning and development. She is now studying for a level 3 advanced apprenticeship in Business and Administration.
Gillian Fawcett
Gillian is the managing director of Puffins Training and also tutors at level 4 and key skills at level 2. She has a BSc, a PGCE in post compulsory education, and an MEd, specialising in mathematics learning and child development. She is our adult numeracy subject specialist.
Gayle Harper
Gayle is our part time assessment manager and also assesses at level 2, 3 and 4. She is qualified as an internal verifier and has an NVQ level 4 in children's care, learning and development. She was a nursery manager before becoming assessment manager.
Sue Holding
Sue is our training manager and lead internal verifier. She tutors our level 3 and 4 courses, has a BEd in primary education and is a qualified Early Years Professional. She also has Masters level qualifications in coaching, is a subject learning coach for early years and is our adult literacy subject specialist.
Katherine Lamb
Katherine is our Quality Improvement Manager and a key skills tutor. She has a degree in Childhood & Youth studies, and is a qualified Early Years Professional. She is completing a teaching qualification, and tutors and assesses at level 3 and 4.
Tracy Thomas
Tracy is a manager in the training team, having previously managed a nursery. Her main role is to tutor at level 2 and assess at level 2 and 3. She has a level 4 NVQ in children's care, learning & development and is in the final year of her teaching diploma. Tracy helps to make sure that level 2 learners get the mentoring they need in their workplaces.
Gemma Rolstone
Gemma is a Director of Puffins Training, and tutors at level 4. She has a BSc, has management qualifications at level 5 and is in the final year of her PGCE.
