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.
Lion Leaders
NVQ Level 3, First Aid TrainedJack Gibbs
NVQ Level 4, First Aid TrainedDebbie Reardon
Level 3 Apprenticeship, First Aid TrainedKirsty Freeman
Lion Cubs
NVQ Level 3, First Aid TrainedDawn Foster
NVQ Level 3, First Aid TrainedSophie Curling
Lambs
Qualified Teacher Status, First Aid TrainedIsabel Troth
Level 2 Diploma, First Aid TrainedMillie Crowfoot
Early Years Level 3 Educator, First Aid TrainedSummer Carrington
NVQ Level 3, First Aid TrainedSarah Beach
Early Years Level 3 Educator, First Aid TrainedCourteney Tranter
Early Years Level 3 Educator, First Aid TrainedSydney Jefferiss
First Aid TrainedEmma Hockley
Doves
Level 3 Diploma, First Aid TrainedMissy McCartney
Qualified Teacher Status, First Aid TrainedEllie Jordan
NVQ Level 3, First Aid TrainedSkye Baranow
NVQ Level 3, First Aid TrainedSuzanne Chapman
NVQ Level 3, First Aid TrainedRhiann Flood
Early Years Level 3 Educator, First Aid TrainedMelissa Hall
Level 3 Apprenticeship, First Aid TrainedGemma Letchford
Level 3 Apprenticeship, First Aid TrainedKaty Allison
Joanne Bird
Forest School
NVQ Level 4, First Aid TrainedLulu Truss
EYITT, First Aid TrainedLaura Vrabie
NVQ Level 3, First Aid TrainedFrancis Thompson
NVQ Level 3, First Aid TrainedPaul O’Hare
Support Team
First Aid TrainedPeter Abbit
NVQ Level 3, First Aid TrainedGEORGIA BUDGE
First Aid TrainedDenise Stansfield
First Aid TrainedKaren Ford
First Aid TrainedLaura Carter
NVQ Level 2, First Aid TrainedMelanie Fisher
Shelley Stockbridge