The Coconut Nursery Team
Coconut’s success and reputation in the community is down to the hardworking and talented people that work here. Our staff team are dedicated to making the nursery a welcoming and nurturing environment, where children can learn and develop alongside their friends
Roll over the pictures to learn more about our team.
Management and Admin
Katie started at Coconut in 2005 and has more than twenty years experience of working with children in many different roles. As well as working as the manager of Coconut, Katie works for the Department for Education as an Early Years Expert, offering support and guidance to other nursery managers in London. Katie was nominated for Famly Children’s Champion 2021, beating 700 nominees to reach the final and is Co-Chair of the National Day Nurseries Association Network, having been voted in by NDNA members. Katie is also a qualified music and drama teacher and has written many theatrical shows for children which have been performed all over the UK, she has toured with BBC Children in Need and BBC’s ‘Something Special’.
Katie
Senior Manager
BA HONS, EYT, CME:EC
Jahdine started working for Coconut in 2008. She has worked in a variety of roles since then, and as well as being the room leader for the toddler room for a long time, she was further promoted to the role of overall deputy three years ago. Jahdine was born and grew up in here in Stoke Newington, and she has real insight into the cultural and social complexities of the local community.
Jahdine
Deputy Manager
Level 3 EYCE
Yael grew up in a kibbutz, but has lived most of her life in the UK and in Stoke Newington. Growing up in a kibbutz, Yael experienced first-hand the benefits of natural environment, and was inspired to create something similar here. Having found a suitable site Yael opened Coconut Nursery for the local community in 1992 with just one room, and the rest is history.
Yael
Nursery Proprietor
PPA DIP
Cat is originally from Dublin and she has been working in London for five years. Three years of those she has been responsible for running the nursery office, and dealing with all the financial matters. Cat’s organisational skills are supreme, we don’t know what we’d do without her!
Cat
Office Manager
BA HONS
Tim is responsible for our lovely well maintained gardens and the general upkeep of the nursery. He is a talented ‘up-cycler’ and can create new and useful equipment and furniture from things that were destined for landfill.
Tim
Nursery Proprietor/Caretaker and Gardener
Toddler Room Team
Subrena has been at Coconut since 2011, and has over twelve years of experience working with young children. Despite having a busy life with two young children of her own Subrena is unflappable and serene, and known for her ability to put everyone at ease.
Subrena
Co-Room Leader
LEVEL 3 EYCE
Lee started working at Coconut thirteen years ago as a student and has been here ever since. Throughout her experience of working at the nursery Lee has learned the dynamics of working in different age groups. Lee is an imaginative and proficient baker, and her show-stopping cakes have been the highlight of many a party here in the nursery over the years.
Lee
Deputy Room Leader/Head of Transitions
Level 3 EYCE
Maisie has always been interested in child development and it has been her ambition to work with this age group. Despite being one of the youngest members of the team, Maisie is mature beyond her years and really understands how very young children learn and develop.
Maisie
Third in Charge
EYCE Level 3
Anita came to Coconut to work as cover staff a year ago and we didn’t let her go! She has a good knowledge of Under 5’s care and development as she has qualifications in Children’s Care, Learning and Development, as well as a BA in Early Years Education.
Anita
Nursery Educator
BA Early Years Education
Katarzyna
Early Years Educator
Level 3 EYCE
Middle Room Team
Originally from Italy, Sabrina started working at Coconut in 1992 when the nursery was first open. Her steady manner and proven ability to organise the staff rotas and room arrangements, has served us well throughout the years. Sabrina has worked in many roles, family commitments permitting. She is currently the room leader in the Middle section.
Sabrina
Middle Room Leader
NNEB
Sonia has been working in early years’education for nine years, eight of those being here in Coconut. Sonia works with the 2 and 3 year olds, planning and delivering their curriculum taking into account each child as an individual. Sonia’s warm and kind nature make her perfect for work with this age group.
Sonia
Co-Room Leader/Curriculum Planner
Level 3 EYCE
Originally from Poland, Renata came to London in 2004, and has worked at Coconut since 2009. Renata is a competent linguist who was an au pair in Paris and Madrid before she settled in London and decided to stay in the childcare sector. Renata is also a keen environmentalist and has been the driving force with our recycling projects throughout the years.
