Meet our Team
Dandelion knows that high-quality learning is facilitated by high-quality interactions with skilled staff; it prides itself on its bespoke staff training package and is proud of its team's skills and qualifications.
The government has reduced the expectation of high-level qualifications for Early Years staff, but we hold true to our beliefs and values: we are proud of the fact that over 40% of Dandelion staff hold Qualified Teacher Status (QTS); over 55% are educated to at least degree level.
Our expectations are high, and our staffing team is committed to professional development; this helps them to provide the best possible Early Years teaching and learning possible.
Want to join the team?
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Managing Director (QTS)
Emma Harwood
Emma is an award winning businesswoman, co-creator of Dandelion and doting mother and grandmother. Emma is happiest when walking or surrounded by family.
I love working with children because they are fun, honest and non-judgemental. Children are naturally inquisitive; they live in the moment, and they want to learn! I love Dandelion because it is outside and has a deep and meaningful ethos.
Managing Director (QTS)
Hayley Room
Hayley is the co-founder of Dandelion Education, she is an award-winning businesswoman and writer, mother and creator. Hayley is happiest when creating, swimming, and beach walking, with her family and dog.
I love working with children because they make you smile, surprise, and amaze you, every single day. They view the world without prejudice and with limitless wonder. Working with children makes work fun and keeps you young at heart!
Patch Operations Manager
Sam
I love working with children because of their inquisitive natures. They remind us to stop and notice every detail; allowing us to appreciate the smaller things in life. I love Dandelion nursery because of the extensive play and learning opportunities children have by being outside; it’s great to have a chance to work in an environment I love.
Eaton Co-Manager
Aaron
Children are incredible teachers. They see the world in a beautiful and unfiltered way. I love getting to spend time in their world, helping them to learn and grow.. I believe the outdoors is the greatest classroom we have as the potential for learning is so huge. Dandelions champions many of the things I believe education should be. Not only is everything they do child-led and play based learning, but they also help children to understand their own internal landscape, communicate their own thoughts and feelings and be receptive to others in the same way.
Eaton Co-Manager
Benjamin
I have a passion for working with children, especially when children are in the best environment possible which I believe to be outdoors. I love getting stuck into children's play and giving them different challenges. I believe children should be given the time and space to explore and investigate for themselves as well. I grew up with a childhood filled with outdoor memories and would love to give children the same opportunity. I love the ethos of Dandelions and think it really fits in with my own.
Aylsham Patch Manager
Kath
I have been working with children and in the outdoors since 2004 and I find it incredibly rewarding. I grew up exploring and playing outside and have so many memories of outdoor adventures and fun in the fresh air. I think this is why I’m excited to be a part of Dandelion; it means a lot to be able to give children the chance to spend time learning and discovering through play in nature, just as I did. It is so beneficial and I know they will carry these experiences and memories right through their lives. I
Wymondham Patch Manager
Lenny
My heart beats to the drum of the seeming entropy of working with children! With every unique individual's blooming passions or passing interests, they are filled with enthusiasm and curiosity to explore, discover and learn. Each day brings new adventures whilst learning through play at Dandelion, the greatest of enabling environments with such scope for versatility and for nurturing growing imaginations.
Wymondham Den Manager
Shirley
I love working with children because they make me smile, their inquisitive, simple outlook on life reminds us, as adults, how complicated we make life sometimes. They teach me as much as I teach them and spark my imagination. When working with children I learn new things every day. I truly believe children learn better in an outdoor environment with less limitations and space to explore.
Eaton Lead Teacher
Tarl
I love working with children. They are honest, they live for the moment and they are imaginative. It is a privilege to be a part of their early years, to witness their development and support them in their learning. My favourite way of teaching is through telling stories and imaginative play. Dandelion is everything I think all education should be, an inclusive and nurturing outdoor environment where children can learn every subject deeply and without judgement.
Wymondham Lead Teacher
Donna
I am passionate about providing opportunities for children to be curious, and learn through discovery and play. I love to listen and encourage children to ask questions and solve problems as confident inquirers and independent thinkers. At Dandelion, children thrive in our nurturing and supportive outdoor environment where nature provides endless opportunities for learning. It’s a privilege to be able to work with such a passionate and dedicated team, who provide an engaging, creative and child-centred approach to learning.
Aylsham Den Manager
Jenny
I love being outdoors and seeing wildlife and I love sharing the wonder and well-being benefits with children. Children are so inquisitive and fascinated by the natural world and it’s great to be in a space where this can be part of every day. I have been a teacher for several years and before that worked in the conservation sector leading nature-based sessions for children. I am looking forward to spending more time outdoors with children again, supporting their learning and development in this nurturing, child-led environment.
