Grove Community Project

Our staff

To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key.

Sarah

I am the Manager of Grove Community Project, an organisation that I established over 25 years ago.

I started my career in the arts and, after training as a dress designer, I worked in theatre and design for the Royal Shakespeare Company and the City of Birmingham Touring Opera. I also had my own company designing children’s clothes.

After having children and recognising the importance of high quality experiences in the early years, I moved into early years education. I am passionate about providing children with opportunities for expression and to develop through creativity and by making their own choices. I have introduced the Reggio approach to our setting and have visited Reggio Emilia in Italy twice to share learnings with other international practitioners.

I have an NVQ Level 3 Childcare and Education, an ILM Certificate In Management, a Certificate in Effective Early Learning and Triple P – Primary Care.

Rekha

I have worked at Grove Community Project for 22 years. I love working with children and believe that you need to be a good role model for children and have strong communication skills when you work with children and their families. Early years education is important because it helps support them on an individual level through play. It helps us to understand how and what children think.

I am an Early Years Practitioner with a Level 3 in Early Years and Play. I speak English, Hindi, Gujrati, and Urdu and I understand Punjabi.

When I’m not at work, I love spending time with my three girls.

Berline

I am originally from Douala, Cameroon and speak English, French, and Bongou. I believe that early childcare and education is essential. As an early years professional, I work to develop secure, consistent and responsive attachment with the children in our care. I also help to provide a safe, healthy, and stimulating world by creating high quality physical environments for children to grow and develop. I believe that children’s learning should be based on their interests and, in order to maintain their interest in learning and support their development, teachers and parents must be co-learners.

I hold a Cache Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People’s Workforce. I recently completed a Foundation Degree in Arts (Professional Studies in Childhood at Level 5.)

In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my two children.

Angela

I am the Early Years Lead Teacher at Grove Community Project.

While working as a Children’s Librarian in California, I discovered an affinity for working with younger children that turned into my pursuing a degree in Child Development. I graduated with an Honours Bachelor’s Degree with a specialisation in early childhood and worked as a teacher and curriculum specialist at a Reggio and Montessori-inspired setting.

I then left the United States to join my husband for his post-doctoral studies in Belgium where I taught at an international school in Antwerp, before relocating to the UK.

My interests include nature-based learning and healthy risk-taking, early literacy, environmental design, and artistic expression.

I am passionate about helping to develop a positive, inclusive, and caring learning environment for our children, their families and the practitioners at Grove Community Project.

Avtar

I have worked at Grove Community Project for over 18 years. I love working with children and seeing them grow and achieve. I believe that emotional, social, and physical development is so important in early childhood for every child’s future and well-being.

I have an NVQ Level 3 in Child Care and Education and in Playwork. I speak Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu, and English.

In my spare time, I like reading and my favourite subject is history. I have three children and I love spending my time with them.

Amrik

I developed an interest in child development when I had my own children and have been working with children for 25 years. I have gained a great deal of understanding about how children learn and progress through stages as individuals, helping me to identify when a child is in need of additional support. I have qualifications in Level 2 and 3 Early Years Care and Education, Level 3 Playwork, Level 3 A1 Assessing Award, and a Level 4 Certificate in Further Education Teaching, Stage 2.

I believe that young children learn from their environment, as children imitate what they hear and see. Therefore, it is important to provide a safe, welcoming, and stimulating setting where they can freely express themselves and learn through a range of activities.

I am the mother of four children and I have one grandchild.

Pam

I am an Early Years Practitioner and Out of School Coordinator. I have worked at Grove Community Project for over 20 years and have also previously worked with special needs children and as a lunchtime supervisor at a local school. I am also the Child Protection Manager, SENCO, and Behaviour Management Officer. I have a Level 3 Qualification in Child Care and Education in Early Years.

I believe in providing a safe and secure environment for all children from all different backgrounds and abilities so that they can flourish in the early stages of their learning and development. I am also passionate about encouraging learning and development through play and believe in the importance of good planning to meet the children’s individual needs.

I am a mother of three daughters and a grandmother of one boy and one girl. My home language is Gujarati, but I also speak English, Hindi, and Punjabi.

Lela

I am originally from Georgia where I gained a BA in Teaching (Primary and Secondary).

I also hold a NVQ Level 3 in Early Years and Childcare. I’m currently leading on the Startwell Healthy Setting Award, delivered by Birmingham City Council and NHS.

I speak Georgian, English, Russian and a little Polish. In my spare time, I love playing tennis, reading, and travelling.

Rita

I have been an Early Years Practitioner at Grove Community Project since 2012. I was born and raised in India where I gained degrees in both Politics and Social Science and I moved to England after university.

I have always wanted to work with early years children, so I decided to complete an NVQ Level 3 in Early Years and Childcare to enable me to follow my passion. I find it very rewarding to watch children progress throughout their education.

I am fluent in English, Punjabi, Hindi, and Urdu. In my spare time I have many hobbies which include going to the cinema, walking, and spending time with my two boys and my family. My philosophy of life is to bring a smile to those around me.

Nazia

I am a Level 3 Early Years Practitioner and I’m currently studying for a Foundation Degree in Childhood. I also hope to achieve a Level 5 Foundation degree.

I am particularly interested in understanding how social and emotional development influences children’s learning.

I am passionate about influencing young children’s learning and I believe that early childhood education is an important foundation upon which the rest of a child’s learning is built. I believe that it is my responsibility to make sure that the individual needs of children are identified so that I can give them the support that is most appropriate for their abilities.

I am the mother of one and I can speak several languages including English, Punjabi, Mirpuri, and Urdu. I love travelling and meeting new people.