Renata R
Co-Room Leader
Level 3 EYCE
Samiha
Third in Charge
Level 3 EYCE, BA Early Childhood Studies
Jaz worked in a local school specialising in SEN and speech and language provision before she joined us. The skills that she acquired in that previous role are very much in evidence in her current practice as our SENCO and Makaton Lead. She is also a wonderful baker and with the children makes delicious sugar-free cakes.
Jaz
Senior Nursery Educator, SENCO
Level 3 EYCE
Before taking a job at Coconut Anna was working as a Nanny. Anna is looking forward to embarking on her Level 2 course as she is very interested in child development and loves to think up indoor and outdoor activities for the children.
Anna
Nursery Educator
Level 3 EYCE (Working towards)
Nicola
Early Years Educator
Level 3 EYCE (Working towards EYITT)
Safiya
Early Years Apprentice
Level 3 EYCE (Working towards)
Leah
Early Years Apprentice
Level 3 EYCE (Working towards)
Gali has worked at Coconut for around 20 years. She started out helping here there and just about everywhere, but soon realised that working with the pre-school age children was her passion. Gali went on to gain her Level 2 qualification and now works in the Middle room. Gali’s big personality fills the room with energy, and the lively outdoor games she organises make her a popular choice with the children.
Gali
Nursery Educator
LEVEL 2
After having three children of her own, Mambueni is now getting back into working in the childcare sector. She has always had a passion for child development.
Mambueni
Nursery Educator
LEVEL 2 EYCE
Renata has worked at Coconut for 15 years in many different roles. Over the years she has shown her flair for organising the nursery environment, monitoring the art & craft and other stock and setting up innovative and appealing activities for the children, that’s why we made her our Nursery Organiser.
Renata P
Nursery Organiser/Nursery Assistant
Pre-School Team
Along with Laura, Megan opened the Pre-School Room in January 2023, using her extensive knowledge of under 5’s learning and development to design the environment and plan the curriculum. She also supports the key-persons in carrying out observations, and writes astute summative assessment reports for the children before they leave for school.
Megan
Pre-School Room Leader/ Observation & Assessment Lead
BA Hons Early Years Education
Hannan has been working in the early years’ sector for eleven years, and seven of those have been here in Coconut. She has worked with all the age groups in the nursery, and was recently promoted to Project and Events Manager. As P&E Manager Hannan is working on gaining Coconut’s ‘Green Flag’ so that we can officially become and Eco-Nursery. She also organises the cultural celebrations, special events and outings. In addition Hannan is in charge of our IT as (unlike the rest of us) she has a flair for technical problem solving.
Hannan
Project and Event Manager/IT Manager/Pre-School Friday Room Leader
Level 3 EYCE
Marion moved to Stoke Newington from Cork in 1984 and has been a local resident ever since. She has worked with us since 2003, on and off, and has a wealth of experience of working with children and families. In fact, some of the families that she has worked with are still in touch with her.
Marion
Nursery Educator
Level 3 EYCE
Bridget
Early Years Educator
Level 3 EYCE
Liyana
Early Years Educator
Level 3 EYCE (Working towards)
Aji
Early Years Apprentice
Level 3 EYCE (Working towards)
Abby
Early Years Apprentice
Level 3 EYCE (Working towards)
Antonia
Nursery Assistant
BA Hons (Working towards)
Keisi
Nursery Assistant
BA Hons (Working towards)
Deniz is local to Stoke Newington and has connections to Turkey where she frequently visits. Deniz was the first student we accepted for a work placement after the pandemic, and it was so lovely to have her
> around that we decided we must keep her!
> around that we decided we must keep her!
Deniz
Early Years Educator
Level 2 EYCE
Sophie has worked in many other educational settings as an assistant
and she is a wonderful cook and helper.
and she is a wonderful cook and helper.
Sophie
Domestic Assistant
Kitchen team
Gosia has been working as the Coconut chef for thirteen years. She specialises in healthy, hearty and wholesome meals introducing the children gradually to new flavours and textures. Gosia has the ability to get children to eat new foods that they would never try at home! Consequently parents are always asking for her recipes. Gosia is popular with the children so also helps out reading them stories and singing to them.
Gosia
Nursery Chef
LEVEL 3 FOOD & HYGIENE CERT
Danka joined the nursery four years ago as an assistant cook. Since then the children have got to know her and enjoy her company very much, so she also covers on the nursery floor.
Danka
Assistant Cook
LEVEL 3 FOOD & HYGIENE CERT
Coconut Nursery
133 Stoke Newington Church Street, London N16 0UH
info@coconutnursery.co.uk
07857 961 493