Wymondham Patch Deputy Manager
Chrissie
Childhood is an enchanting time where colours are brighter, the air is clearer, sounds are louder and the days are full of magic. I am dedicated to supporting children to grow into whoever they want to be, through connection, questioning and reflection. Working with children is my absolute passion and I feel very fortunate to have found Dandelion
Eaton Teacher
Emily
I love working with children because they teach me to always be present, which is an invaluable skill to learn. I love the intrinsically curious nature of children and the sense of wonder and awe that permeates through everything they do. I love Dandelion because we share the same values in terms of nurturing and supporting the learning of our adults of the future. We share a passion for creative, play-based, child-led education. I love the deep and fundamental respect that Dandelion has for every child.
Bank Staff
Georgie
I love nature/the great outdoors - Dandelion allows me to combine this with my passion for supporting children’s learning. I love the fact that no two days working with children are the same, they remind us of how amazing and exciting the world can be! I love supporting children to learn in an outdoor, natural and nurturing environment.
Wymondham Teacher
Kerry
I was a primary school teacher for more than a decade before becoming a mum of two. Being in an early years setting is new to me but I love working with such young children. I find them highly entertaining, inspiring, often hilarious and so much fun to be around! I admire their simplicity and honesty and find their enthusiasm and natural energy infectious. I believe that us adults have a lot to learn from them too!
Wymondham Teacher
Amy C
The approach to childcare, education, teamwork, and conservation at Dandelion reflects my own beliefs and I wish the site was open when my own children were younger. I'm honoured to be part of a team supporting the next generation to become confident, empowered, compassionate humans. Having the opportunity to combine my passions for outdoor play and creative exploration means coming to work here feels like a treat! The ethos and care wholeheartedly displayed by staff and children is inspiring.
Wymondham Mananger
Hattie
I am passionate about delivering high quality childcare and creating learning environments that provokes curiosity, independence and a love of learning. The forest is the perfect setting for children to discover more about themselves, their community and the wonderful world around them.
I have worked within the early years sector for my entire working life and I am thrilled to be a part of the Dandelions team.
Wymondham Patch Teacher
Lauren
I love working with children because they are always so in the moment. I love their imaginations and helping their ideas be brought to life through play. Children are the most precious thing in life and I love to help nurture their individual personalities. I believe learning outdoors connects children to the seasons, wildlife and the earth, and gives a natural freedom that a classroom cannot facilitate, and this nurtures wonder, curiosity and resilience.
Wymondham Deputy Manager
Jade
I have a passion for education outside. I believe that most of the learning is done with their hands and this is an amazing opportunity for this to happen. I love the imagination that children have and how they can explore outside creating new things. Children love to grow and learn and I believe this is the best way to do this.
Wymondham Teacher
Maddie
I love working with children because I admire their ability to live in the moment and stay forever curious. The excitement and wonder of children is infectious and teaches us to stay present and appreciate the little things.
I have been a teacher for over ten years and am now really excited about joining Dandelion as I have seen first hand how children thrive outdoors. I am passionate about nurturing children’s social and emotional skills and believe Dandelion is the perfect place to do this.
Eaton Teacher
Hollie
I love how children are present in the moment and have such curiosity about the world around them. I love the ethos here at Dandelions and share the same beliefs and values. I’m excited to be in a natural environment where children are given the space to thrive, learn through play and become critical thinkers. I can’t wait to support and nurture children to develop emotional literacy and embrace their individual personalities in a safe, welcoming, creative space! Most of all, I can’t wait to be apart of their early years journey.
Eaton Teacher
Anniek
I love working with children, young and older ones. As a visual arts teacher, I worked for many years at a secondary school in the Netherlands. The wonder and inventiveness of children gives me a lot of inspiration and energy. I have been interested in the philosophy of the forest schools for a long time and I am very pleased to be part of the Dandelion team. I believe that playing outside is necessary for healthy physical and motor development and it gets the imagination moving. This creative fantasy starts in Dandelion and is the basis for creative and problem-solving thinking later in life.
Wymondham Apprentice
Chloe
I love how naturally curious children are and how they can teach us to see the magic of the everyday. I was so inspired when I learnt about Dandelion’s philosophy towards education and their holistic approach to nurturing each child’s interests, imagination and confidence. I’ve previously worked for charities, as a yoga teacher and teaching English in nurseries in Japan. I’m now really excited to be a part of the Dandelion team and to support Dandelion children to learn, explore and thrive in such a beautiful woodland setting.
Aylsham Patch Apprentice
Olivia-May
I love working with children because of their new perspectives on things and this plus my outdoorsy nature made forest school the perfect choice for me. I’m excited to be joining the team at Dandelion as I will be able to express my love of nature and pass this onto the children.
