Our Team

Management Team

Penny Seward, Managing Director

Penny & her husband Lee felt called to Kent just after they married 20 years ago, however they didn’t make the journey until 2007. They set up Graceworks Ministries in 2015 which would be the main not for profit vehicle for birthing projects to help families in the local and wider community of Dover, the first one being Kingdom Preschool which would see them putting together a facility that provided affordable, quality and flexible childcare for everyone to access.

Penny has a big heart for people and is passionate about staff development and family provision, knowing that looking after both equals happy children! Penny has a business background grown from sales & marketing, after completing a foundation degree in Education, she is currently studying her BA Hons in Early Childhood Studies.

Laura Rigden, Setting Manager

Laura is one of early years biggest advocates after being in the sector for 15 years. She started off as an apprentice and worked her way up to management whilst studying for her BA Hons in Early Years Leadership. She has been instrumental in her previous company’s staff development programmes and lead one of her settings to achieve Ofsted Outstanding. With a passion for creating amazing and inspiring opportunities that bring awe and wonder to children, she believes very much in child centred, play based learning.

Jenny Jarman, Business Manager

Jenny joined the Kingdom family in 2018 after 20 years of owning and running a business. Her responsibilities include all aspects of funding, invoicing, book keeping and buying all manner of items for the nursery.

Having a background in catering she loves all things food, cooking and eating and has instilled this love into her 2 daughters.

Rebecca Dunmore, Deputy manager

Becca is Deputy Manager of Kingdom, although she has been in the hotseat of many other roles during her career. Becca prefers to be more hands on with the children and is an excellent qualified forest school leader also. She is a full time out of ratio deputy who supports Laura by overseeing the operational and everyday performance of the staff teams. Becca lives in Dover with her husband and 2 children, she has been with Kingdom for 7 years but took a break after 5 years to explore further education and special needs. She couldn’t keep away, however, and felt her heart really sat with early years children.

Danika Mote, Nursery SENCO

Danika is the setting SENCO officer (Special Needs coordinator). She works closely alongside parents and the setting’s staff to ensure that all children are provided with any additional support that they may require to make progress in their learning and development. Danika holds a BA (HONS) in Early Childhood Studies and a Level 3 SENCO certificate and has also completed training on many wider aspects such as Speech, Behaviour, Eating, Autism, motor skills and children’s mental health.