Nursery owner Jo Kavakeb has a first-class honours degree in Early Years Education and Early Years Professional Status. Jo has overall responsibility for the nursery and, together with Clare, oversees strategy, planning, personnel, health and safety, and finance.
Reporting to Jo is a team of Early Years practitioners. Continued professional development is central to our success, because our staff are the most important part of what we do.
Leadership
A named Manager and Deputy lead the nursery team.
Specialist support
A SENDCO and safeguarding lead support children, families and staff.
Prepared teams
Trained first aiders and room leads support care and education.
Our room teams
- Discoverers — 3 to 18 months
- Explorers — 18 months to 2½ years
- Creators — 2½ to 3½ years
- Inventors — 3½ to 5 years
Since 1987
Our story through the years
Scroll to follow the milestones that shaped Squirrels and the nursery communities around us.
Woodhall Day Nursery was established in Welwyn Garden City by Jo Kavakeb.
Renamed Squirrels Day Nursery and moved to larger premises at St John Newson School.
St John Newson closed and Squirrels relocated to purpose-built accommodation in Oaken Grove.
A second Squirrels Day Nursery opened at Hertford Regional College in Turnford.
The Welwyn Garden City nursery relocated to purpose-built accommodation at Ludwick Nursery School.
Squirrels achieved the HQS Quality Accreditation Mark.
A partnership created Oak Tree Children’s Centre and achieved Sure Start Children’s Centre status.
The HQS Quality Accreditation Mark was achieved collectively as Oak Tree Children’s Centre.
The Turnford partnership achieved Sure Start Children’s Centre status as High Trees Children’s Centre.
Ofsted graded the Welwyn Garden City nursery Outstanding in all areas.
A third Squirrels Day Nursery opened at Hatfield Community Free School.
Squirrels joined West Herts Community Free School Trust.
New nurseries opened in Watford and Hemel Hempstead.