Get to know our nursery staff, their roles and the experience they bring to caring for your child.
If you would like to register your child with Grow Happy Childcare, please complete the relevant registration form below. If you need any help with the forms or have questions about availability, funding or your child’s place, please contact our team.
Managing Director
Hi, my name is Denise, and I am the Managing Director of Grow Happy Childcare.
I founded Grow Happy Childcare in 2005 after experiencing first-hand how difficult it could be to find high-quality, suitable childcare for my son. This inspired me to create a childcare setting where children feel happy, safe, secure and valued, and where parents can feel confident that their children are being cared for by a dedicated and nurturing team.
Before starting Grow Happy Childcare, I worked in management roles for both the RAC and BUPA. The experience and skills I gained during this time have been invaluable in helping me develop and grow the business into what it is today.
I live in Stalybridge with my husband, David, who is also a Director of Grow Happy Childcare, and our daughter, Niamh who is currently studying Politics, History and Spanish at college. Our son, Callum, has now flown the nest and has a home of his own. And our family wouldn’t be complete without our two dogs, Max and Mitzy, who certainly keep us entertained!
I genuinely love what I do and enjoy working at the nursery, spending time with our wonderful children and working alongside our fantastic staff team. I am incredibly proud of the dedicated, caring and committed team we have at Grow Happy Childcare and of everything we have achieved together.
When I’m not working, I enjoy sewing and particularly love making teddy bears and dolls. It’s a lovely way for me to relax, be creative and switch off from the busy world of childcare.
After more than 20 years, I remain just as passionate about Grow Happy Childcare and about providing children with a happy, nurturing environment where they can learn, develop and, most importantly, enjoy their childhood.
Childcare Manager
Hi, I’m Louise, the Childcare Manager at Grow Happy Childcare. I have been part of the Grow Happy family for around 20 years, taking a short break before returning to the nursery three years ago.
I am passionate about creating a happy, safe and nurturing environment where every child feels valued and supported to learn, grow and develop. I also really enjoy supporting our fantastic staff team and working together to provide the very best experiences for our children.
One of the things I am particularly proud of is the strong partnerships we build with our parents and families. I believe that parents know their children best, and that open, honest communication between home and nursery is so important. I love getting to know our families, celebrating their children’s achievements with them and making sure parents always feel welcome, listened to and involved in their child’s nursery journey. Building these trusting relationships is one of the most rewarding parts of my role.
Deputy Childcare Manager
Hi, I’m Sarah, the Deputy Childcare Manager at Grow Happy Childcare. I have worked in childcare since 2002 and have gained a wealth of experience caring for and supporting children across all age groups. Much of my career has been spent working with babies, although you will now see me throughout the nursery, supporting our children and staff wherever I am needed.
One area of my role that I am particularly passionate about is supporting children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). I am dedicated to ensuring that every child is recognised as an individual and has the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their needs or abilities.
I work closely with our practitioners to help identify where children may need additional support and to ensure appropriate strategies are put in place. I believe that understanding each child, adapting our approach and celebrating every achievement – however big or small – can make a huge difference to a child’s confidence, development and wellbeing.
Building strong partnerships with parents is also incredibly important to me, particularly when a child may require additional support. I am committed to listening to families, understanding their concerns and working together with parents, practitioners and other professionals to achieve the best possible outcomes for each child.
I am extremely proud of the inclusive environment we have created at Grow Happy, where every child is welcomed, valued and encouraged to reach their own individual potential.
Outside of Grow Happy, dance is another big passion of mine! In my spare time, I am a dance teacher, teaching ballroom, Latin and freestyle to people of all ages. I love being able to encourage confidence, creativity and enjoyment through dance – qualities that also play a big part in my work with the children at Grow Happy.
Bank Staff
Hi, my name is Cheryl, and I am a member of the Bank Staff team at Grow Happy Childcare. I have worked with children for over 25 years and bring a wealth of experience, knowledge and understanding to my role.
Throughout my career, I have gained valuable experience supporting children with a wide range of individual needs, including learning difficulties, challenging behaviour and SEND. I am passionate about ensuring every child feels safe, valued and included, adapting my approach to provide the individual support and encouragement they need to develop, learn and thrive.
Outside of childcare, I am a qualified lifeguard and enjoy open-water swimming. I also spend time supporting adults with additional needs, which is something I find incredibly rewarding.
I really enjoy being part of the Grow Happy team and getting to know the children and families across the nursery.
Hi, my name is Anne. I have been privileged to work within education and childcare for over 20 years, gaining a wealth of experience supporting children of different ages, abilities and individual needs. During this time, I have also had the opportunity to work with children with learning difficulties and additional needs, helping them to feel included, confident and supported.
I love being part of the team at Grow Happy Childcare and find it incredibly rewarding to play a part in each child’s early years journey. I particularly enjoy watching children learn and grow, develop new skills and become increasingly confident and independent. I believe every child is unique and deserves to feel happy, safe and valued while being given the encouragement and opportunities they need to reach their full potential.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending quality time with my family and love going on long walks with my dogs.
