Teacher's nursery dream comes true

from left, Diane Phillips, Dexter Millar, one, Caroline Morton and Riley Russell, one at Nanny Plums Nursery in Cleveleys

Last year the mum of three was busy preparing teenagers for their GCSE exams.

But after swapping the classroom for the creche she’s now busy teaching very different life lessons.

Caroline, a former head of English at several Fylde coast high schools, has launched Nanny Plums nursery in her home town of Cleveleys – planning to use more than a decade of experience in higher education to get tots off to the best possible start.

She said: “I was lucky in my work to climb the ladder very quickly.

“I really enjoyed working in the secondary environment.

“But this was always the dream, I always felt this is where I could make a difference.”

Most recently Caroline, 40, was director of English at Millfield High School in Thornton.

Before that she was head of department at Collegiate High School in Blackpool and taught at both St George’s High School and South Shore Academy.

She said: “It’s a big leap going from getting teenagers ready for their GCSEs to teaching early years.

“But I’m excited. I wanted to challenge myself.”

Caroline is hoping her classroom experience will be vital when it comes to giving pre-schoolers the best possible start.

She said: “The Government is on about making learning in early years compulsory and we’re ahead of the curve.

“I think it’s important early on to get those language skills in place.

“I will be on site every day helping the children learn.

“I’ve been rated outstanding as a teacher by Ofsted on several occasions.

“I recognised that pre-school children are not being prepared for what is to come and I think I can change that.”

Carline says she’s been ‘inundated’ with enquiries from parents and has even impressed experts from Ofsted, who visited the nursery before it opened.

She said: “When they carried out our registration visit the Ofsted inspected was amazed with what we had set up.

“She said the place has a ‘wow’ factor.

“We wanted to create somewhere friendly, somewhere homely, not clinical.

“I think we’ve managed that.”

Nanny Plums will be holding a fun day to support cancer charity Macmillan on Sunday October 23 from 11am.

Everyone is welcome to attend the event and explore the nursery.