Mrs Sam Fisher – Manager
Sam is qualified with a BA (Hons) degree in Primary Education and Physical Education, SENCo, Level 3 Forest School Leader and First Aider.
After university, she started her teaching career in South Birmingham, teaching children from all different backgrounds. In 2005, Sam broadened her skills went to teach in North Carolina, USA. When she returned, Sam then taught in a Worcestershire school in the Clent Hills for the next 10 years. There she mainly taught in Key Stage One, before taking on the role of PE Co-coordinator, managing five schools within the pyramid and teaching PE from Reception to Year 6. This is Sam’s passion and she is very keen in developing children’s physical development and ensuring they lead a healthy and active lifestyle and a keen love for the outdoors.
At home, Sam has two boys with her husband. The boys are their pride and joy and they spend weekends away in their VW CamperVan, exploring, walking the dog or cuddled on the sofa with popcorn watching a movie! Sam is also a Cub Leader’s Assistant with the Woodmancote Pack.
Mrs Cathy Lea – Manager
Cathy is qualified with a BA (Hons) degree in Early Childhood Studies and a PGCE in Early Years, ECAT, Mindfulness Lead, Total Communications and First Aider.
Cathy started her teaching career in Chelmsley Wood, Birmingham before working closer to home in Worcestershire. While at this teaching post, Cathy got to explore her musical talents as a co-ordinator and helped to achieve a Healthy Schools award. After 12 years in her school, she decided to follow her dream of co-owning a Preschool. She has many years of experience teaching children in the Foundation Stage and, in her eyes, it is the most exciting and fascinating time of their educational journey.
Cathy has two boys of her own of whom she is immensely proud. They are both very keen footballers and you will often find her on the football pitch cheering on from the sidelines. She has dog called Billy, who is keeping her very busy! Cathy enjoys keeping fit, baking and above all spending time away in Cornwall with her family.
Mrs Aneta Strzeszewska – Early Learners Room Deputy
Aneta is qualified with a Level 3 Diploma in Early Years Education and Childcare, Level 2 Certificate for Children and Young People’s Workforce and is also Early Years SENCo Trained.
Aneta started her journey in the Early Years in February 2017 when she began as a Play Assistant at a Preschool in Brockworth. After she moved to Bishops Cleeve, she worked for a local nursery in the 2 year old group before joining Tithe Barn Preschool in the summer of 2022.
Originally from Poland, but having lived in the UK for almost 20 years, Aneta spends her free time exploring English heritage and history with her husband and two children. She already knows more about castles than the average knight!
Mrs Donna Woolley – Early Learners Key Worker
Donna has worked in early years for over 20 years and has gained a NVQ Level 2 and NVQ Level 3 in Early Years. She has also trained as a SENCO at her last setting.
After Donna left school she volunteered at a children’s day nursery where her mum worked as the cook. Donna was then offered a full time job and went on to gain her NVQ Level 2. From there Donna moved to another children’s nursery where she gained her NVQ Level 3. During her time in childcare, Donna has worked in every age group from babies to preschool! After having her son, Donna took some time out of to become a stay at home mum until he was old enough to go to school. Donna went back into working with children at a playgroup with 2-4 year olds and became trained to help and support children who have special educational needs.
Donna loves spending her free time with friends and family, going on walks with her dog, reading books and watching her son play football.
Mrs Kim Bostock – Early Learners Key Worker
Kim has a Level 3 Diploma in Childcare and Education, along with a recently completed Level 2 in Understanding Children’s and Young People’s Mental Health.
Kim has previously been a Nanny for a lovely family looking after twin boys and their older sister. She then began working at a nursery where she stayed for 13 years working across the 0-2’s and 2-3 year old rooms. She is very excited to begin her next adventure with Tithe Barn Preschool.
At home, she enjoys spending family time with her husband and 2 children – going for walks, baking and being crafty. Kim loves Cornwall – especially going for coastal walks and beach days.
Mrs Charlotte Smith – Preschool Key Worker
Charlotte is a qualified teacher of English, and qualified EAL (English as an Additional Language) teacher.
