Our Team
Natasha Kirby, Founder
Natasha is the founder of Boys & Girls Nursery. As a parent of four girls, Natasha knows the importance of ensuring children receive the best start in life. The creation of Boys & Girls Nursery enables Natasha and her team to ensure that only the best care and education is available to the next generation.
Natasha says: Hi, I’m Natasha, founder of Boys & Girls Nursery. My career in childcare started at the ripe old age of sixteen whilst studying for my Level 3 qualification at Stanmore College. I worked my way up within a large national chain to nursery manager, along the way I gained experience with all age groups from babies to pre-schoolers. I now have a foundation degree in ‘Working with Children and Young People’ as well as a BA Hons in ‘Working in Integrated Services for Children and Young People’. I was fortunate enough to open our first Boys & Girls Nursery in 2007, surrounding myself with the right people is by far the key to our success!
Kelly Ridge, Area Manager
Kelly is my ‘right hand lady’, working in childcare since eighteen and starting with Boys & Girls Nursery from its 2007 origination. Kelly is Level 5 qualified and after a two year managers position at our Watford branch I promoted Kelly to area manager where she heads up our one hundred plus team, her time is split between our nurseries supporting the managers, working with staff of all levels, continually improving our practices and of course available to our families at any time!
Kelly says: “I love my role at Boys & Girls Nursery and the fact that Natasha is involved at every level of the day to day running of the nurseries. Working very closely together we ensure our passion for providing the best possible care and education to the under-fives is shared throughout the whole team. Having worked for large chains in the past it is refreshing to see encouragement of staff experiences and ideas promoted within which enables us to continually develop and improve”
Kirsty Brock, Nursery Support Manager
Kirsty works alongside Kelly and Nicky in her role, supporting each nursery, the Managers and the wider team. Kirsty started with Boys & Girls Nursery as an Early Years Educator in 2013, working her way up to Room Leader in both our Toddler and Pre-School rooms at Croxley Green, then onto managing our Croxley Green Nursery. Kirsty has numerous qualifications including a Level 3 in Childcare and Level 5 in Management.
Kirsty says: “My role as Nursery Support Manager enables me to get out and about, visiting each nursery and getting to know all our children. I love engaging with the team, using my experience to share ways to improve provision and help our children enjoy their time at nursery and develop their individual learning”
Nicky Gourlay, Nursery Support Manager
Nicky works closely with Kelly providing support to all four nurseries. Nicky started at Watford in 2011 as an Apprentice, working her way up to Nursery Manager at Croxley Green and has seen her career develop and progress at Boys & Girls to now hold the position of Nursery Support Manager. Nicky holds a Level 3 qualification in Childcare and Level 5 in Management and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her role.
Nicky says: “I love working for Boys & Girls Nursery supporting the management team and the teams within the nurseries. I am delighted to be working for a company that has allowed me to develop a career, starting out as an Apprentice and working my way up to Support Manager. I enjoy watching the children grow and develop, learning through play whilst having the full support of our talented team. It’s great to be able to use my expertise to support the nurseries and I take great pride working with a team of like-minded people to ensure each child reaches their full potential.”
Emily Greenaway, Operations Manager
Emily is my ‘left hand lady’, working with Boys & Girls Nursery since 2012 and brings a wealth of nursery experience to our administrative team. Starting at Croxley Green, Emily is now our Operations Manager and manages all of our nursery based administrators and is in charge of all administrative functions within our head office, where she is based.
Emily says: “Boys & Girls Nursery is a great company; Natasha is completely involved in the everyday running of all the nurseries, a small family run business where the staff are made to feel very much a part of the successes achieved”
Nursery Managers
Daniella, Croxley Green Nursery Manager
Daniella started with Boys & Girls Nursery as an Early Years Educator in 2014, working her way up to Room Leader in both our Babies and Pre-School rooms at Croxley Green then working as the nursery Assistant Manager. She has numerous qualifications including a Level 3 in Childcare. Daniella has experience working with children of all ages and has a clear understanding of their needs.
Daniella says: “It’s so nice working for a family run company. We have a close relationship with our other nurseries, meaning ideas and best practices are shared regularly and everyone is listened to. As a Manager, I enjoy building strong partnerships with our families and children and love watching them thrive.”
Chloe, Stanmore Nursery Manager
Chloe is our Stanmore Manager. Chloe started with Boys & Girls Nursery back in 2013, joining as an Early Years Educator, working her way up to Assistant Manager and now Nursery Manager. Chloe is Level 3 qualified in Childcare and looking towards working for her Level 5 in Management. Chloe works closely with her team to continually improve the service we offer and ensure we provide the best quality childcare available.
Chloe says: “I have always had a passion to work in early years, supporting children to get the very best start in life. It’s so rewarding welcoming children to Boys & Girls Nursery, being part of their journey from their first day with us, through to when they leave us as confident learners equipped with the skills needed to have a successful start to school life and beyond”
Natalie, Rickmansworth Nursery Manager
Natalie joined the Boys & Girls team in 2014 working her way up to Nursery Manager, she is a huge asset to the nursery. Natalie has a wealth of knowledge she brings to her role, not only does she have experience of working with Babies to Pre-School age children she also has a degree in Early Childhood Studies. In her role as Manager she is passionate about ensuring the children are cared for in fun learning environments and will continue to develop her team to ensure we are doing just that.
Natalie says: “It’s so nice working for a family run company. We have a close relationship with our other nurseries, meaning ideas and best practices are shared regularly and everyone is listened to. As a Manager, I enjoy building strong partnerships with our families and children and love watching them thrive.”
Gemma, Watford Nursery Manager
Gemma joined Boys & Girls Nursery Watford in April 2014 as an Early Years Educator in the Pre-School room and quickly moved up to Room Leader. Gemma is Level 3 qualified in Childcare and Level 5 in Management and chose to work in childcare as she has a passion for working with children and giving them the best start to their learning. Gemma is keen on developing close working relationships with parents and her team, continuously reviewing practice and developing the care and education provided.
Gemma says: “I am passionate about developing every child into confident life-long learners. I have experience working with SEND children in nursery which has been hugely rewarding. Joining the Boys & Girls team has been great, it’s a family run company where everyone is treated as an individual and ideas are welcomed.”
Trainee Management
Freya, Director of Story-time
Freya joined the team in 2009 and enjoys her role as Director of story-time. Freya’s favourite thing to do is reading so she likes to make sure we keep lots of lovely books at nursery for everyone to enjoy.
Cleo, Director of Creativity
Cleo has enjoyed spending time in every room at nursery starting in 2011. Cleo brings lots of new ideas from big school to help make learning fun at nursery. She loves nothing more than encouraging our little one’s creativity and imagination.
Jessie, Director of Fun
Jessie has been part of the Boys & Girls team since 2015. A popular character, Jessie enjoys nothing more than having fun with her friends.
Penny, Director of Play
Fairly new to the Boys & Girls Nursery team, Penny has settled into her role well. Penny loves making new friends and enjoys taking part in lots of messy play when she is at nursery. Penny is a real foodie and is always first in the queue when there is a new dish to try on our menu.
Join our team
Becoming part of our team is a thoroughly rewarding experience and we are there to help and nurture you every step of the way. Whether you are unqualified and wish to pursue a career in childcare or an experienced practitioner, we provide a variety of opportunities so that you can grow with us.
Apprenticeship Scheme
The Boys & Girls Nursery Apprenticeship Scheme has been created to provide an opportunity for those with an interest in childcare to gain skills, work alongside an experienced team, study towards an early year’s qualification all whilst earning a wage.