Our Team

Sara Brackston- owner/Manager, Designated safeguarding lead, forest school leader

Sara holds a Cache Level 5 Diploma in Childcare and Young people - Leadership and Management. She has worked in childcare for over 20 years. Sara is one of the safeguarding lead’s and fire marshal for the Nursery. Sara is a Level 3 Forest School Leader. She holds paediatric first aid certificates and has Food Hygiene Level 3. Sara holds a DBS certificate.

Jo Knight- Deputy Manager

Jo has an NNEB qualification in Childcare. She has worked at Little Stars since 2008. Jo is a fire marshal for the Nursery and has undertaken safeguarding training. Jo holds a paediatric first aid certificate. Jo holds a DBS certificate.

Justine Corbijn- Deputy Manager, deputy safeguarding lead

Justine is a qualified primary school teacher and music teacher. Justine has been at Little Stars since 2015. Justine has undertaken safeguarding training and holds a paediatric first aid certificate. Justine has completed her Food Hygiene level 3. She has completed training to be a Communication and Language champion. Justine is one of the Deputy safeguarding leads. Justine holds a DBS certificate.

Amy Gittings- Administration manager, SENCO, DESIGNATED SAFEGUARDING LEAD

Amy holds a Cache Level 5 Diploma in Childcare and Young people - Advanced Practice. She has been at Little Stars since 2013. Amy is the adult first aid leader and holds a mental health first aid certificate. Amy has a Level 3 Award for Early Years Special Educational Needs Coordination. She has a paediatric first aid certificate and has undertaken safeguarding training. Amy is one of the Designated safeguarding leads and fire marshal. Amy holds a food hygiene Level 3 certificate. Amy is currently undertaking her BA Honours degree in Childhood, Youth Studies and Psychology. Amy holds a DBS certificate.

Emma Baldwin

Emma holds an NVQ Level 3 in Childcare. She started at Little Stars Nursery in 2014. Emma has undertaken safeguarding training and holds a paediatric first aid certificate. Emma holds a DBS certificate.

Judy Sissons- DEPUTY SAFEGUARDING LEAD

Judy holds an NVQ Level 2 in Childcare & CACHE diploma in Preschool Practice. Judy has been at Little Stars Nursery since October 2019. She has undertaken safeguarding training and holds a paediatric first aid certificate. Judy is one of the Deputy safeguarding leads. Judy holds a DBS certificate.

tara Gore

Tara joined the team in February 2024. She holds a BA Honours Degree in Early Childhood. Tara has completed safeguarding training and holds a Paediatric first aid certificate. Tara holds a DBS certificate.

Emma davis-SENCO-Training

Emma joined the team in April 2026. She holds a Level 3 Early Years Educator qualification and is currently undertaking her Level 3 SENCO qualification. Emma holds a paediatric first aid certificate and has completed Safeguarding training. Emma holds a DBS certificate.

Emma Symonds

Emma joined the team in August 2026. Emma has a wealth of experience within childcare and holds a Level 3 qualification in Childcare. Emma has undertaken both paediatric first aid and safeguarding training. She also holds a SENCO certificate. Emma holds a DBS certificate.

Laura Harris

Laura joined the team in May 2024. She holds a Level 2 Certificate in Caring for Children and Young people. She holds a paediatric first aid certificate and has undertaken Safeguarding training. Laura holds a DBS certificate.

Steph boss

Steph joined the team in January 2025. She holds a Level 3 in Children’s Care, Learning and Development. Steph has undertaken paediatric first aid and Safeguarding training. Steph has also holds a Level 1 Certificate in British Sign Language. Steph holds a DBS certificate.

Lexie pehlps- nursery assistant

Lexie joined the team in August 2026. She is currently working in our Preschool Room as an assistant. Lexie holds a DBS certificate.

george brackston-big stars holiday club assistant

George is currently studying Politics and Economics at University. George is one of our Big Stars Holiday Club assistants during the Summer. George has undertaken paediatric first aid and safeguarding training. George also holds a DBS certificate.

Alex Lusty- lead senco

Alex holds a Level 5 in Childcare. She has been at Little Stars since 2019. Alex has undertaken safeguarding training and holds a paediatric first aid certificate. Alex holds a Level 3 SENCO qualification. Alex holds a DBS certificate.

Chloe Baldwin

Chloe holds a CACHE Level 3 in Childcare. Chloe has undertaken safeguarding training and holds a paediatric first aid certificate. Chloe holds a DBS certificate.

Bryony Knight

Bryony holds a Cache Level 3 in Childcare. Bryony started us as a student in 2020 and has been a member of the team since July 2021. She has completed safeguarding training and holds a paediatric first aid certificate. Bryony holds a DBS certificate.

Millie Nicklin

Millie is one of the Nursery Apprentices. She joined the team in October 2023 and is currently undertaking her Level 3 Early Years Educator qualification after already completing her Level 2 Early Years Practitioner qualification with us. Millie holds a DBS certificate.

Shaunna Thomas

Shaunna joined the team in March 2023. She holds a BA Honours Degree in Early Childhood. Shaunna has completed Safeguarding training and holds a paediatric first aid certificate. Shaunna is also one of the adult mental health first aiders. Shaunna holds a DBS certificate.

tia watts

Tia joined the team in February 2023. She holds a Cache Level 3 in Early Years. Tia has completed Safeguarding training and holds a paediatric first aid certificate. Tia holds a DBS certificate.

Emily Simpson- Apprentice

Emily joined the team in September 2024. She holds a Level 2 Early years practitioner qualification and is now working towards her Level 3. Emily has undertaken both paediatric first aid and safeguarding training. Emily holds a DBS certificate.

Kate Robins- Forest School lead

Kate joined the team in November 2025. She holds a BA Honours Degree in Early Childhood. Kate has undertaken paediatric first aid and safeguarding training. Kate has just completed her Forest School Leader training. Kate holds a DBS certificate.

Nelsa Nichols-Apprentice

Nelsa joined the team in September 2025. She is currently undertaking her Level 3 Early Years Educator qualification. She holds a paediatric first aid certificate and has completed Safeguarding training. Nelsa holds a DBS certificate.

shirley lusty- chef

Shirley joined the team in September 2025. She holds an Advanced Food Safety & Hygiene Level 3 qualification. Shirley has also undertaken paediatric first aid training. Shirley hold a DBS certificate.

imogen phelps- big stars holiday club leader

Imogen started with us originally as a student and then worked as an assistant in our Holiday Club. She is now our Big Stars Holiday Club Leader. She holds a Level 3 Qualification in Child care and is currently studying Primary Education at University. Imogen has undertaken paediatric first aid and safeguarding training. She holds a DBS certificate.

Ellie brackston-nursery assistant

Ellie is currently studying English Literature at the University of Glasgow. During the summer she is of our assistants. Ellie has undertaken paediatric first aid and safeguarding training. She has also undertaken special educational needs training. Ellie holds a DBS certificate.