She started her career as an English teacher in 2009, and has been in teaching for the last 15 years. Charlotte has taught across a number of schools, including special education and, more recently, hospital education. Currently, she tutors KS4 pupils for GCSE English – which she thoroughly enjoys.
Charlotte has three young children who have taught her more than she could ever have imagined! Her eldest two both attended Tithe Barn Preschool and this is when she fell in love with the place.
Mrs Lucy Watkins – Preschool Key Worker
Lucy is a qualified Level 3 for Children and Young People’s Workforce.
Having worked in a nursery straight from leaving school in 2012, Lucy went on to become a nanny at a farm for a family for 7 years. Life was very busy there with three children and an array of dogs, chickens, alpacas and other animals.
Lucy left the farm when she went on maternity leave to have her own child. Having watched the children she nannied grow up, Lucy decided it was time to go back to caring and is super excited to join the Tithe Barn team.
In her spare time, Lucy loves to spend quality time with her husband, little boy and goldendoodle, Dustin. Nothing beats going on a long family dog walk and then coming home to cook a roast dinner on a Sunday.
Mrs Sarah Herd – Preschool Intervention Lead
Bio coming soon!
Mrs Teresa Nolan – Level 2 Play Assistant
Teresa started her career working with children as a Nanny. After eight years caring for a number of children, she then worked in retail, then finally left to have her own children.
Teresa saw all of her own children through the Tithe Barn Preschool before deciding to re-train in 2016 while working as part of the team, gaining her NVQ Level 2.
Teresa is married with three sons and spends most of her weekends on the sidelines of football or rugby pitches due to all of the family being very sporty! She also runs the Brownie unit in Woodmancote and loves to bake, run, go on long walks and crafting. This love of crafting has also lead her to start a little business “Kidz Beadie Bitz”.
Mrs Lorna Pearce – Preschool Room Deputy
Lorna is qualified with as a Level 3 Early Years Educator and holds a BTEC National Diploma in Social Care Level 2 Practitioner.
Lorna’s early career was in Fashion Retail Management, before children arrived and she began in Early Years by volunteering to run a local toddler group. She then went on to volunteer at Bishops Cleeve Primary Academy before finding her new home at Tithe Barn Preschool.
Lorna likes to spend her free time at the beach (North Devon especially) with her husband and son. She also loves going to the theatre for a good musical (but that’s a whole other West Side Story!).
Mrs Sarah Barlow – Early Learners Key Worker
Sarah a Level 3 Early Years Educator and is qualified with a first class BA (Hons) degree in Culinary Arts Management.
Having a 1st class degree and, having worked in hospitality for over 14 years, Sarah is now looking forward to taking this career change into childcare.
Being a mum of four young children – all with different personalities, interests and ways of learning – Sarah understands the importance of being creative and providing an interactive, fun learning environment that includes all, whilst ensuring that children are taught how to share and play well alongside one another.
Having sent her children to Tithe Barn Preschool previously, Sarah jumped at the chance to join the team – wanting to learn and develop her skills in childcare.
Sarah loves to be outdoors – whether that be walking and splashing in muddy puddles with the kids or sitting by a campfire toasting marshmallows.
Mrs Cat Bull – Preschool Key Worker
Cat is a Level 3 Early Years Educator, has a BA (Hons) in Performing Arts and completed a TQUK Level 2 in Introducing Caring for Children and Young People.
Following University, Cat embarked on the Early Years professional status course but was unable to finish due to moving to the Isle of Wight and working in hospitality.
Upon moving to Cheltenham, she joined the Academic Registry department at the University of Gloucestershire where she supported academics with the running of their courses.
Since having her own children and seeing her son thrive at Tithe Barn Preschool, Cat felt a desire to return to the career she’d always wanted in childcare. She is extremely passionate about supporting children in their early years and is thrilled to be part of such a fantastic team and setting.
With 3 young children, Cat spends what little free time she has either reading or watching a good crime drama or documentary! She is also getting back into exercise again – especially Clubbercise, and the performer inside of her is itching to make a reappearance treading the boards when the children are a little older.
Mrs Christine Hughes – Key Worker
