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 a young family with her husband. Her boys are their pride and joy and they spend weekends camping, walking the dog or cuddled on the sofa with popcorn watching a movie!
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 most recent 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 side lines. She has recently welcomed a puppy called Billy into her family who is keeping her very busy! Cathy enjoys keeping fit, baking and above all spending time with her family.
Mrs Kelly Rogers – Assistant Manager
Kelly is qualified with a BA (Hons) degree in Business Studies, gained Qualified Teacher Status in 2011 and is a Safeguarding Lead.
Kelly started her teaching career in Kent before moving to Hong Kong in 2013 to teach at an international British school. While at this teaching post, Kelly developed a love of teaching phonics, reading and writing. Having moved back to the UK in 2018 she has undertaken part time teaching roles and has taught both Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. Kelly joined the Tithe Barn team in April 2022 as she was keen to extend her skills to working with children in the Early Years.
Kelly has two children of her own, both of whom attended Tithe Barn Preschool. When she isn’t working, Kelly enjoys running, reading and sugar craft but especially spending time with her family and cuddling up with their cat, Tess.
Mrs Donna Woolley – Key Worker
Donna has worked in early years for 20+ years and has gained a NVQ level 2 and NVQ level 3 in early years. she has also recently 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 and can not choose which age group she prefers to work with! 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.
Miss Emma Christon – Lead Key Worker
Emma is qualified with a BA (Hons) degree in French and a PGCE with Modern Foreign Languages.
Emma started teaching in Reims, France where she spent her year abroad as part of her bachelor’s degree teaching through the British Council. After university life both up in Leeds and back home in Cheltenham, Emma has taught in secondary schools for the last ten years, with a strong focus on transition and primary MFL. She is passionate about sharing her love of different languages, cultures and experiences and encouraging children to explore and celebrate difference.
Emma lives out in the sticks with her favourite humans. They love spending time together outdoors, going swimming, playing tennis and going on long muddy Sunday walks, but are equally fans of cosy rainy afternoons getting their craft on!
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 Chloe Fitchett – Early Learners Deputy
Chloe originally gained a degree as a Children’s Nurse at the University of West England in 2005, working for a number of years in Bristol Hospital and also in the community looking after children with life limiting and complex conditions.
After having her own children, she changed career paths, and decided to re-train and achieved her Level 2 Teaching Assistant certificate. She has now completed her studies at Gloucestershire College training as a Level 3 Early Years Educator.
Chloe lives with her husband, two daughters and Snoopy the dog. She enjoys keeping fit, long walks and family time.
Mrs Lorna Pearce – Level 2 Play Assistant
Lorna is qualified with a BTEC National Diploma in Social Care and is also currently completing a City & Guilds Level 2 Early Years Practitioner course.
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 young son. She also loves going to the theatre for a good musical (but that’s a whole other West Side Story!).
Mrs Aneta Strzeszewska – Level 3 Play Assistant
Aneta is qualified with a Level 2 Certificate for Children and Young People’s Workforce, a Level 3 Diploma in Early Years Education and Childcare( Early Years Educator) , and is also Early Years- Senco Trained.
Aneta started her journey with 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 freetime exploring English heritage and history with her husband and two children. She already knows more about castles than the average knight!
Miss Jess Stirling – Play Assistant (Level 2 Apprentice)
Jess has just completed her A-Levels alongside a Level 2 course in coaching.
Having previously worked for Move More where she was teaching PE to Primary School children, Jess realised that she wanted to do more, and learn more, in an Early Years setting. So, when the job appeared at Tithe Barn Preschool, she jumped at it.
Unsurprisingly, Jess is into sports and plays football and hockey almost every weekend for her local Bishop’s Cleeve teams. She comes from a large family and loves nothing more than lazing by the pool on a warm holiday.
