Meet the Team
Becky Rollinson
Nursery Plus Teacher
In 1994 I completed a degree in Psychology and Health Science (BSc Hons). I have been working with children for the past 20 years, and I am committed to supporting children to achieve their best possible outcomes.
My initial experience supporting children with additional needs was working in a residential school for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties. It was there that I first developed an interest in helping children therapeutically through creative and play based activities.
I then worked for the Behaviour Support Team, in which I supported children in Nursery and Primary schools across North Devon. During this time I trained as a Play Therapist, completing the Certificate and Diploma in Play Therapy at Roehampton Institute. I then also worked privately as a Play Therapist supporting children with a range of difficulties, through play based therapy.
In 2001, I decided to progress my career further and trained as a teacher, specialising in teaching in the Early Years. I spent the next thirteen years developing my skill and expertise as an Early Years Teacher.
I have been in the role of Nursery Plus Teacher since September 2015, and am fortunate in being able to fully utilise all my previous skills and experience to support children in Nursery’s and preschools throughout the Torridge area. I am a licenced Thrive practitioner and have completed further training specialising in Communication, Interaction and Language needs.
Stella Turner
Nursery Plus Practitioner
My career as an Early Years Practitioner began 25 years ago when I became a registered childminder. I worked as a childminder for eleven years whilst bringing up my own four children. I then spent two years working in the foundation stage at Ashleigh School in Barnstaple where I achieved my level three qualification.
I then went on to spend ten years as part of the Nursery Plus team based at Appledore School; where I gained a wealth of knowledge and experience working with children with SEN.
After the closure of Appledore Nursery Plus base, I transferred to my current role here at Torrington Nursery Plus. I am a licensed Thrive Practitioner and am currently doing a level four qualification.
Leanne Watson
Nursery Plus Practitioner
I joined the Nursery Plus team in January 2018. My journey to work with children with additional needs started in 2001 when I qualified with a Diploma for Nursery Nursing (Level 3). Recently I have gained my Foundation Degree in Early Years Teaching and Learning (2017) and my Batchelor of Arts in Professional Practice (Education) in 2018.
Professionally, I have gained a wealth of experience working within a range of early years educational environments and have undertaken different roles and responsibilities. These have included being an independent childminder, employment at Torrington Children’s Centre, working in private day care settings and preschool settings, with the responsibility of being a Special Educational Needs and Disability Co-ordinator in an early years setting (SENDCo). These experiences have empowered me to support children with SEND and additional needs.