Hi, my name is Aleesha, and I have been part of the Grow Happy Childcare team for nearly three years. I began my journey with Grow Happy as an apprentice practitioner, which gave me the opportunity to gain valuable experience working across all of our rooms and with children of different ages.
I am now very proud to be the Room Leader in our Cocoon Room, caring for and supporting some of our youngest children. I love creating a warm, nurturing and welcoming environment where every child feels safe, happy and secure.
One of the most rewarding parts of my role is watching the children learn, grow and develop during such an important stage of their early years. I enjoy supporting them as they reach new milestones, develop their confidence and independence, and discover the world around them through play and exploration.
I feel very proud of how I have progressed during my time at Grow Happy and love being part of each child’s early learning journey.
Hi, my name is Molly. After completing my Level 2 qualification in Childcare at college, I was excited to begin my first professional role in childcare this year as part of the Grow Happy Childcare team.
Since joining Grow Happy, I have gained valuable experience working with children of different ages, including supporting our Breakfast and After School Club children as well as spending time with our youngest children in the Cocoon Room. I really enjoy getting to know the children, building positive relationships with them and supporting them as they learn, play and develop.
I love being part of Grow Happy because everyone has been so welcoming and supportive. The team has made me feel at home from the very beginning, and I love that there is such a friendly, family atmosphere.
Outside of work, I am a keen cheerleader and dancer, which are both a big part of my life. I love bringing my energy and enthusiasm into my work with the children and look forward to continuing to develop my skills and experience as my career in childcare grows.
Hi, my name is Renee, and I am an Apprentice Childcare Practitioner at Grow Happy Childcare. I joined the team three months ago and have really enjoyed beginning my journey with Grow Happy and getting to know the children, families and staff.
After completing my Level 2 qualification in Childcare at college, I decided to continue developing my knowledge and skills and am now working towards my Level 3 qualification alongside my role at the nursery.
I am passionate about working with children and particularly enjoy supporting their learning and development, while recognising that every child is unique and has their own individual needs. I love building positive relationships with the children and helping to create a caring, happy and nurturing environment where they can feel confident, secure and encouraged to explore and learn.
I am friendly, caring and hardworking, and I am excited to continue developing my knowledge, skills and experience as part of the Grow Happy team and to progress further in my childcare career.
Hi, my name is Emma, and I am the Room Leader in the Caterpillar Room at Grow Happy Childcare. I have been part of the Grow Happy family for over 10 years, having started my childcare journey here as an apprentice and progressing throughout my career to become a Room Leader.
I have the pleasure of working alongside a fantastic team and really enjoy sharing my knowledge and experience with new learners and apprentices, supporting them as they develop their own skills and confidence within childcare.
What I love most about my role is how rewarding it is to play such an important part in the children’s learning and development. I love watching them grow in confidence, achieve new milestones and develop their own unique personalities. Building strong, positive relationships with the children and their families is also something I really value.
Outside of the nursery, I love spending quality time with my family and friends, going on holidays and making special memories together.
Hi, my name is Phoebe, and I am a Childcare Educator in the Caterpillar Room at Grow Happy Childcare. I began my career in childcare with Grow Happy and have been proud to complete both my Level 2 and Level 3 childcare qualifications while working as part of the team.
What I love most about my role is having the opportunity to play an important part in each child’s early years journey. It is incredibly rewarding to watch the children learn, grow and develop, knowing that the care, encouragement and experiences we provide are helping to make a meaningful difference to their development.
I particularly enjoy watching the children gain confidence, develop new skills and reach their individual milestones. Every child is unique, and I love being able to support and encourage them as their personalities develop and shine.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending quality time with my friends and family, going on holidays and making lots of special memories together.
Hi, my name is Jodie, and I have been part of the Grow Happy Childcare team for nearly three years, with over seven years of experience working within childcare.
During my time at Grow Happy, I have had the opportunity to work across all of our nursery rooms, supporting children of different ages and stages of development. I really enjoy watching the children grow in confidence, learn new things and develop their own individual personalities.
I am also part of our Out of School and Holiday Club team, where I enjoy supporting our older children with their homework as well as planning and organising a wide range of fun and engaging activities. I love being able to continue supporting children as they grow and providing them with a welcoming environment where they can relax, have fun and spend time with their friends.
Building strong partnerships with parents and families is also a really important part of my role. I believe that working closely together helps us to understand and support each child as an individual and provide them with the best possible experiences.
Outside of work, I love spending time with my family and friends and enjoy trying new and adventurous activities and making special memories together.
Hi my name is Catherine.
Hi, my name is Erin, and I am very happy to be part of the team at Grow Happy Childcare. I work in our Butterfly Room and have five years of experience working with young children.
I am passionate about supporting children throughout their early years and love watching them learn, grow and develop their own individual personalities. I particularly enjoy creating fun and engaging learning opportunities where children can explore, build their confidence and develop new skills through play.
It is really important to me that every child feels safe, happy, valued and supported, and I enjoy building positive relationships with both the children and their families.
Outside of work, I love spending quality time with my friends and family.