Holiday Club Teacher
Maisie
I love being outdoors and have a passion for nature-based learning. I have previously worked in conservation and helped run environmental education programmes for young people. I loved inspiring a joy and enthusiasm in children for
being outdoors and learning within a natural environment. I’m excited to be joining the team at Dandelion, and to be able to help them support every child as they grow and learn in their own way.
Holiday Club Teacher
Brieanne
I love nature and spending time outdoors. I think children should spend as much time as possible outside as it gives them opportunities to learn that they would not get from being in a classroom. I believe every child should get this opportunity to learn and explore in the outdoors. Working at Dandelion allows me to combine my love for nature with my passion of working with children. I enjoy getting involved in their play and seeing the different ways that each child explores and uses the space around them.
Patch Apprentice Aylsham
Louisa
I've been involved in Scouts since I was 10 years old and continue to work with them teaching life skills, such as team work, friendship building and survival skills. I love working with children. They are so bubbly and inspire you everyday. I really enjoy being at Dandelion. I feel being outside there is more learning, more exploring; I like how they can pick up life skills that they can use in the future
Wymondham Teacher
Ruth
I am passionate about play, nature and the outdoors and believe strongly in supporting children to connect with their natural surroundings. I have lots of experience in early years settings but Dandelion for me takes enabling imaginative play and emotional awareness to another level. The children inspire and educate me everyday with their innate curiosity, wonder and imaginations and I love enabling and supporting them in their imaginative play adventures.
Aylsham Patch & Den Teacher
Sarah
I have been working with children as a Childminder for 38 years along with working in nursery Schools. I just love working with children - I adore them; how creative and funny they are! I love working at Dandelion because everyone's so nice and friendly. It's brilliant. There is just something about it; It's special and unique. In my spare time, I enjoy showing historic vehicles at local shows, such as Aylsham and Sandringham. If I'm not at a show, I can be found in my garden with my home-bred chickens.
Eaton Teacher
Dillyn
I love working with children because of their creativity and no two days are the same. I'm very excited to be back at Dandelion as I love the way they run education and I think being outside is the best way for children to express how they learn.
Wymondham Den Teacher
Selina
I believe that humans are hard-wired to play, for our all round development and wellbeing. Children are the experts in this! Outdoors, everchanging with the seasons, offers our bodies and brains many multi-sensory experiences. Nature provides big skies and tiny wonders in which to ponder, play and problem-solve. I have worked with children in educational and social care settings for over 25 years. It is an honour to be part of so many young people's learning journey.
Bank
Mike
I've worked with children with Special Education Needs and disabilities in a children's centre for 10 years and I have 20 years experience as a primary school teacher. I love working with children because they're fascinating! They're so energetic and always surprise you. I love being here at Dandelion. It has such a fantastic ethos. They're out and about in their exploratory world everyday, rain or shine, and it really is quite extraordinary. I have a deep interest in natural history and I enjoy my passion as a Wildlife photographer!
Site Runner
Bella
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Aylsham Patch Teacher
Jenny H
My love of the outdoors started when I was very little and is thriving now. I grew up on a farm where I was always out and about exploring and learning through nature. I feel very lucky to get to work at dandelion to give children the same experiences and learning opportunities as I had, as I know how valuable it is.
Aylsham Patch Teacher
Sophie
Working with children is rewarding in so many ways. Over the last ten years i have worked with a vast age range of children and am constantly inspired by them. Watching children play and learn in their own individual and creative ways is a truly magical experience and reminds me daily of the true privilege it is to be supporting them in their progression as a person and individual. The ethos of Dandelions is one i resonate with fully, I am excited to work in an environment that fully engages children inquisitive and imaginative nature .
Wymondham Den Teacher
Isabel
I'm Isabel, I have been working outside with children for the last four years and have been spending time relishing
the outdoors since my own early years. I could be described as; a birds, bugs and bees fanatic, knot aficionado, enthusiastic tree climber and purveyor of silliness.
Nursery Operations Manager
Amy
I adore working with children and cannot imagine following any other career path. There is never a dull day, and it is extremely rewarding seeing children blossom and achieve. Dandelion gives children the opportunity to connect with nature, play and explore and learn to manage their own risk-taking. This matches my own beliefs about education.
Business Manager
Cath
Emma is an award winning businesswoman, co-creator of Dandelion and doting mother and grandmother. Emma is happiest when walking or surrounded by family.. preferably both at the same time!
Visual Communications Manager
Es
I am a fine art photographer, printer and all round creative! In my role at Dandelion, I manage the photography, social media accounts, web design and branding. I love working for Dandelion as it encompasses everything I think a good childhood should have; freedom to explore our environment, our minds and philosophy which allows children to reach their full potential, emotionally, physically and mindfully. In my spare time I love making bread, walking and printing in the darkroom.